If you are looking for a place which is reckoned as a perfect example of Rajputana architectures then plan a Jaipur City Sightseeing Tour and explore the beauty of Hawa Mahal “Palace of the Wind”, an iconic attraction of Jaipur Tourism. It is believed that this palace was built for the women of the royal households so that they could keep their eyes on the day to day life activities and the royal processions going on in the streets and bazaars. Designed by Lal Chand Utsa, this beautiful monument is made of red and pink sandstone. The pyramid-shaped five-storeyed structure has 953 small windows along with small balconies and arched roofs giving it a look of a giant screen and not the palace. It is known for its beautiful latticework and splendid motifs.

Location

Hawa Mahal or the Palace of the Wind is located in the pink city of Jaipur.

Fact File

The palace is believed to be constructed by the great Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh in the year 1799 AD and is a major Rajput landmark dedicated to Lord Krishna.

Tourist Attractions

• City Palace: Nestled beautifully in the center of the ancient city, this palace is known for its excellent Rajput and Mughal architecture. It houses the seven-story Chandra Mahal, and visitors can see here the former ruling family of Jaipur. The palace also has a museum with an excellent collection of jewelry, costumes, arms, chariots, palanquins, carpets, rare manuscripts, miniature paintings and several items of the royal background.
• Jantar Mantar: One must be aware of the fact that Sawai Jai Singh had constructed five observatories and Hawa Mahal is the largest observatory amongst these. It is believed to be constructed in the year 1718 in order to study the movement of stars.
• Amber Fort: 11km away from Jaipur on the Delhi-Jaipur highway, lies Amber Fort. Built by Maharaja Man Singh and Maharaja Jai Singh, it is a distinguished Rajasthan fort-palace. Inside the fort, visitors can see the Hall of Victory, the Ganesh Pole, and the Sheesh Mahal. One can see the breathtaking look of the surroundings of this fort.
• Central Museum: Built-in 1876, it is one of the oldest museums in Jaipur. It is also called the ‘Albert Museum’ and it lies in the Ram Niwas Garden. It reflects the Indo- Saracenic style of architecture and exhibits miniature paintings from Udaipur, Bundi, Kota, fine specimens of woodwork, metal objects, paintings and sculptures, and other rare and beautiful objects. Courtyards, pillars, and arches of this museum are just spellbinding.

Best Time to Visit

As the summers are too hot so this magical city of Jaipur must be visited from October to February.

Getting There

By Air: Jaipur is pretty well connected with various other cities like Mumbai, Delhi, and Udaipur via domestic flights.

By Road: If you are coming to this beautiful city by roadways then you can take the bus from the other nearby cities in Rajasthan and if you are coming from the outstation then you may board the bus from Delhi an Mumbai too.

By Rail: This stunning city in Rajasthan is connected to almost all the major cities of the country via railways.

Did You Know?

• The palace has been named so as the side which faces the street is adorned with 953 small windows and the cool gentle breeze passing through these windows gives this place its name. The breeze that blows here keeps the Mahal cool even during summers.
• Hawa Mahal can be visited between 9.00 am to 5.00 pm.
• The Hawa Mahal was designed by Lal Chand Ustad.
• There is a small archaeological museum in the Hawa Mahal.