Hawa Mahal - The Palace of Winds

The royal state of India, Rajasthan is a place of wonders which also has Hawa Mahal. One of the historic beauty is situated in Jaipur at the intersection of the main road, Badi Chaupad. With splendor architecture which is going to keep you in awe,' the history and characteristics will let you see this monument with an amendment, known for its pinkish trellis windows and balconies which gives a birds-eye view of the city, Jaipur. There is no place inside the monument, which is free of wind. It allows fresh air to pass day and night.

The Hawa Mahal was built by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh in 1799. Interestingly, the design of the Rajputana heritage was given by Islamic ustad Lal Chand. So it is a perfect blend of Hindu Rajput architecture and the Islamic Mughal architecture. The purpose of building such an open mahal was to let the ladies of the royal Palace observe the everyday life of the streets and processions without being seen. As, according to the ancient Rajput culture, they had to be in 'purdah'.

The Hawa Mahal has now been handled by ASI (Archaeological Survey of India). One of the major attractions is a museum made in the premises of the mahal where the old artefacts of the rulers are exhibited.

Architecture

The Rajputana palace is made up of pinkish sandstones in a shape of a crown which is said to be like lord Krishna's crown as the Maharaja Swami Pratap Singh was an ardent devotee of Lord Krishna. There are 953 small windows also known as 'jharokha', with the intricate trellis work on them which resembles the honeycomb of the beehive and allows the cold breeze to enter in the hot summer days of the city.

There is no direct facade entrance to the Palace. One has to go from the side, which is the entrance of the city palace. It has good five floors without stairs. So if you are planning to go, know that you have to walk on the ramps to reach the 5th floor which is called Hawa Mandir.

Here is what makes it unique is that it is the world's tallest building without foundation. And it is standing upright because of its pyramidal architecture. Since the lack of foundation, it is curved at an angle of 87 degrees.

The best time to visit

The Palace is a treat to look at the time of sunlight falling on the structure, early morning giving its scenic beauty. Also, early morning is the best time as it gets crowded later.

If you want to see the museum in the Palace, do not make a plan for Fridays as the museum is closed on Friday.
It opens at 9:30 am till 4:30 pm.

The best weather to visit the Palace, and also the city is winters, starting from September to March.

Ticket Price

It is going to cost you Rs 20 if you are an Indian national and Rs 50 if you are an international tourist. Also, you can buy a combined ticket for two days which is Rs 300 for Indian tourists and Rs 1000 for international tourists. With this, you can visit other nearby monuments.

There will be an extra Rs 10 charges if you want to take your camera along.

How to reach

Since it is located in the center of the city, you can take a bus, book a cab or a taxi, and auto-rickshaws to reach the mahal.

Top Restaurants Near Hawa Mahal

• Rajwada Restaurants
• Jain Patang Udyog
• Art Cafe
• Karnot mahal
• Midtown Multi-Cuisine Restaurant
• Kulfi Centre

Nearby attractions

• Govind Ji Temple
• Jantar Mantar
• Ram Niwas Garden
• City Palace
• Chand Pol

Wait! All the flea markets and local shops are the best things to do. You can shop your heart out for handicrafts, bandhej fabrics, antique jewelry, and precious gemstones.
Also do not forget to bargain, ladies!

Though every place in this city is majestic and royal, the Hawa mahal is the imperial beauty which makes it distinctive from other sites. It has to be in you must visit places list.