Hawa Mahal, Jaipur– The Palace of Air

Published: 18th October 2011
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Built in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh, Hawa Mahal is one of the finest examples of Rajputana architecture.Hawa Mahalis the most stunning sight in the city of Jaipur. Located in the Pink City Jaipur, Hawa Mahal is an integral part of the famous City Palace but stands aloof and commands its own identity. The structure incorporates the finest touch of Mughal architecture making it a marvel.The palace, part of a huge complex, overlooks one of Jaipur's main streets and was originally constructed to offer women of the court a vantage point, behind stone-carved screens, from which to watch the activities taking place in the bazaar and the surrounding streets.Hawa Mahal Jaipurfive-story, pyramid-shaped structure is made up of small casements, each with tiny windows and arched roofs with hanging cornices, exquisitely modeled and carved. Its facade makes Hawa Mahal look more like a screen than a palace. Its top three stories are just a single room thick but at the base are two courtyards. It is a fifty-foot high thin shield, less than a foot in thickness, but has over 900 niches and a mass of semi-octagonal bays, carved sandstone grills, finials and domes, which give this palace its unique facade.

Hawa MahalorHawa Mahal Jaipuris also popular as "Palace of Winds
" and it is designed by Lal Chand Usta and this name of the palace is given because Hawa Mahalhas about 953 windows through which wind or (hawa) flows and keep the palace cool even in hot climate. There is a stark contrast between the extravagant exteriors and the simple interiors of the palace.

Made in red and pink sand stone, the splendid architecture of Hawa Mahal emanates the glory of the royal family. The palace is beautifully outlined with white borders and motifs painted with quick lime. The structure was erected in order to let the royal ladies observe the daily life and processions in the streets below, without revealing themselves.

The entrance to the Palace is from the City Palace complex through a stately door, which opens into a big courtyard. Double storeyed buildings on three sides surround the courtyard. There is a small archeological museum here. Hawa Mahal should be visited in the morning when the golden glow of the rising sun seeps in through the jharokhas animating the whole structure with luminance of sheer magnificence.

The entrance to Hawa Mahal is from the City Palace side, through a stately door which opens into a spacious courtyard. The courtyard has a double storeyed building on three sides. There is a small archeological museum here. Only the eastern wing has three more storeys above, which are just a single room thick. The building, standing on a high podium, is a fifty-foot high thin shield, less than a foot in thickness, with small intimate chambers , which give this palace its unique facade. There are no regular stairs to reach the upper floors, but only ramps.

Hawa Mahal which is currently under the supervision of the State archeological department provides the visitor with excellent views of the city. The best time to view Hawa Mahal is sunrise when sunlight through the latticed windows gives it a wonderful glow.

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