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Hawa Mahal or the 'Palace of Winds', Jaipur
They could see, but could not be seen. At Hawa Mahal, you could relive the bygone
era of concealed freedom. As you look below at the street you realize the architectural
marvel that Hawa Mahal is.
For even while the women of the royal family could not participate actively, the
intricately latticed 365 Jharokhas made it possible for them to partake of the
festivities, without being noticed.
The palace is a fusion of Rajput and Mughal architecture. The construction of Hawa
Mahal is credited to Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh and dates back to 1799. The Hawa
Mahal or the Palace of Winds was a thoughtful effort to enable the ladies of the
royal household to look at the outside world.
It was a welcome respite for the ladies of the royal household who had to follow
the purdah system.
Hawa Mahal affords a spectacular view of the Pink City of Jaipur. It is a five tier
structure that comprises of arches, balconies and perforated screens. There is a
lack of embellishment as far as the interior of the building is concerned.
The chambers have nothing gaudy about them and there are passages that would lead
you to the top storey. The openings in the screens are comparable to peepholes which
suggest that the ladies could see the processions and other activities in the street
without being seen by others. As the ladies enjoyed the view outside they were almost
caressed by the cool breeze.
This structure has 953 small casements and each of them is graced by latticed worked pink windows, small balconies, curved roofs and hanging pelmets. They are exquisitely sculptured and carved. These small windows prove very effective in circulating cool air in the hot moths. The structure towers to a height of about 50 feet and is about a foot in width.
Besides affording a spectacular view of the city, Hawa Mahal also offers a panoramic
view of the Jantar Mantar.
Visiting Hours: 0930-1600 Hrs.
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