Mahal ke jharokhon se..An easy-breezy visit to Hawa Mahal in Jaipur!

With the honeycombed hive look from the front, Hawa Mahal in Jaipur also has other stories behind its unique architecture style. Read it out here!

Who does not want to visit such a place where you just stand and get the cool and soothing breeze from everywhere! No, we are not talking about any beaches or hilltops. It is the one and only beautiful Hawa Mahal in Jaipur whose windows are open for you to feel the calm breeze.

Have you ever wondered what is so special about Hawa Mahal that it is often regarded as the landmark for the pink city? It's that architecture with a total of 953 windows!

History

This 50 meters heritage palace was built in 1799 by the Kachhwaha Rajput ruler Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh. He was impressed by the structure of Khetri Mahal in Jhunjhunu of Rajasthan after which he ordered Lal Chand Usta, the architect to build an extension of City Palace using the same design.

During this period, the Purdah system was much prevalent and women were not allowed to show their faces in the public. The architecture of the palace helped the royal women to look at the daily activities on the streets through those jharokhas.

Perfect fusion of Islamic, Mughal and Rajput style

When you look at Hawa Mahal from the road of Badi Choupad where it is situated, it appears like the crown of Lord Krishna. This is due to Maharaj Sawai Pratap Singh, who was devoted to Lord Krishna.

The structure of Hawa Mahal comprises domed canopies and lotus motifs that showcase the rich Rajput architecture style.

As you go inside the Mahal, you cannot stop yourself from appreciating the construction after seeing the filigree work in stone and lavish arches- the highlights of Islamic architecture.

The red and pink stones used for the palace adds to the beauty of the Mahal. As you go up, get ready to see the fluted pillars and floral patterns all around.

Various Mandir inside Hawa Mahal

The five-storey Mahal has its two-floor adorned and has ornamented corridors that go to the top floor. The first floor namely Sharad Mandir was used for autumn celebrations during the old times. The second floor is Ratan Mandir where you can see the fine colourful glassworks.

However, the top three floors are small as the size of a single room namely, Vichitra Mandir, Prakash Mandir, and Hawa Mandir. The Maharaja used to worship Lord Krishna at the Vichitra Mandir.

The Prakash Mandir has an open terrace on both sides. But do you know that there are no steps through which you can go to the top floors? This is because the royal women used palanquins for which ramps were made instead of stairs.

Out of all, the best part of the palace is the small jharokhas which does not even let you feel a bit of summer as the wind keeps passing by at all hours. Those hanging cornices beautifies the architecture even more.

Now, under the Archeological department of Rajasthan, the palace was renovated in 2006 to keep alluring tourists from all over the world.

Hawa Mahal Museum

You have a chance to observe the glorious past with the Hawa Mahal museum located in the courtyard. It houses many antique weapons and items used by royal people. Built in 1983, the museum also exhibits arrowheads, fish hooks, terracotta items and a storage vessel that dates back to the 2nd century.

So, whenever you think that there can't be a place to visit during the time of scorching heat, always remember hawa ke jharokhe!

How to visit: Take an auto, bus or personal vehicle to reach Badi Choupad.
Where: Hawa Mahal Rd, Badi Choupad, J.D.A. Market, Pink City, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302002
Timings: 9 am to 4:30 pm
Entry cost: Rs 50 for Indians, 200 for foreigners

Also Read: Hydrogen fuel bus service from Delhi to Jaipur will start soon!

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