Hawa Mahal was built in 1799 AD by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh to provide women of royal households a perspective of common life via the windows because they never appeared in public. It has 87 windows.
The building is named after its primary occupant, Queen Hawa Devi (died 1831). She was the second wife of Maharaja Pratap Singh and the mother of Raja Ram Singh, the first king of Jaipur. The queen is said to have had a profound influence on palace architecture and culture, especially literature and art.
Hawa Mahal stands at 22 feet (6.7 m) high and has three floors plus an attic. Its walls are covered with sheets of glass from floor to ceiling. From outside, it looks like a giant jewel box.
It is now a museum where visitors can see royal furniture, costumes, weapons, and other artifacts that date back over 300 years.
Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II built Hawa Mahal as a tribute to his father's success in constructing the impressive Amber Fort nearby. He also used the money earned from selling off land to pay for its construction. The work started in 1799 and was completed in 1803.
History, Architecture, and Operating Hours Hawa Mahal was built in 1799 AD by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh to provide women of royal households a perspective of common life via the windows because they never appeared in public. The building is most famous for its eight enormous glass doors that open onto a stone balcony with an ornamental well in the center. The well is still filled with water today but no longer has any purpose.
The building is located in Jaipur (Rajasthan, India), on the edge of the city's old wall. It is opposite another famous monument, the Jal Mahal. Sawai Pratap Singh used to come here every morning with his coffee before going out hunting.
Inside the building are shops where artisans manufactured items such as jewelry, furniture, and carpets. They also served as offices where government officials conducted business with visitors from outside the kingdom.
Today, the building houses a restaurant that offers views across the city. Visitors can order food inside or take it out on one of the few remaining wooden platforms that used to stand in front of the windows.
Hawamahal means "women's palace" in Hindi. It was originally called Raj Mahal ("royal palace") but this name was later changed when Sawai Pratap Singh built another palace named Raj Mahal nearby.
The major motive for the construction of the Hawa Mahal was to honor Rajput ladies who were not permitted to appear in public. All the women used to get glimpses of royal processions and the noise and bustle of the city via this fort. So, they built a palace on top of it to be able to see and be seen by everyone!
The Hawa Mahal has been described as "the world's largest washing machine" because of all the clothes that can be seen hanging inside it. This unique building functions as both a palace and a market at the same time. It is said that if you walk around its perimeter, then turn back and look into its heart, you will find something new to interest you.
What makes the Hawa Mahal special? It is one of the eight wonders of India. The name itself tells you how special it is!
Hawa means "wind" and mahal means "palace". Therefore, this means "Wind Palace".
It is believed that the building was designed by King Shah Jahan as a tribute to the woman he loved. Some say it was also meant as a prison for him if things went bad during his reign.
Information about the Hawa Mahal The Hawa Mahal was completed in 1799 in Badi Choupad, Jaipur's Pink City. On the outer walls, there are 953 windows. The honeycomb-shaped and elegantly carved windows allow a breeze to circulate through the castle, making it ideal for a summer palace. Also on the exterior walls are seven balconies called jharokhas. These provide a view of the city from above while also allowing food to be served inside the palace without being poisoned by the king's wife or other members of the royal family.
Inside the Hawa Mahal is a large hall with an elaborately decorated ceiling made up of geometric patterns painted in colors that include yellow, pink, white and blue. This is where royal weddings were held until 1843 when they were moved to a new building next to the Hawa Mahal called the Diwan-i-Aam (Hall of Public Audience). Today, the hall is used for official functions like music concerts.
The Hawa Mahal has nine entrances but only two are open to the public: one at the front and another at the back. You need to take a guard at each entrance to ensure that only guests who have been invited into the palace are allowed in. In addition, there is a third entrance hidden behind a curtain in the rear left corner of the room; this is used by the king's wives when they want to leave the palace secretly without being seen by the public.
Hawa Mahal, located just a short distance from the commercial heart of Pink City, is considered Jaipur's hallmark. Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh constructed this five-story structure, known as the "Palace of Winds," in 1799. The king was inspired by the similar Moti Mahal, or Pearl Palace, built by his father in 1567 on the opposite side of the river.
Hawa Mahal got its name from the Hindi word for "wind palace," because it has many windows. The building consists of five chambers with 100 total windows, each one divided into four sections for air circulation. Inside, marble and stone sculptures decorate all surfaces including ceilings. There are also several mirrors throughout the room reflecting back the light coming in through the many windows.
The Hawa Mahal is India's only surviving wind palace and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. It's open daily except Thursday when it's closed to the public.
Best time to visit the Hawa Mahal is between April and October, when the city is at its best visibility-wise.
There is no charge to enter the Hawa Mahal but donations are accepted by the staff.
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