Location: 3km.from
Jaipur, state of Rajasthan
Known as: ‘Palace of Winds’
Best Time to Visit: October- March
Tourist Timings: 9:00 hrs- 17:00hrs
Hawa Mahal Information
Also known as Palace of the Wind is an archetypal splendor of Rajput
workmanship.
This impressive multi layered five-storey structure was designed by Lal
Chand Ustad, built by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh in 1799. Designed as a
beehive castle, it is made in red and pink sand stone, abstruse with motifs
painted with lime and white borders. The Mahal is a remarkable structure
that overlooks one of the main streets and also provides some excellent
views of the city. It was built to let the ladies of royal harem watch the
royal possessions and the activities on the streets without being observed
themselves.
The
Structure of the Mahal
Mahal offers sumptuous panorama of the city that includes numerous
patriarchal Havelis and royal palaces. The interiors of the structure is
plane with not much of architectural grandeur. The halls and chambers are
undamaged and simple with pillars and passages that lead to the top storey.
The whole structure is modeled to match a crown adorning Lord Krishna's
head. This dignified pyramidal monument has 953 small carapace each with
miniature bower carved pink windows, spacious balconies and elliptical roofs
with immaculate hanging cornices. The ravishing, carved windows make the
premises quite cool and airy. From the City Palace the structure can be
accessed by the gateway that opens into a commodious quadrant. The quadrant
embody a small archaeological museum treasuring crafts, paintings, items of
terra cotta, antiquities, swords, and royal dresses of the Maharajas of
Jaipur. A big storage vessel of 2nd
century AD unearthed at Naliasar (Sambhar) is a major source of attraction.
Timing: 10.00 A.M. to 4.30 P.M.
Closed: Friday and gazetted holidays.
Getting There
Air: Jaipur is well connected by regular flights to
Delhi, Mumbai, Varanasi, Kolkata, Udaipur, Aurangabas and Jodhpur.
Rail: Jaipur is connected to all major cities of the
country by means of rail transport. Special trains such as the Palace on
Wheels and Royal Orient Express operated from Delhi for Jaipur.
Road: There are excellent bus services from all the major
places in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Delhi and Mumbai.
Horse-carts, taxis and auto-rikshwa are the easiest way to travel in the
city.
