Hawa Mahal Jaipur
Hawa Mahal in Jaipur is one of the most famous tourist attractions in the city. Hawa Mahal literally means the palace of the winds. It was constructed in 1799. Ever since then, it has been a sight to behold. The architecture is done in red and pink sandstone. The architecture is a fine example of the Rajputana architecture of that time. If you look at the monument itself, you would realize that it consists of 953 different windows. These windows were constructed in order to facilitate the women of the palace to view the proceedings outside.
How will you gain access?
The Sanganer Airport (Jaipur) is located at a distance of 11 km from the city center. There are direct flight services available to Delhi, Mumbai, Udaipur, Jodhpur, and Aurangabad. By rail route, the city of Jaipur has direct links with Bikaner, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Ahmedabad, Secunderabad, Agra, Lucknow, Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata. The Delhi-Jaipur National Highway is one of the finest in the country. The Rajasthan Roadways plies regular AC and deluxe coaches from Delhi.
History of Hawa Mahal Jaipur:
As we stated above, the Hawa Mahal was constructed in 1799. The palace was constructed as the royal palace. One of the most iconic features of the architecture is the large number of windows that were created in order to let the women of the Palace view the proceedings outside.
Architecture:
If you look at the total height of the palace, it is around 50 feet from the bottom. The walls are also more than a foot thick. This was done to provide an added layer of protection to the palace. The courtyard which is the inside is quite spacious and has buildings of 2 storeys on either side. The interior of the palace was created in a completely normal manner with large passages as well as pillars to support the entire structure. One more unusual feature of the palace is that stairs were not constructed in order to reach the upper floors. Rather, you would find that the slopes were created in order to enable people to reach the upper floors. Currently, the palace also houses the Archaeological Museum which has plenty of artifacts of that era. Owing to these old reasons, it is a must-visit tourist attraction when you’re in Jaipur.
Tourist attractions nearby:
Hawa Mahal is located in the proper city of Jaipur. That is why, when you’re visiting these tourist attractions, there are plenty of other tourist attractions nearby as well. Some of the other tourist attractions nearby are:
- Jain Temple
- Statue Circle
- Jantar Mantar
- Govind Devji Temple
- Amer Fort
When you’re in Jaipur, it is always a good idea to catch a glimpse of this iconic heritage of the city. It still stands tall after more than 200 years. It is a remark of the fine architectural skills of the Rajput regime who constructed it and used the palace as their royal residence.
What are the timings and the entry charges?
The HawaMahal can be visited from 09-30 to 16-30 hours. The entry charges for both Indians and foreign national is Rs 5.
What does the past say?
The HawaMahal or the Palace of Winds was erected by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh in the year 1799. The palace stands abutting the outside of the City Palace. Sawai Pratap Singh was a devotee of Lord Krishna and he dedicated the palace to the lord. The exterior of the palace looks like a Mukut (Crown), which adorns Lord Krishna’s head. It is believed that this palace provided the royal ladies with an opportunity to watch processions and other activities in the streets below.
You Must Visit Hawa Mahal Jaipur
City Palace
The city palace acquires a position in the heart of the Pink City of Jaipur. The palace comprises numerous pavilions, courtyards, chambers, gardens, and palaces. The construction of the palace was begun by Maharaja Jai Singh II. The present Maharaja still resides with his family in a portion of the palace. The rest part of the palace is open for public visits.
Jantar Mantar
The Jantar Mantar is an observatory that was built by the astronomer king Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh in the year 1726. The observatory is a store-house of futuristic scientific instruments or Yantras.
Gaitor
At a distance of 15 km from Jaipur lies the place called Gaitor. It is popular for the cenotaphs or the Chhatris of the Jaipur rulers. Here, one can find the cenotaphs of Maharaja Pratap Singh, Maharaja Madho Singh II, and Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II besides others. Built-in white marble, the cenotaph of Maharaja Jai Singh II, is the most prominent.
