Table of Contents
Ask any local about the tourist places in Jaipur, and they’d tell you about all the beautiful places you can visit, including the Hawa Mahal, the gorgeous pink palace that stands tall in the heart of the Pink City. It’s easily one of the most famous tourist spots in Rajasthan, with its stunning facade and colourful interiors that have been glorified by famous poets and musicians from all over India.
It’s not just a nice tourist place to visit while in Jaipur—it’s an essential stop on any tour through the region. Even with all its popularity, there are still plenty of things most people don’t know about this lovely structure.
So here’s everything you should know about the Hawa Mahal before taking a tour. First, let’s dive into the history of Hawa Mahal.
While many people in Jaipur may have heard of the Hawa Mahal, few know its history or its story.
The palace was built by Sawai Pratap Singh, grandson of Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, in 1799. It is said to have cost approximately INR one million at that time. However, the most exciting thing about this monument is that it was built for his wife, Maharani Jaiwanta Bai, who was very shy and did not like to come out in public without covering her face with a veil or a mask.
To fulfil this demand and respect her privacy, the Maharaja constructed this beautiful monument which has been a part of Jaipur’s skyline ever since then. Built with local yellow sandstone, it has been designed intricately to blend with the walls of the City Palace from where it is located.
This monument has three floors and comprises five levels of balconies. Going up to the top floor gives you a perfect view of the Pink City of Jaipur. One can find Jharokhas on these unique Rajput-style balconies. These were constructed so that the women could watch daily celebrations and daily life of people without going out of the Mahal.
The structure has intricate lattice work on its exterior, with windows that provide cooling ventilation while keeping the interior private. The name ‘Hawa Mahal’ comes from this feature; translated from Hindi, it means ‘Palace of Winds’.
The King wanted to build something more than just a palace: he wanted a monument whose beauty would last forever. He reportedly told his architect, “I want something in which even if a piece of stone falls after 100 years, people will come here from all over the world to see.”
Now that you’re all head over heels for this beauty, let’s dive into how you can reach there and explore Hawa Mahal’s and Jaipur’s beauty to its fullest.
Jaipur, an archetypal Indian city and the capital of Rajasthan, is one of the most popular destinations for both domestic and foreign tourists. It preserves the essence of Indian culture, history, and traditions found nowhere else in India and has some brilliant tourist places in Jaipur.
The city is well-connected to other major cities through a well-developed road network. The roads are narrow but well-maintained, making it easy to navigate through the city. State-run buses pass through almost every street in the town and charge a nominal fare. Tourists can also travel by cabs, auto-rickshaws, or chauffeurs. You may also opt for a scenic train journey to Jaipur as it has a good railway network.
Jaipur International Airport is the nearest airport, situated 12 km from the Hawa Mahal. You may book a hotel near the Airport or near any of the tourist locations, giving you a captivating view of the city. Cleartrip offers good discounts on flight and hotel bookings.
One of Jaipur’s famous tourist attractions, Hawa Mahal, can be reached within minutes through the public transport system. The palace sits majestically on top of a high platform, overlooking the city from vantage points otherwise unavailable to ordinary citizens.
There is an extensive system of airways, railways, and roadways connected with majorly all the cities, towns, and countries, making it extremely easy for people to travel from different places.
You can visit Jaipur during any season; however, winters are preferable as the summers are too hot. The Hawa Mahal is a palace that almost exclusively faces east, which means it is exposed to the sun throughout the day.
When you’re in the palace, at any time of the day, you’ll feel a cold breeze due to the Venturi effect.
Most of the festivals and events in Rajasthan occur from October to March, making it a favourable time to visit this place.
The best time to visit Hawa Mahal in Jaipur would be early morning. Especially, if you’re interested in photography, this is when you’ll find that everything looks its absolute best!
It opens every day from 9:30-4:30 pm. There is a nominal ticket fee of INR 50 for Indians and INR 200 for foreigners; however, if you want to explore nearby places too, then you can take a composite ticket of INR 300 for Indians and INR 1000 for foreigners.
These royal Jharokhas are worth all the money! Built by the Rajputanas with a beautiful blend of Mughal architecture, these Jharokhas are all set to make you forget the time and fall in love with the aesthetics!
Ratan Mandir is known for its kaleidoscopic effect and is famous as Prakash Mandir.
This effect leads to a colourful display of architecture and makes everyone scream ‘wow’.
Yes, that’s true! You can look at the entire city from above, and that’s enough to make you fall in love with the city.
There’s no better example than Hawa Mahal to show you what Rajput culture was all about. There’s a museum to get you through the ancient history of Rajputs.
This cafe is right in front of Hawa Mahal and serves tasty meals! Moreover, you can enjoy the meals with a view of Hawa Mahal.
Once you’re done visiting Hawa Mahal, the next best thing to do is engage with the locals and visit markets like Choti Chaupad, Badi Chaupad, etc., to get the hang of Jaipur at its best.
These city roads are where you’ll learn what Jaipur is all about!
Oh, also! Don’t forget to eat Pandit ki kulfi, Rawat ki kachori, and Sambhar ki feeni. You’d thank us later for this!
Hawa Mahal, or the Palace of Winds, is one of the most famous tourist attractions in Jaipur. If you’re visiting the Pink City, you can’t miss seeing this lovely structure that sits on a high platform and overlooks the busy streets below.
With its delicate design that mimics an open-air palace and its intricate pattern of lattice windows, the Hawa Mahal is often praised as the most beautiful example of architecture in India. The castle was built in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh (one of the most famous rulers in Jaipur) to preserve his wives’ privacy while they watched daily life in Jaipur unfold from inside their palace.
To visit there and explore a royal taste, Cleartrip is here to help you!
The name ‘Hawa Mahal’ comes from the thin layers of marble and sandstone that form its walls. These semi-transparent layers allow light to pass through them, creating a subtle breeze within the building; hence, it is known as the ‘Palace of Winds’.
The legal heirs currently own the property, namely Rama Kumari Devi, Mayank Devi, Sarika Devi, and Vishveshwar.
The Hawa Mahal, or the Palace of Winds, was built in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh to allow royal ladies to observe street life without being seen.
The most distinctive feature of the Hawa Mahal is its facade decorated with intricate patterns of latticework screens or jalis.
You can visit Hawa Mahal anytime from 9 am to 4:30 pm.
The history of this structure is quite interesting! It was completed in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh and designed by Lal Chand Ustad.
It was built during a time when the royal women would be taken out at night to see festivals or other events happening at other palaces or temples; however, it was not feasible for them to go out in public during daylight hours.
