Hawa Mahal, the “Palace of Winds,” was built in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh as an extension of Jaipur’s City Palace, designed by architect Lal Chand Ustad. Its purpose was practical as well as decorative: the honeycomb facade of 953 small windows, or jharokhas, allowed royal women to observe street life and festivals below without being seen from outside.
The five-story pink sandstone facade rises in a pyramidal shape about 50 feet tall and is one of Jaipur’s most photographed landmarks, especially in the soft morning light that gives the “Pink City” its name. The intricate lattice work also creates a natural cooling effect, drawing air through the palace during Rajasthan’s hot summers.
A walk through the palace’s interior and rooftop level takes about an hour. Hawa Mahal is open daily from 9am to 4:30pm, and the cooler months from October to March are the most comfortable time to visit.
