Hawa Mahal
The Hawa Mahal or the Palace of the Wind is one landmark of Jaipur and a monument famous all over the world. It was built by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh in 1799 AD. It is an inherent part of the City Palace and was a later addition. The Hawa Mahal was an extension of the ladies chamber, zenana standing away from the main complex.



The building was designed by Lal Chand Usta and dedicated it to Lord Krishna and his beloved Radha. It is made of red and pink sandstone and the outlines of white border and motif's are painted of quick lime. It is one of the finest examples of Rajput architecture and artistry.

The facade of the Hawa Mahal looks more like a delicate screen than a palace from the roadside. It is a five-storeyed, pyramid-shaped structure. It is made up of tiers one over another with 953 small casements. The building is 50 ft high and a foot in thickness. There are over 900 niches in the structure with semi-octagonal alcoves, carved sandstone grills, finials and domes.

The entrance to Hawa Mahal is from the City Palace. An imposing door opens into a spacious courtyard, which has a double storeyed building on three sides. The Hawa Mahal stands true to its name. As one climbs up to the balconies, he is almost swept away by the cool breeze. There is a small archeological museum here to provide a glimpse of art and craft of Rajasthan.



How To Reach
By Air : Jaipur is connected to Delhi, Mumbai, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Aurangabad, Calcutta and Varanasi by domestic flights.
By Bus : Jaipur can be accessed from all the major places in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Delhi and Mumbai by bus.
By Train : The train service to Jaipur is available from all the major parts of the country. The train services to Jaipur are slower, because of the metre gauge line.