You are not currently logged in.

Travel Guides

Hawa Mahal Travel Guide

Travel to Hawa Mahal - Filigree Façade and Icon of Jaipur

Ratings:: 3.25 out of 5 (4 votes)

Reviews:: Be the first to write a review

Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh built the Hawa Mahal, also called the Palace of the Winds. This is the most easily recognised landmark of Jaipur and is the city’s icon. Located next to the City Palace it provides a window onto the streets below today just as it did for the ladies of the court.

Sawai Pratap Singh was a poet and something of his romantic nature has certainly been passed on to today’s generations in the form of the utterly romantic Hawa Mahal. Best viewed from the outside the palace is really a wonderful façade of tier upon tier of filigree jali work. It overlooks one of the city’s busiest streets and it provided a place from which the ladies of the court could watch the goings on below without being seen.

Attractions in Hawa Mahal

Rising to five-storeys the building is a stunning example of Rajput architecture and artistry with its pink delicately honeycombed 953 sandstone windows known as 'jharokhas'. Most people come here to get a view of the facade but they can also climb to the top for a wonderful view from the latticed windows. There is also a small archaeological museum here with some notable exhibits.

Shopkeepers opposite will let you photograph from their rooftops in return for you browsing in their store.

Activities in Hawa Mahal

Allow an hour to explore the Hawa Mahal and its small museum.

Relaxing

The tea stands on the traffic roundabout near the Hawa Mahal sound an unlikely yet surprisingly pleasant place to pause and enjoy the frenetic activity in front of the building.