As you all know there are many such places in Jaipur which attract tourists and devotees a lot. You must have heard the name of one of these famous places, Hawa Mahal. Hawa Mahal is known for its extremely attractive and beautifully carved sandstone lattices, cornices and domes, its architecture and the unique crafts of coloured mirrors installed in the palace etc.
Quick Information About Hawa Mahal Jaipur:
| Attribute | Details |
| Location | Badi Choupad |
| Timings | 9:00 am – 4:30 pm (every day) |
| Entry Fee | ₹ 50 (Indians), ₹ 200 (Foreigners) |
| Year of Establishment | 1799 |
| Height | 50 meters |
| Commissioned by | Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh |
| Material Used | Red and pink sandstone |
| Also Known as | Palace of Breeze |
| Architect | Lal Chand Ustad |
| Architectural Style | Fusion of Islamic, Mughal, and Rajput styles |
History
Hawa Mahal is a royal palace located on Badi Chowpar in Jaipur which was built by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh in 1799. Let us tell you that Hawa Mahal was built like a ‘Rajmukut’ which was designed by architect Lal Chand Ustad. This unique Hawa Mahal is a five-storey building which is only one and a half feet wide at the top and when seen from the outside. Its shape looks like a bee hive, which has 953 stunning and attractive small latticed windows, which are called Jharokhas. Due to its very beautiful interior decoration, this palace used to be the favourite resting place of Maharaja Jai Singh.
About Hawa Mahal
Hawa Mahal is a five-storey monument which is entered through the royal gate from the City Palace. As soon as you enter the palace through the royal gate, there is an open courtyard on three sides of which are two-storey buildings and to the east lies the more grand Hawa Mahal. There is also an archaeological museum in this courtyard. The palace has 953 windows, keeping the palace’s atmosphere cool. To further enhance the cooling effect in summer, there is also a provision of fountains in the hallway in front of all the rooms. There is only a system of stairs to reach the top two floors of Hawa Mahal. It is said that keeping in mind the inconvenience faced by the queens in climbing the stairs wearing long skirts, stairs were built in place of stairs to enter its upper two floors.
Why were so many latticed windows made in Hawa Mahal?
Women of the royal family used to live in this palace and at that time the practice of purdah was also prevalent. The basic idea behind making these windows latticed was that without anyone noticing, by strictly following the “Purda Pratha”, the women of the royal family could watch the activities of daily life happening in the corridors and the ceremonies on the streets outside the palace through these windows can see easily. One reason for making these windows latticed is so that the palace can remain cool even in hot summers. Due to the “Venturi effect”, cool air always comes inside the palace through these intricately structured lattice windows, so the palace always remains air-conditioned even in the scorching heat.
Location
This palace is located on the main road Badi Chaupar in the heart of the commercial centre of Jaipur and is built of lime, red and pink sandstone. It is part of the City Palace and extends up to the Zenana Room or Ladies Room. Seeing it shining in the golden light of the sun early in the morning gives a unique and captivating feeling.
Timings
Hawa Mahal has a fixed time to visit which is from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm and it is open every day.
Entry Fees
You all know that Hawa Mahal attracts tourists due to its architecture, shape, interior decoration etc. Tourists are also charged an entry fee to enter the Hawa Mahal, which is Rs 50 for Indians and Rs 200 for foreigners (note – for one person).
Top Tourist Attraction Nearby the Hawa Mahal
| Place | Distance from City Palace |
| Jantar Mantar | 700 m |
| Govind Dev Ji Temple | 750 m |
| City Palace | 850 m |
| Jaipur Zoo | 2 km |
| Albert Hall Museum | 2.4 km |
| Raj Mandir Cinema | 3.7 km |
| Dolls Museum | 3.8 km |
| Central Park | 4.4 km |
| Birla Mandir | 4.5 km |
| Jal Mahal | 5 km |
| Kanak Vrindavan Garden | 5.3 km |
| Rambagh Palace | 5.4 km |
| Amber Palace | 7.9 km |
FAQs on Hawa Mahal Jaipur Timings, Location, and Entry Fees
Q.1. Where is Hawa Mahal located?
Ans: Hawa Mahal is located in the heart of the Pink City, Jaipur. It is situated on the main thoroughfare called Badi Chaupad in Jaipur.
Q.2. When was Hawa Mahal built?
Ans: Hawa Mahal was built in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh as an extension of the Royal City Palace of Jaipur.
Q.3. Who built Hawa Mahal?
Ans: It was built by architect Lal Chand Ustad for Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh.
Q.4. What is Hawa Mahal famous for?
Ans: Hawa Mahal is famous for its unique five-story pyramidal shape and its 953 small windows known as Jharokhas. The architecture allows a cool breeze to flow through the palace.
Q.5. What is the architectural style of Hawa Mahal?
Ans: It is built in the Rajputana style of architecture with pink and red sandstone. It has a honeycomb-like beehive structure.
Q.6. Why was Hawa Mahal built?
Ans: It was built to enable royal women to observe street festivals while unseen from the outside. The small windows allowed air circulation making the palace comfortable during hot weather.
Q.7. What are the timings to visit Hawa Mahal?
Ans: It is open every day from 9 am to 4:30 pm. The best time to visit is morning to see the spectacular views of the rising sun.
Q.8. Is there an entry fee for Hawa Mahal?
Ans: Yes, there is a nominal entry fee of Rs 50 for domestic tourists and Rs 200 for foreign tourists.
Q.9. What is prohibited inside Hawa Mahal?
Ans: Visitors are prohibited from eating, smoking and carrying inflammable items inside Hawa Mahal.
