Palace in Jaipur

Hawa Mahal

State Protected Monument

The story of Hawa Mahal

Hawa Mahal is a five-storey palace in Jaipur, built in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh and designed by Lal Chand Ustad. Its most striking feature is the street-facing façade: a honeycomb-like wall of 953 jharokhas, or small windows, with carved sandstone grills, finials, and domes.

The palace is built from red and pink sandstone and sits on the edge of the City Palace, Jaipur, extending to the Zenana, the women’s chambers. It is also known as the Palace of Winds, a name that reflects its 953 windows and the way those openings were designed to let air move through the building. The original latticework also let royal ladies observe everyday life and festivals in the street below without being seen.

From the street, Hawa Mahal can look like the front of the palace, but it is actually the back. The outer face rises in a pyramidal form, while the inner side is made up of chambers with pillars and corridors, reaching up to the top floor. The top three floors are only the width of a single room, while the first and second floors have patios in front of them. The structure has been described as having rooms of different coloured marbles, with inlaid panels or gilding, and fountains in the centre of the courtyard.

The palace was inspired by the structure of Khetri Mahal. In 2006, renovation works were undertaken after a gap of 50 years, at an estimated cost of Rs 4.568 million. The Unit Trust of India has adopted Hawa Mahal to help maintain it, and it is a State Protected Monument.

When you visit, the carved screens, small casements, arched roofs, and delicately modelled hanging cornices are the details to notice first.

In brief

The Hawa Mahal is a palace in the city of Jaipur, Rajasthan, India. Built from red and pink sandstone, it is on the edge of the City Palace, Jaipur, and extends to the Zenana, or women's chambers.

Hawa Mahal, also known as the "Palace of Winds" was built in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh. The palace is known for its honeycomb-like façade, featuring numerous small windows and balconies.

Hawa Mahal derives its name from its 953 windows, known as jharokhas, which are arranged in a honeycomb-like pattern. These openings facilitate natural ventilation, helping to keep the interior of the palace cool during the summers.

The structure was built in 1799 by the Rajput Emperor Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh, grandson of Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh, the founder of the city of Jaipur of Rajasthan. He was so inspired by the unique structure of Khetri Mahal that he built this grand and historical palace.

It was designed by Lal Chand Ustad. Its five-floor exterior is akin to a honeycomb with its 953 small windows called Jharokhas decorated with intricate latticework. The original intent of the lattice design was to allow royal ladies to observe everyday life and festivals celebrated in the street below without being seen. This architectural feature also allowed cool air from the Venturi effect to pass through, thus making the whole area more pleasant during the high temperatures in summer. Many people see the Hawa Mahal from the street view and think it is the front of the palace, but it is the back.

In 2006, renovation works on the Mahal were undertaken, after a gap of 50 years, to give a facelift to the monument at an estimated cost of Rs 4.568 million. The corporate sector lent a hand to preserve the historical monuments of Jaipur and the Unit Trust of India has adopted Hawa Mahal to maintain it.

The palace is an extended part of a huge complex. The stone-carved screens, small casements, and arched roofs are some of the features of this popular tourist spot. The monument also has delicately modelled hanging cornices.

Key facts

Named after: wind
Built: 1799
Opened: 1799
Commissioned by: Sawai Pratap Singh
Architect: Lal Chand Ustad
Architectural style: Mughal architecture
Floors: 5

Before you go

Open today: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Time to allow: 1.5-2.5 hr
Best months: September to March
Address: Hawa Mahal Rd, Badi Choupad, J.D.A. Market, Kanwar Nagar, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302002, India

Hawa Mahal

The story of Hawa Mahal

In brief

Key facts

Before you go

Where this comes from