Hawa Mahal: The Crown of Jaipur

Hawa Mahal is situated in the city called Jaipur, which is known as the “PINK CITY” of India. Furthermore, it is the capital of Rajasthan. Jaipur is renowned for its culture and colored gems.

The ancient history of different forts and palaces attracts tourists from around the globe. Hawa Mahal was constructed by Kachhwaha Rajput ruler Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh in the year 1799. When the maharaja saw the arrangements of the Khetri Mahal in Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan, he was so delighted that he decided to make a palace modelled on it. Its strange architecture comprises 953 windows.

Hawa Mahal is located in downtown Jaipur and has famous attractions nearby. The alternative names of Hawa Mahal are the Palace of winds and the Palace of breeze. The reason behind this synonym is, the five-storey palace represents a honeycomb of a beehive and it is all the time windy inside, owing to the innumerable windows and Jharokhas. This astonishing ventilation that the palace enjoys is the reason why it was called the Hawa Mahal.

Hawa Mahal Architecture

It is a combination of Islamic, Mughal, and Rajput architectural styles. Its domed canopies, floral patterns, lotus motifs, and fluted pillars, all deliberate the rich Rajput style. Balancing these elements are the filigree work in stone and lavish arches, both of which draw impact from the Islamic style of architecture. It is a pyramid shape with a height of 50 feet.

Best time to visit Hawa Mahal

The convenient time to visit Hawa Mahal is winter, from October to March. It is the time in Jaipur when the average temperatures will be way lower than the daily temperatures of the summer days. You can simply roam around the city and examine places without getting irritated and dehydrated.

Hawa Mahal market for shopping

Hawa Mahal is present in the old market, which is quite famous for shopping for souvenirs and local stuff. You can purchase Traditional jewellery and gemstones, miniature paintings, carpets, pottery, puppets, stuffed dolls and bellies.

Stay near Hawa Mahal

There are luxurious and culturally represent the tradition of the state, hotels and resorts are available to live. In which all facilities are available and reviews are also available for reference

• KK Royal hotel & convention centre (7.9 km away and have the best rating)
• The raj palace (1.2 km away)
• Samode haveli (1.3 km away)
• The lodge B & B (1.3 km away)
• Saba haveli (1.1 km away)
• Bissau palace (1.6 km away)
• The Lalit Jaipur (10.1 km away)
• Hotel savoy (1.8 km away)
• Wall Street (1.9 km away)
• Jorawar haveli (1.3 km away)

Places to Visit near Hawa Mahal

Apart from the great texture and structure of Hawa Mahal, there are ample places there.

• Tattoo Cafe — It is situated in front of the Hawa Mahal giving picture-perfect views
• Wind View Cafe — It is situated beside Hawa Mahal. You can get traditional Rajasthani cuisine, North Indian cuisines, Italian food, finger food and a variety of beverages.
• Laxmi Mishthan Bhandar — It is a mixture of a sweet shop and a brilliant restaurant. It is highly suggested that you should visit and try their lip-smacking variety of food.
• Hawa Mahal Museum- An archaeological museum placed in the courtyard of the palace. That displays a fine collection of antiques, weapons, and other items used by the royals. The museum was formed in 1983. Major exhibits: Arrowheads, fish hooks, terracotta items, a storage vessel dating back to the 2nd century, etc.
• Jantar Mantar (700 m)
• Govind Dev Ji Temple (750 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)
• Hawa Mahal to city palace: City Palace is just a walking distance from Hawa Mahal. To be more precise it is just 850 meters away. It hardly takes 4 minutes to reach.
• Johari bazaar in Jaipur: It is the home to delicate Jaipur jewellery and craftsmanship. Johari bazaar is an absolute place to shop for lehengas, rear Mojari or Jutis, and sarees in colourful Bandhej and glittering stonework or gemstones.

How to reach out to Hawa Mahal?

There are 3 ways to reach Hawa Mahal

• By Taxi — Jaipur Airport is 12.2 KM from Hawa Mahal. You can book a taxi from the exit of the airport to reach the palace
• By Bike — Booking cabs or bikes online are also an alternative
• By Bus — From Jaipur railway station Hawa Mahal is just 6 km away. You can catch a local bus from the stop near the airport, which is the most cost-effective way of travelling.

What are the fees for entry and timings of the palace?

The fees are very nominalistic to gaze at the beauty of Hawa Mahal

• For Indians — ₹50
• For Foreigner — ₹200

Timings

Hawa Mahal is open from 09:00 am to 05:00 pm every day; Visit back at night to look at the beautifully lit monument. Approximately 3–4 hours are sufficient to roam around and click pictures.

FAQs

Q1. Why is Hawa Mahal called so?

Because it is quite windy. Its design represents so many windows, jharokhas and latticework making it well-ventilated.

Q2. Which rock is used in Hawa Mahal?

Red and pink sandstone of that century was mainly used to construct.

Q3. Who built the Hawa Mahal?

Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh

Q4. How many rooms are there in Hawa Mahal?

There are a total of 953 small casements present to enhance the knowledge and each room is distinctive.

Q5. How many floors does Hawa Mahal have?

A total of 5 floors are available which intricate the history.