Palace of Winds- Hawa Mahal
The Hawa Mahal of Jaipur is one of the unique monuments of the world. The Hawa Mahal literally means Palace of winds. The Hawa Mahal has become a landmark by which Jaipur and often the whole of Rajasthan is represented. It is such a beautiful sight that cannot be 
described in words but its beauty could only be felt if seen live. Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh built this unusual structure in 1799 for the royal ladies so they could see all the activities going on in the streets below while remaining unseen by the Public. The windows served both as a screen for privacy as well as to provide ventilation and to allow the cool air to circulate.
It looks like a huge beautiful palace but all it has are passages and balconies. It’s a pyramid shaped structure, having five storeyed building with number of small windows and screens and arched roof with hanging cornices. These are elegantly carved and decorated. The front part of the building is intricately carved as compared to rear side, which lacks much ornamentation and is very plain and more is a mass of passages and pillars.
The broad pyramidical facade comprises five storeys of semi octagonal overhanging windows with perforated screens, domes and spires. This five storeyed façade has artistic view with 953 pink delicately honeycombed sandstone windows called ‘Jharokas’and covered balconies behind pink sandstone jails. The first two storey are backed by a basement but the three storeys above it have just passages and windows. It becomes clear from its view that this building has not been constructed for residential purpose. There is a total lack of ornamentation on the inner face of the building. This honeycombed building was made to facilitate women.
The monument was built at the time when veiled system (‘Purdah’ system) was strictly followed in the royal families. Thus it was built so that the ladies could watch the activities taking place on the street and enjoy the sense of freedom. It offers women of the court a vantage point behind stone arched screens.
The building proves its name true as one climbs up to balconies, is almost swept away by the cool breeze. It’s a great example of Rajputana architecture, which was strongly influenced by Mughal architecture. Hawa Mahal is admired not only for its architecture but it also offers an astonishing view of Jantar Mantar that is another tourist attraction of Jaipur. Hawa Mahal provides the traveler a wonderful feeling of satisfaction of seeing a unique monument of the world, so one should not miss to travel the place.
described in words but its beauty could only be felt if seen live. Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh built this unusual structure in 1799 for the royal ladies so they could see all the activities going on in the streets below while remaining unseen by the Public. The windows served both as a screen for privacy as well as to provide ventilation and to allow the cool air to circulate.It looks like a huge beautiful palace but all it has are passages and balconies. It’s a pyramid shaped structure, having five storeyed building with number of small windows and screens and arched roof with hanging cornices. These are elegantly carved and decorated. The front part of the building is intricately carved as compared to rear side, which lacks much ornamentation and is very plain and more is a mass of passages and pillars.
The broad pyramidical facade comprises five storeys of semi octagonal overhanging windows with perforated screens, domes and spires. This five storeyed façade has artistic view with 953 pink delicately honeycombed sandstone windows called ‘Jharokas’and covered balconies behind pink sandstone jails. The first two storey are backed by a basement but the three storeys above it have just passages and windows. It becomes clear from its view that this building has not been constructed for residential purpose. There is a total lack of ornamentation on the inner face of the building. This honeycombed building was made to facilitate women.
The monument was built at the time when veiled system (‘Purdah’ system) was strictly followed in the royal families. Thus it was built so that the ladies could watch the activities taking place on the street and enjoy the sense of freedom. It offers women of the court a vantage point behind stone arched screens.
The building proves its name true as one climbs up to balconies, is almost swept away by the cool breeze. It’s a great example of Rajputana architecture, which was strongly influenced by Mughal architecture. Hawa Mahal is admired not only for its architecture but it also offers an astonishing view of Jantar Mantar that is another tourist attraction of Jaipur. Hawa Mahal provides the traveler a wonderful feeling of satisfaction of seeing a unique monument of the world, so one should not miss to travel the place.
posted by shubhamsinghal at
3:51 AM
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