HAWA MAHAL

Hawa Mahal is one of the beautiful forts in the pink city (Jaipur), Rajasthan, India. This beautiful five-storey palace was constructed in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh, Grandson of Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh, who belonged to Kachhwaha Rajput dynasty.

He was so impressed with the Khetri Mahal built by Maharaja Bhopal Singh in the town of Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan that he embarked on constructing the Hawa Mahal that today stands as a remarkable gem of Rajput style of architecture. It was built as an extension of the Royal City Palace and leads to the zenana or women's chambers. 

The main architect of this palace built of red and pink sandstone, is Lal Chand Ustad and the palace is believed to have been constructed in the form of the crown of Krishna, the Hindu god as Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh was a true devotee of lord Krishna.

This Wind Palace is constructed as a beehive castle with numerous small windows, called as ‘Jharokhas’. There are a total of 953 ‘Jharokhas’ in the Mahal.

These jharokhas were build in such a manner that air circulates naturally through them creating Venturi effect (doctor breeze) thus air conditioning the entire structure during the hot summers.

 Each jharokha has a small chamber where one can sit and view the street. Fountains at the middle of each chamber complimented well with the light wind flowing through the jharokhas thus enhancing the cooling effect of the chambers.

During those days, ladies of the zenana (royal household) observed very strict purdah (covering the face) that Rajput royal women did not appear in public or in front of strangers. However, they were keen to follow the day-to-day events and royal processions occurring on the streets. It is for their benefit that the Hawa Mahal was built, complete with small windows and screened balconies. This gave the women a sense of freedom, without appearing in public.

 This five storied pyramid shaped structure is made up of small casements, each with tiny semi-octagonal, overhanging windows with perforated screens, and arched roofs with hanging cornices, exquisitely modeled and carved. Placed one above the other, they have about them an air of lightness and delicate beauty

The cultural and architectural heritage of the palace is a true reflection of a fusion of Hindu Rajput architecture and Islamic Mughal architecture. The Rajput style is seen in the form of domed canopies, fluted pillars, lotus and floral patterns, and the Islamic style as evident in its stone inlay filigree work and arches.

 Its top three stories are just a single room thick and at the base are two courtyards . The elaborate construction in the front stands on walls that are barely 0.2 metre (8 inches) in width. 

Basically, it is a fifty-foot-high thin shield, which is less than a foot in thickness but have over 900 niches and a mass of semi-octagonal bays, carved sandstone grills, finials and domes, which give this palace its unique facade.

The interior of the Hawa Mahal is stark and plain with passages and pillars reaching to the top storey. The building does not have stairs to reach the upper floors; the storeys are connected by slopes. From Hawa Mahal, you have an excellent view of the city. The monument also has an archeological museum.