Top 10 Facts About The Hawa Mahal, Jaipur

Introduction

Rajasthan is a state of several wonders. Hawa Mahal is one of them. It is a very alluring site located in Jaipur city. The Hawa Mahal is known for its memorable and impressive exterior. Similar to its impeccable architecture, its history, design, and facts will leave you spellbound. Hawa Mahal is a striking landmark of Jaipur, that is popular for its pink-colored balconies, and latticed windows that provide a panoramic view of this city.

On stepping inside the Hawa Mahal, you will realize as if you have stepped into a place that reflects a fusion of Hindu Rajput, and Islamic Mughal architecture. In this article, we will tell you some interesting facts about this stunning structure.

Construction

Hawa Mahal was constructed in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh. The building got built as a part of the famous City Palace. It is made with the help of distinctive red-colored sandstone that makes it simply fabulous.

Often called the ‘Palace of Winds’ Hawa Mahal was accredited to the wind breeze that flows through the 953small colorful windows or jharokhas in the building. The air that flows through the windows keeps the palace airy, and cool. The entire design of the monument was done by Lal Chand Ustad, who was a great believer in Lord Krishna. His devotion is seen in his art (Hawa Mahal) that resembles that of the crown of Lord Krishna.

Objective

The major purpose of the Hawa Mahal is to facilitate royal women of the kingdom to enjoy watching processions and also observe the crowd that takes place in the street without getting noticed by the people. This is because they had to follow the stringent ‘purdah’ rule.

Made from pink, and red sandstone, the exterior of this monument resembles that of a honeycomb of a beehive. The presence of small windows throughout the palaces with the enticing latticework beautifies the palace.

Architecture

The overall architecture of the Hawa Mahal is seen to be a distinctive combination of Mughal and Rajput styles. The captivating sight of Hawa Mahal appears to be a massive screened porch, that makes it one of the most admired illustrations of Rajput architecture in the country.

Hawa Mahal has an architectural, and cultural heritage that is a true reflection of its fusion of Islamic Mughal architecture, and Hindu Rajput architecture. While the Islamic style is clearly evident in its arches, and stone inlay filigree artwork, one can see the Rajput style in the form of fluted pillars, domed canopies, lotus patterns, and floral patterns.

Five Stories

There is a total of five floors in the Hawa Mahal. This tiered dream-like composition projects balconies, and windows. It has elevated screens that are five-story high but only 1 room deep. The walls of the monument are quite thick. Read Also: 10 Places (Cities) to Visit Near Jaipur

No Foundation

Another interesting fact about the Hawa Mahal is that the entire building is laid without any solid foundation. Though the Hawa Mahal isn’t as tall as compared to the skyscrapers of the world, it is considered to be one of the tallest buildings in the world without any foundations. Read Also: Which are the best rooftop restaurants in Jaipur?

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Design

Another peculiar feature of this mesmerizing monument is its design. Tourists from all parts of the world get fascinated by its incredible design. The jharokhas of the Hawa Mahal are designed in a way to imitate the beehive of a honeycomb. It enables the entry of fresh air into the building. As its windows are colorful, outsiders are not able to see who is inside the palace. Hawa Mahal is constructed in the form of Lord Krishna’s crown.

This mighty monument stands tall, and upright due to its pyramid shape. This five-stories building lacks solid foundations. It has a curved shape that rests at an inclination of 87 degrees. In addition to it, the natural sandstone provides a beautiful, and distinctive rosy color to the building that looks very beautiful.

No stairs

There are no stairs to reach the top floors of this monument. You will find only ramps to reach the top floors.

No Front Entrance

Another interesting feature of the Hawa Mahal is that it does not have any direct entrance. The only way to enter is from sideways of the City Palace. This is because the Hawa Mahal was constructed as an integral part of the City Palace. So, there is no separate entrance provided for the outsiders to make an entry into this monument.

Named After Hawa Mandir

Hawa Mahal is named after another popular monument in Jaipur called Hawa Mandir. Both these grand buildings stand in Jaipur city and are highly visited locations places in Jaipur.

Devoted to Lord Krishna

The design of the Hawa Mahal makes it evident that is devoted to Lord Krishna. It has the shape of the crown that the Hindu God Lord Krishna used to wear. Sawai Pratap Singh, who constructed this monument was a great believer in Lord Krishna. His devotion reflects in his construction. The sight of this monument is particularly striking at the time of the sunrise when it gets illuminated by the golden rays of the Sun.

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