Hawa Mahal, the Palace of Winds in Jaipur, was built in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh and designed by architect Lal Chand Ustad. Its famous pink sandstone front has 953 small windows (jharokhas), made so that royal women could watch street life without being seen.
Quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Built by | Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh |
| Year | 1799 |
| Architect | Lal Chand Ustad |
| Windows | 953 small jharokhas |
| Height | About 15 metres (50 feet), five storeys |
| Material | Red and pink sandstone |
| Style | Rajput architecture with Mughal influence |
| Location | Badi Choupar, Old City (Pink City), Jaipur |
Who built Hawa Mahal and why?
Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh was the grandson of Sawai Jai Singh II, the founder of Jaipur. He is said to have been inspired by the Khetri Mahal, and he wanted a structure that connected with the royal ladies’ quarters in the City Palace. In Rajput royal households, women observed purdah and could not freely appear in public. The Hawa Mahal’s carved screens allowed them to watch festivals, processions and daily street life from behind the lattice.
Architecture
From the front, Hawa Mahal looks like a thick, honeycomb-like screen, but it is actually quite shallow, only a few rooms deep. The five storeys are called Shard Mandir, Ratan Mandir, Vichitra Mandir, Prakash Mandir and Hawa Mandir. The small windows, with their delicate lattice work, are topped with domes and cusped arches that reflect Rajput and Mughal styles. Some of the screens use coloured glass.
The design has a practical purpose too. The numerous small openings let the breeze pass through, creating a cooling effect in the hot Rajasthan summer. This is how the building got its name, Palace of Winds (Hawa Mahal).
There is no grand staircase. Floors are connected by ramps, and the top two floors are reached by ramps rather than stairs.
Colour of the Pink City
Jaipur is called the Pink City because in 1876, ahead of a visit by the Prince of Wales (later Edward VII), the buildings in the Old City were painted pink, a colour associated with hospitality. Hawa Mahal’s sandstone, in shades of pink and red, is the best example of that look. The building is repainted and restored from time to time.
Which side is the front?
Many people photograph Hawa Mahal from the main road, but this is actually the back of the palace complex. The real entrance is from the City Palace side, through a doorway into a courtyard. This surprises many first-time visitors. Inside the courtyard is a small archaeological museum which displays sculptures, weapons and artefacts.
Tips for visiting Hawa Mahal
- Best photo views: from the cafes and rooftop restaurants on the opposite side of the road. Early morning light makes the facade glow.
- Timings and tickets: the palace is usually open in the morning to late afternoon, with a ticket for Indians and a higher rate for foreigners. Please check the official Rajasthan archaeology and tourism sites for current rates and hours (last checked October 2026; we could not confirm them).
- Time needed: 30-60 minutes inside.
- Nearby: City Palace, Jantar Mantar (UNESCO), Albert Hall Museum and the bazaars (Johari Bazaar, Bapu Bazaar).
- Best season: October to March for pleasant weather.
Hawa Mahal and the City Palace
Hawa Mahal was constructed as an extension of the royal ladies’ chambers of the City Palace complex. The building has no big halls or royal throne room, because it was not a residence in the usual sense. It was a viewing gallery, a kind of royal balcony for the women of the household. Seeing it this way explains why it looks so unusual among Rajasthan’s forts and palaces.
Jaipur’s history in brief
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1727 | Sawai Jai Singh II founds Jaipur (commonly cited) |
| 1799 | Hawa Mahal completed under Sawai Pratap Singh |
| 1876 | Old City painted pink for the Prince of Wales’ visit |
| Modern period | Hawa Mahal maintained by the Rajasthan government’s archaeology department |
Photography tips
- The facade faces east, so it looks best in morning light.
- Many rooftop cafes across the road offer views; ordering something is usually expected.
- Wide-angle lenses or a phone’s wide mode work well because the street is narrow.
- Traffic on the road is heavy, so be careful while stepping back to take photos.
Walking up to the top floor gives you the other view, looking out through the windows over the bazaar and towards the Jantar Mantar and City Palace.
Why Hawa Mahal is special
It is one of the few historic monuments that was designed to look out at the world rather than be looked at. Today it is one of the most photographed buildings of Rajasthan, but its real story lies in the lives of the women it sheltered. When you stand in front of the facade, try to imagine the view from behind one of those 953 windows.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Who built Hawa Mahal?
Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh of Jaipur built it in 1799, with Lal Chand Ustad as architect.
How many windows does Hawa Mahal have?
It has 953 small windows called jharokhas.
Why was Hawa Mahal built?
So that royal women could watch street life and festivals without being seen, while the windows also kept the building cool.
Why is it called Hawa Mahal?
Hawa Mahal means Palace of Winds, because the many openings let in breeze.
Where is the entrance to Hawa Mahal?
The entrance is from the City Palace side, not the famous front road.
