The Hawa Mahal — literally "Palace of Winds" — is Jaipur’s most photographed facade.
A pink-sandstone honeycomb of 953 small windows (jharokhas), it was built in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh so that the royal women of the harem could watch street festivals below without being seen.
Its five storeys narrow like a wedding cake and stand only one room deep — the entire building is essentially a screen.
Why 953 Windows?
The 953 jharokhas served both purpose and poetry.
Purpose: the women of the zenana followed strict purdah, so the jali-lattice windows allowed them to observe processions, festivals and street theatre without being visible themselves.
Poetry: the honeycomb design also functioned as a passive cooling system — even in Jaipur’s brutal summer heat, breezes drawn through the lattices kept the interior chambers noticeably cooler. It is from this that the palace takes its name.
Architecture of the Facade
Designed by Lal Chand Ustad, the Hawa Mahal is built from carved pink sandstone in the shape (some say) of Lord Krishna’s crown.
Its facade is a delicate fusion of Rajput and Mughal styles — domed pavilions on top, fluted pillars, floral motifs and delicate stone jaalis throughout.
The interior, by contrast, is austere: narrow ramps rise floor by floor, connecting a series of small chambers with coloured glass windows that scatter light in different shades throughout the day.
Visiting Tips
Most visitors photograph the Hawa Mahal from the street across the road (where several rooftop cafés offer great vantage points), rather than entering it.
To enter, walk around to the rear entrance on Tripolia Bazaar. Inside, climb to the top for surprisingly wide views over the walled Pink City and Jantar Mantar observatory.
Combine your visit with Jantar Mantar, City Palace and lunch at LMB or Peacock Rooftop Restaurant.