Hawa Mahal
Jaipur's Hawa Mahal, also known as the Palace of winds or Palace of Breeze, is about 222-year-old pyramidal structure that was built using red and pink sandstone. What makes this palace so unique is its 953 windows that are intricately decorated with latticework. Latticework is a crisscross pattern framework that is made from stone,wood or metal. In 1799, when this structure was built, the women of the royal household had to follow a strict rule of purdah or ghunghat, which did not allow them to appear in public without a face covering. These windows or jharokhas allowed them to look outside at the market square without being seen by outsiders. This is often seen in Rajasthani architecture. The windows also let cool air pass through them in the summer, cooling the palace down.
Commissioned by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh, the grandson of Jaipur's founder Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh, this palace was inspired by the Khetri Mahal in Junjhunu, Rajasthan. The architect, Lal Chand Ustad combined Rajput and Islamic styles in his creation - the canopies, pillars and floral patterns are in the Rajput style and the stone filigree work and lavish arches are in the Islamic style. The pink sandstone is typical of Jaipur, the Pink City of India.
The street view of Hawa Mahal is actually the backside of the palace and from a distance, the five-storey, 50ft-tall monument looks like a beehive - with its mini windows and grills carved in sandstone. Some even say that the Hawa Mahal was designed to look like Lord Krishna's crown. Interestingly, the walls of the Hawa Mahal are no more than a foot thick and the structure has no stairs; one has to move between the different storeys using slopes.
The Hawa Mahal, built as a part of can be entered through an imperial door that opens into a large courtyard surrounded by two-storey buildings. Each of the top three storeys of the Hawa Mahal is no longer than a single room while the bottom two storeys have courtyards. At the centre of the courtyards stand fountains. Each room in the Hawa Mahal is designed using a different coloured marble. Each floor also has a temple on it. Sharad Mandir is on the first floor, one can find colourful glasswork in the Ratan Mandir. The top three floors house the Vichitra Mandir, Prakash Mandir and Hawa Mandir.
The courtyard of the Hawa Mahal is home to an archeological museum that has a wonderful collection of antiques, weapons and other ancient items used by the royals. The main highlights of the museum are arrowhead, fish hooks, terracotta items and even a storage vessel dating back to the 2nd century!
In 2006, the Hawa Mahal underwent repairs and renovation. The Rajasthan government is currently responsible for the maintenance of the palace. In an attempt to promote night tourism in Jaipur, the tourism department has illuminated the exteriors of the Hawa Mahal.
