The Hawa Mahal, also known as the Palace of Winds, stands on Hawa Mahal Road in Badi Choupad, in the old part of Jaipur in Rajasthan, India. It is a five-storey palace built in 1799, and its front is made of pink sandstone.
The building is known for its facade of 953 small windows, called jharokhas, which were designed to let royal ladies watch the street festivals and daily life below without being seen. The openings also help air move through the structure, which is one reason for its names, the Palace of the Breeze and the Wind Palace.
What a visit offers
- A close look at the carved and latticed screens that make up the front of the building.
- A view of the street scene that the windows were built to overlook.
- A short stop that fits easily into a walk through the old city.
Because the palace is a facade of many small windows rather than a large interior, many visitors spend most of their time photographing and studying the front and then move on to the nearby streets, markets and older buildings of Jaipur.
Planning your visit
The palace is on a busy road in the centre of the old city, so it is easy to combine with other sights in the same area. For questions about visiting, you can call the palace on +91 141 261 8862.
