Hawa Mahal, Jaipur
Introduction
Jaipur,
the capital city of Rajasthan, is a land of numerous myths and legends.
Tourists have myriads of charms to soak up, from one corner of the city to
the other. The Hawa Mahal or the Palace of Winds turns out to be an unusual
structure, as soon as a palatial building is concerned. The palace stands
abutting the huge complex of the City Palace. The contrast, set by the
intricate facade and the mass of pillars and passages on the backside, is
where the real pleasure of sightseeing lies.
History
Built by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh in the year 1799, the Hawa Mahal was
meant for the beautiful queens and the ladies of the monarchs. The tiny
windows and the multi-screened balconies tell all the story that revolves
around the palace. In those days, the royal women were to observe strict
purdah from the outside world. And that was the reason why the palace was
built. From the seclusion of this structure, they could easily observe the
street activities and processions, without being visible themselves. Somehow
or the other, the ladies thus enjoyed a sense of freedom.
Architecture
Those who are looking for a Rajput-style architecture with a hint of the
Mughal architectural elements can have a good experience here. The palatial
structure was designed considering the inhospitable weather conditions of
Rajasthan. You should be accompanied with a guide who acquaints you of the
numerous styles of architecture that the Hawa Mahal poses.
The exterior of the palace is very delicately designed, with very
small windows and many screened balconies. At first sight, it would perhaps
seem that the palace has no backside. But as you toward its rear, you will
come across with a number of pillars and passages, leading you to the upper
sections of the palace. Apart from presenting a dream-like structure to you,
the Hawa Mahal also affords stunning views of the city and its alleyways.
Early morning could be the ideal time to experience it all amid the golden
light of the rising sun.
Nearby Attractions
The
Hawa Mahal is not the only structure that you can feast your eyes upon,
while on a trip to Jaipur. There are a number of others that must be seen to
be believed. The most interesting part of it all is the myth or legend or
some real history that remains attached with these incredible structures of
the city. You can visit such famous sights as the City Palace, Jantar Mantar
Observatory and Amer Fort along with the much sought-after Sawai Mansingh II
Museum.
Reaching There
Jaipur's Samganer Airport connects it with cities including Delhi, Mumbai,
Kolkata, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Aurangabad and Varanasi through regularly
operated domestic flights. The city also has a well-established rail route
with frequent mail and express trains linking with various parts of the
state and the country. Hire a taxi or an auto-rickshaw from any part within
Jaipur to reach the palace. You can also avail of local buses, available
from various parts of the city, to get to the palace.