Hawa Mahal, Jaipur, India – Insider Tips

Things to Do in Jaipur: Hawa Mahal

The Hawa Mahal (palace of Winds) is the most recognizable monument in Jaipur, and of all the pink buildings in the Pink City, it’s probably the most photographed.

The Palace of Winds

The Hawa Mahal is a beautifully designed structure that used to be the women’s wing of the city palace. The Hawa Mahal covers 5 floors and its pyramidal structure signifies both the crown of the Hindu god Krishna and the the tail of a peacock, which implies royalty and power.

It was ingeniously designed to permit the women to see out over the city streets below, while not being seen by the people below. It’s name comes from the lattice work that allowed a cooling breeze to pass into the palace, keeping that area much cooler then other parts of the palace.

Photo Op

To photograph it at its best, in the warm glow of the sun, you must arrive in the morning. Go when the sun has just risen and you will see it in it’s full glory.
The front wall faces east and loses its rich colors once it becomes shadowed later in the day.

Entry

Entrance to the Hawa Mahal was originally from the city palace through an imperial door, which opened into a large courtyard surrounded by two-story buildings. Today, the entrance is on a side road to the right as you face the palace. Inside, there’s a small museum with some armour and miniature paintings.

Editor’s note: The information contained on this page was compiled using real traveler reviews about the Hawa Mahal, Jaipur, India.