It takes some out of the ordinary work to build a structure that becomes a
landmark for the generations to come. We don't know whether Maharaja Sawai
Pratap Singh had this in mind or not when he started work on the Hawa Mahal.
But this structure has already become a major landmark because of the
uniqueness of its architecture.
About the Palace of Winds
Hawa Mahal is a part of the city palace, rather the Zenana (women's
chambers) and yet it is situated away from it as by now it has a distinct
identity of its own. This five storeyed building was designed by Lal Chand
Ustad. The pyramid shaped structure of the palace consists of small
casements, each of them having small windows and arched roofs. The top three
storeys of the building are just one room thick but the base is slightly
broader.
When you see the Hawa Mahal closely, it doesn't look like a palace from any
angle. It looks like a screen which has numerous small windows that
circulate cool air even in the summer months. The entrance of the Hawa Mahal
is from the City Palace side, through a door that opens into a grand
courtyard. There are double storeyed buildings in the courtyard on the three
sides. There is also a small archaeological museum here. There are no
staircases to reach the upper floors. Only the ramps are provided for the
purpose.
Location
Hawa Mahal is one of the most popular monuments located in the Tripolia
Bazar, on the western side of the GPO in Jaipur.
Why was it built?
The
Rajputs were very traditional in their outlook and were against their
womenfolk being seen in public. Even the Rajput women were very particular
about not coming out in the open but that doesn't mean that they were not
taking active interest in what was happening in the outside world. Even the
court rooms had special chambers for the women so that they could watch the
proceedings.
The structure of Hawa Mahal provides a striking view of the Jaipur City and
this was exactly the purpose behind constructing the building as it was
intended to give the glimpses of city life to the womenfolk of the royal
family.
Architecture of the Palace
The designer of the building, Lal chand Ustad, dedicated his work to Lord
Krishna and Radha. The palace itself stands on a podium which is about 50
feet high. The thickness of the building is comparably less and therefore it
appears more as a facade or a screen than a complete palace. The staircases
are absent in the building and ramps have been provided so that the ladies
could be carried on the palanquins to the upper floors.
The exteriors and interiors of Hawa Mahal are strikingly different. The
palace outside is adorned with extremely intricate designs whereas from
inside you can see that the interiors have deliberately been kept very
simple.
Other attractions in Jaipur
» Amber Palace
» City Palace
» Jantar Mantar
» Jaigarh Fort
» Nahargarh Fort
