As Hawa Mahal has 953 jharokhas or windows, the constant cooler air comes through which it makes the atmosphere inside the palace pleasant. Its upper storey is called Hawa Mandir. These are the reasons why it was named Hawa Mahal.
The ely that shows the blue board to the Hawa Mahal, as you make your way to the Hawa Mahal, let me tell you about the king who built it. And how it came into being?
History of Hawa Mahal
Hawa Mahal was built by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh. Sawai Pratap Singh was the head of the Marshal Kachawa Land that ruled the kingdom of Amer, Jaipur. He was one of the gifted children protogynous, he inherited this rule at the tender age of 12. He was trained extensively in Marshal Arts and constantly maintained his weight, Unlike his Father and Predecessors who were not as fit. His father Sawai Madhav Singh weighed around 500 pounds. Besides being strongly built, and trained, combatant- Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh had improbably refined taste in the field of Arts. He enjoyed poetry and literature. He wrote the “Kavi Basi” a compilation of works with different words.
How to visit to Hawa Mahal:
Buy the tickets from the ticket counter and move toward the Anand Bully, the entrance to the Hawa Mahal. Take a few steps back and observe the pretty entrance. Humans have a way of welding character and personality to little things by naming them. One entrance got its name from the idea of JOY Anand Bully means Gateway of Joy. The gateway is a multi-level structure inspired by the Mughals. Look up above these pillars you will see Jaalis with small wooden windows- these were for the women to get a distant view of the entrance.
Now let’s move the simple gate of Ujaaz Mandir. At the center of the Arch is an orange motive of Lord Ganesha- the God of auspicious beginning. As you enter you notice an open-air courtyard, it is also known as a temporary light. It hosted the night who guarded the temple. There is a gateway to the Chandra pool- the gateway of the moon. You will notice the sculpted Arch and its distinct identity features. Look closely at the white Arch to see why it got its name- the Sharad Mandir. From the main courtyard and walk towards the wall directly opposite the Chandra Pool. You will notice a narrow passage between Pratap Mandir and Sharad Mandir, this passage gave the king personalized access to the inner quarter of the queen’s occupancy. The first thing you will notice beautiful green fructose at its door. Walk into the chambers through these attractive doors, the chamber got its name for its purpose. Sharad is the word for the winter season and it is the winter dwelling of the palace.
To the left of the Chandra pool is the dining hall or the Bhojanshala. Bhojan is the term used for meals and this is the palace where all the family members take their meals. Take a few steps back from the entrance and look at the hall, notice that at one end of the hall, there is a beautiful candy-colored window reflecting sunlight mischievously. On the other end of the wall closure to the ramp are ornate white windows, this is probably the place where the king sat and dined.
Now there is the entrance to the Ratan Mandir or the Hall of Jouls. From the ramp you entered the changing- it is the walled balcony with an open roof, it is most spacious because it is on the lower floor of the building. if you look up to your left you will see a more imposing element of the Sandstone Crown. Below the crown is the gate, which makes a way through into a hall that is no less than a chamber of joules. it is lidded up from both sides with pretty stained glass windows. Walk around the hall and notice the playful patterns of lights on the floors and walls. On the other end of the wall is the Replica of the Chandini we just saw earlier. Walk into the changing and look around the Gangora walls, you will notice a door directly opposite. Walk around and explore the section at your own pace, there are two main courtyards on the ground level of the queen’s section of this palace. Both these courtyards have only access to the king’s chamber. You will realize that both the courtyards are connected through a long passage. One end of the passage takes us to the exit for the queens and the other end takes us to the Sharad and Pratap Mandir.
This palace has a special chamber with 3 grand doors and the doors are decorated with fresco paintings, the paintings have a very modern color scheme.
Timings and Ticket Rate of Hawa Mahal
It opens from 9 am to 5 pm all day of the week. (as of Dec 2019). And the prices are as follows:
- Foreign Tourists 200 INR
- Indian Tourists 50 INR
- Indian Students 5 INR
- Foreign students 25 INR
Facts Worth Knowing while Vising Hawa Mahal
1. This palace does not have stairs to go up, but there are slopes. So wear comfortable footwear to enjoy the visit.
2. Do not forget to carry water because it is natural to feel thirsty in the middle of so much climbing.
3. It was named as Hawa Mahal after the fifth floor due to the pleasant environment.
4. From the outside, it looks like the crown of Lord Krishna and an inverted honeycomb.
5. It is brightened at night, adding to its beauty.
6. Its streets are active, so climb carefully and follow the rules to stay safe while your journey.
7. The City Palace and Jantar Mantar are within walking distance from here, you can also go there.
8. This building is built without any foundation. Which is a wonder on its own. It is the largest non-foundation building in the world.
9. The five-story in Hawamahal is built at an 87-degree angle.
10. It has an advanced wall with small jagged vents only 8 inches wide. On which the whole five floors stand is a specialty of construction art.
11. It is also called as the “Palace of Winds” or “Wind Palace”.
12. Photography is allowed inside the palace.
Right time to go to Rajasthan/Hawa Mahal
Rajasthan is considered to be the hot state, so I would recommend going for a trip in the winter season. Well, it can be visited throughout the year if you can bear the summer season. Hawa Mahal is situated in the Badi Chaupar region of Jaipur and can be reached through taxi, cabs (Ola/Uber), or metro nearby.
The distance between Jaipur Junction Station and Hawa Mahal is 4 km.
Hotels near hawa mahal Jaipur
| Hotel | Distance from hawa mahal | Starting price(Rs) |
| Jaipur View | 960m | 704 |
| Jaipur Hotel New – A heritage hotel | 960m | 1295 |
| Jasoda Heritage | 740m | 987 |
| Haveli Kalwara | Heritage Rooms | 1.5km | 1656 |
| The lodge B&B | 1KM | 1006 |
| Bloom Boutique | Chelon Haveli | 310m | 2355 |
| Jaipur Haveli | 520m | 3273 |
Mode of Transportation
- By Road
Distance from Delhi to Jaipur is 270 km and distance from Agra is 237 km. Apart from private buses, State Transport Corporation buses also operate at frequent intervals.
- By Rail
Being a famous tourist center, Jaipur is connected by rail to all corners of the country. Jaipur has three main stations – Gandhinagar, Durgapura, and Jaipur Junction.
A royal train named “Palace on Wheels” also runs from Delhi, and takes 7 days to visit the main places of Rajasthan. The train connects cities like Jaipur, Sawai Madhopur, Chittorgarh, Udaipur, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Bharatpur, and Agra.
- By Air
Jaipur’s Sanganer Airport is 8 km from the city from where national and international flights take place. This country is well connected to all the cities abroad.
Street Food in Hawa Mahal Bazar, Jaipur
Mahesh Juice & Ice-cream.
2. Pandit Pav Bhaji.
3. V. Govardhan Cafe.
4. Shankar Samosa.
5. Shree Parajit Chat Bhandar.
6. Samrat.
7. Shreenath Lassiwala.
8. Ankurit Kachhori Wala.
10 Popular Shopping Places in Jaipur
- Johari Bazaar- Among all the places to visit in Jaipur for shopping, Johari Bazaar is a paradise for jewelry lovers. One of the famous markets in Jaipur, the Johari Bazaar is the home to exquisite Jaipur jewelry and its intricate craftsmanship.
- Chandpol Bazaar- One of the exclusive shopping markets in Jaipur is Chandpole Bazaar. It is the hub of unique handicrafts and marble crafts that bring tourists from all over the world to this part of the city.
- Tripolia Bazaar- If you admire lac jewelry or intricately designed lac bangles, then Tripolia Bazaar is one the best shopping places in Jaipur. This Bazaar is a famous market in Jaipur for its exclusive lac jewelry and amazing and unique collection of bangles.
- Kishanpole Bazaar- If street shopping is something you really love, then you must visit the Kishanpol Bazaar. This area is one of the best shopping places in Jaipur. From wood carvings to souvenirs and Rajasthani-dyed fabrics, it is the home of exclusive traditional artifacts at subsidised rates.
- Bapu Bazaar- This market is famous for its leather products and Mojri shoes that are made from camel leather, Bapu Bazaar also sells exclusive handicrafts, fragrances, attar, lehengas, colorful sarees, and unique sandstone artifacts.
- Gaurav Tower- It is one of the oldest shopping malls in Jaipur, which has the best brands and showrooms from all across Rajasthan. Gaurav Tower has a combination of old-world historical charm meets new age mall environment.
- Tibbati Bazaar- One of the best shopping places for budget shoppers is Tibbati Bazaar. Explore the world of handicrafts, Rajasthani fashion, and local handmade souvenirs in the alleys of Tibbati Bazaar. It is a seasonal market and tourists also love this place for its Tibetan food and crafts.
- Nehru Bazaar- This market is the home to a variety of collection of garments and textiles, the Nehru Bazaar is famous for its traditional and intricately designed jootis which bring tourists to this shopping destination. Affordable rates, bargain shopping, and street shopping are some of the prominent features of Nehru Bazaar.
- Sireh Deori Gate
- Aravali Bazaar