Hawa Mahal, Jaipur, India

Hawa Mahal, Jaipur, India



Hawa Mahal, located in Jaipur, India, is a famous palace that translates to “Palace of Winds.” It was constructed in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh and designed by architect Lal Chand Ustad in the Rajput architectural style. The palace stands five stories high and features a unique honeycomb-shaped facade with approximately 953 small windows (jharokhas).


These windows are designed to allow cool breezes to flow through the palace, keeping the interior comfortable even during the hot summer months. The palace was specifically designed so that the women of the royal household could observe street festivals and everyday life without being seen, adhering to the strict purdah system of the time.


The reason many buildings in Jaipur are painted pink is that in 1876, the city was painted this color to welcome the visit of the Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII). Pink is a color associated with hospitality, and the tradition has been maintained ever since, with regulations ensuring that buildings in the old city remain painted in this distinctive hue, adding to Jaipur’s unique charm.