Intriguing Facts About Hawa Mahal That You Must Know!

-Mansi Senghar

Rajasthan is full of wonders but what is the first image to pop into your head when someone mentions the pink city? We are sure it's an image of a huge pink monument that has numerous jharokhas. The rose-tinted known as the Hawa Mahal is the most fascinating of all the monuments in Jaipur. If you are a geek who’s intrigued by its interesting architecture and history then brace yourself for some fun facts about the age-old Rajputana building that’s been the landmark of Jaipur ever since it has been built. This artistic monument in the middle of the city is a landmark that has been known nationally and internationally.

Who Built Hawa Mahal And Why?

If we dive into history, Hawa Mahal was built as an expansion of the city palace in 1799 to maintain the Purdah system. Upon the intrusion of the Mughals and the Britishers, the women of the royal family were not allowed to come in front of ordinary people or anyone outside of the royal family. As a result, the women from the royal family were not allowed to see the day-to-day processions. To overcome this, King Sawai Pratap Singh ordered the construction of this magnanimous five-storey crown shape veil in front of the main palace. Its unique architecture allowed the royal women to indulge in everyday city scenes as well as regal processions without getting noticed. The Hawa Mahal was designed by Lal Chand Ustad in the 18th century. He took inspiration from the Khetri Mahal in Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan.

The Jharokhas In The Hawa Mahal, Jaipur

A building that’s full of windows, isn’t that one of the most fascinating concepts of all? But what inspired this unique design, is the excruciating temperature that India faces during the summers. These windows or Jharokhas operate on The Venturi effect—the occurrence that happens when a fluid or gas travelling through a pipe is forced through a small portion, resulting in a fall in pressure and an increase in velocity. Okay, that is all the physics that we are gonna state here. Due to this cool effect (literally) that Hawa Mahal has, the royal family used this place as the summer house. Despite the number of windows, each one is the size of a peephole, ensuring that the royal ladies remain hidden from view and yet effectively keep the place cool. Also, you’d be astonished by the minute details of each jharokha.

The Unique Design and Shape Of ‘The Palace Of Wind’

Constructed with red and pink sandstones, this pyramid-shaped castle combines Rajputana and Mughal architecture at its best. Hawa Mahal is a five-storey building with a height of 15 meters that is adorned with tinted glasses that forms a beautiful interplay of light. Another interesting feature of the shape of the monument is that it looks like a crown. It is believed that since, Sawai Man Singh was a devotee of Lord Krishna, the shape of the Hawa mahal was created to replicate that of a crown. It is also believed that the gorgeous exterior is a contrast to the bland interiors.

The Intriguing Interiors Of ‘The Palace Of Wind’

Moving into the interiors of this monument, you would be surprised to see the contradiction in the design. As you enter the monument you’ll be welcomed by a tiny gate, a fountain and a humongous life-size statue of Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh Ji that leads you into the five-storey. Each floor is named respectively as the Sharad Temple, Ratan Mandir, Vichitra Mandir, Prakash Mandir and Hawa Mandir.

The ground floor is known as the Sharad Temple & was used back in the day to host festivities. The second floor is known as the Ratan Mandir that has tainted windows that form a magnificent colour image when the sun shines. The third floor is known as the Vichitra Mandir, wherein the King used to come to enjoy some me-time and worship his idol. This is a location that not everyone was permitted to visit at the time. Prakash Mandir is located on the fourth floor next to it. Hawa Mandir is located on the fifth floor. It is the palace’s highest point from where you can see the entire city.

A Quick Look At The Hawa Mahal Facts

Hawa Mahal is the finest example of the Rajputana architecture.
Hawa Mahal is the tallest building in the world with no foundation.
Hawa Mahal was constructed as an architectural veil.
The best time to visit Hawa Mahal is during the early morning when the first rays of sun shines on the rosy sandstones.
King Sawai Singh was a great devotee of Krishna and ordered Lal Chand to design the Mahal in the shape of Lord Krishna’s crown, hence the charming honeycomb-shaped crown at the top!
You’d be surprised to know that this building entails a total of 953 windows, mindblowing right?
Due to the lack of foundation, the Hawa Mahal is titled at an angle of 87 degrees.
Their are no stairs that connect the floors but ramps.
The best place to behold the exquisite views of Jantar Mahal, City Palace and Nahargarh Fort if from the top floor of Hawa Mahal, also known as the Hawa Mandir.

So these were some of the most fascinating facts about Hawa Mahal. Just reading about these facts aren’t enough. You might have vivid imagination but the story of these architectural excellence is worth-witnessing.

If you plan on witnessing the grandeur of the landmark of Jaipur, we just happen the best place to stay at. Bloom Boutique | Chelon Haveli is a haveli style boutique hotel that preserves the charm of old-world Jaipur. And you’ll be amazed to know that this hotel is two-hundred-and-ninety-year-old haveli.

During your stay in this heritage hotel, you can only expect the best. The best of rooms in the heart of the pink city while you get a royal pampering by the world class staff.