Fact
About Hawa Mahal :-
- The best time to view Hawa Mahal is sunrise
when sunlight through the latticed windows
gives it a wonderful glow.
- Built by Sawai
Pratap Singh in 1799 AD. The Hawa Mahal,
a multi layered palace, was built by Sawai
Pratap Singh in 1799 AD and Mr. Lal Chand
Usta was the architect. It is famous for it's
beehive like structure. The Hawa Mahal
is an interplay of red and pink sand stone,
carefully and painstakingly outlined with
white borders and motifs. The palaces and
forts of yesteryears, which were witness to
the royal processions and splendours are now
living monuments, accepted quite naturally
into the lifestyle of the people of the "Pink
City" Jaipur.
Inside the building there is a series of corridors
with windows overlooking the street. Its purpose
was simply to allow the royal women a view
of ceremonial processions while seated behind
the small windows.
This five-story, pyramid-shaped structure
has tier after tier of 953 small casements,
each with tiny lattice worked (Jali) pink
windows, small balconies and arched roofs
with hanging cornices, exquisitely modeled
and carved. These small windows circulate
cool air (Hawa) even in hot months. The pyramidal
outline is even throughout by cramming and
multiplying casements; and uses repetition
of motifs to enhance its beauty.
The entrance to Hawa Mahal is from the City
Palace side, through a stately door which
opens into a spacious courtyard. The courtyard
has a double storeyed building on three sides.
There is a small archeological museum here.
Only the eastern wing has three more storeys
above, which are just a single room thick.
The building, standing on a high podium, is
a fifty-foot high thin shield, less than a
foot in thickness, with small intimate chambers
, which give this palace its unique facade.
There are no regular stairs to reach the upper
floors, but only ramps.
Hawa Mahal is currently under the supervision
of the State archeological department. The
best time to view Hawa Mahal is sunrise when
sunlight through the latticed windows gives
it a wonderful glow.
