Hawa Mahal(Palace of Wind)

Hawa Mahal was commissioned by the Maharaja of Jaipur and is part of the City Palace complex, extending into the royal women's quarters. It stands along the main road of the old city's commercial district, with a five-story pink sandstone facade that resembles a massive wall, densely packed with 953 honeycomb-shaped latticed windows.

These windows served more than just an aesthetic purpose. In the past, royal women were not permitted to appear in public according to custom, so the designer used dense latticework to allow them to overlook the festivals and daily life on the streets without being seen by those outside. The latticework also created a cross-breeze. During the hot season, wind flowed through the front and back windows, cooling the interior, which is how the name Hawa Mahal came to be.

The window wall is the back of the palace. The entrance is around the back, through the gate leading to the City Palace side. Upon entering, you first find an inner courtyard, which houses a small archaeological museum. The floors are connected by ramps, and several rooms with stained glass are filled with color when sunlight streams in. Climbing to the top floor and looking out from the small windows, you can take in the old city streets and the nearby City Palace and Jantar Mantar in one view.