Unveiling the Interior Beauty of Hawa Mahal: A Journey Beyond the Famous Backside

When you search Jaipur on the internet, you'll see a bunch of famous stock photos, kind of like profile pictures of the city. And among those pictures, you're likely to find ones of Amer Fort, City Palace, Jal Mahal, Albert Hall Museum, and, last but not least, the outside view of Hawa Mahal. Let's focus on Hawa Mahal, a stunning architectural marvel known more for its backside, the view from the roadside. Well, guess what? This blog is about taking a visual tour of Hawa Mahal from the inside. Yes, there's another side to it!

If we dive into a bit of history, Hawa Mahal, also known as the Palace of Winds, was built in 1799 by the poet king Sawai Pratap Singh as a summer retreat for him and his family. It also served as a place where the ladies of the royal household could watch everyday life without being seen themselves. This unique five-story structure is a mix of Hindu and Islamic architecture. The exterior, with its small latticed windows (called jharokhas), looks like Lord Krishna's crown. The windows also act like an air conditioner, letting cool air flow through the palace, making it the perfect getaway during summers.

Built from pink sandstone, Hawa Mahal is Jaipur’s iconic landmark, and visitors can admire its complete magnificence from outside, from across the road. However, you can also climb right up to the top for a wonderful view from the windows. Today, the Mahal is looked after by the Archaeological Department of the Government of Rajasthan and houses an archaeological museum in the courtyard.

I visited there way back in February 2019 and was amazed by the fact that a building like this, five stories tall, is still standing after almost 220 years, without even a foundation. Such things are timeless and grow in importance even after centuries. Standing there, you can get a pretty close view of City Palace, Jantar Mantar, Isarlat, and Badi Chopad, as they are all within walking distance. You also get a beautiful view of Nahargarh Fort at the hilltop.

Although visiting Hawa Mahal from inside is also worth it, you should be aware that it's often crowded and many parts of it are congested due to narrow spaces, so free movement can sometimes be overwhelming. Also, unlike palaces and forts, it's not as massive, so you can explore it in less time. The nearest metro station is Badi Chopad, and city buses are also available to other important parts of the city.

The ticket price at the time of writing this blog, sourced from Rajasthan Tourism's official website, is 50 rupees for Indian visitors and 200 rupees for foreigners. The timings are from 9 am to 7 pm, and it is open seven days a week. Visitors are advised to stay updated on any changes when planning their visit.