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Besides this, the lattice also provides cool air caused by the Venturi
effect (doctor breeze) through the intricate pattern and thereby air
conditioning the whole area during the high temperatures in summers.
Built of red and pink sandstone, the palace is situated on the main
thoroughfare in the heart of Jaipur’s business centre. It forms part of
the City Palace, and extends to the Zenana or women's chambers, the
chambers of the harem. It is particularly striking when viewed early in
the morning, lit with the golden light of sunrise.
Architecture
The palace is a five-storey pyramidal shaped monument that rises to a
height of 50 feet (15 m) from its high base. The top three floors of the
structure have a dimension of one room width while the first and second
floors have patios in front of them, on the rear side of the structure.
The front elevation, as seen from the street, is like a honeycomb web of
a beehive built with small portholes. Each porthole has miniature
windows and has carved sandstone grills, finials and domes.
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It is a veritable mass of semi-octagonal bays, which gives the
monument its unique façade. The inner face on the back side of the
building consists of need-based chambers built with pillars and
corridors with least ornamentation, and reach up to the top floor.
The interior of the Mahal has been described as “having rooms of
different coloured marbles, relieved by inlaid panels or gilding;
while fountains adorn the centre of the courtyard”. Lal Chand Ustad
was the architect of this unique structure who also planned Jaipur
city, considered then as one of the best-planned cities in India.
Built in red and pink coloured sand stone, in keeping with the décor
of the other monuments in the city, its colour is a full testimony
to the epithet of “Pink City” given to Jaipur. |
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Its
façade depicts 953 niches with intricately carved Jharokhas (some are
made of wood) is a stark contrast to the plain looking rear side of the
structure. Its cultural and architectural heritage is a true reflection
of a fusion of Hindu Rajput architecture and the Islamic Mu pagal
maksjghal architecture; the Rajput style is seen in the form of domed
canopies, fluted pillars, lotus and floral patterns, and the Islamic
style as evident in its stone inlay filigree work and arches (as
distinguished from its similarity with the Panch Mahal - the palace of
winds - at Fatehpur Sikri).
The entry to the Hawa Mahal from the city palace side is through an
imperial door. It opens into a large courtyard, which has double
storeyed buildings on three sides, with the Hawa Mahal enclosing it on
the east side. An archaeological museum is also housed in this
courtyard.
Hawa Mahal was also known as the chef-d'œuvre of Maharaja Jai Singh as
it was his favourite resort because of the elegance and built-in
interior of the Mahal. The cooling effect in the chambers, provided by
the breeze passing through the small windows of the façade, was enhanced
by the fountains provided at the centre of each of the chambers.
The top two floors of the Hawa Mahal are accessed only through ramps.
The Mahal is maintained by the archaeological Department of the
Government of Rajasthan.
Restoration and Renovation
In 2005, restoration and renovation works on the Mahal were undertaken,
after a long gap of 50 years, to give a face lift to the monument at an
estimated cost of Rs 45679 lakhs. The corporate sector is also lending a
hand to preserve the historical monuments of Jaipur and the Unit Trust
of India has adopted Hawa Mahal to maintain it.
Visitor Information
The Mahal, called the “specimen of fanciful architecture” is located to
the south of the Jaipur city, at the main road intersection called the
Badi Chaupad (big four square).
Entry to the Hawa Mahal is not from the front but from a side road to
the rear end. Facing the Hawa Mahal, turning right and again to the
first right, leads to an archway entry and then to the rear side of the
building.
Access
By Air
The nearest airport is Jaipur International Airport (IATA: JAI, ICAO: VIJP),
located in the
southern suburb of Sanganer, 13 km (8.1 mi) from Jaipur, the capital
of the Indian state of Rajasthan.
Delhi and Mumbai are the two main gateway cities to Rajasthan from
international destinations. There are regular flights connecting Delhi
and Mumbai to Jaipur and Jodhpur in Rajasthan and also important
destinations like Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Chennai operated by domestic
carriers.
By Train / Rail
Daily super fast train connects Mumbai to Jaipur, Jodhpur, Bikaner and
Kota. Delhi (the nearest rail head to Jaipur) is also directly connected
to Sawai Madhopur, Bharatpur, Kota, Udaipur, Bikaner, Jodhpur and
Jaisalmer. Shatabdi train operates from New Delhi station to Ajmer via
Jaipur. Double decker train is also available between Jaipur and Delhi.
By Road
Bus: The Interstate Bus Terminal (ISBT) at Kashmiri Gate, New Delhi has
almost a twenty – four hour bus service to Jaipur. Air-conditioned and
Volvo bus service of state owned Rajasthan state Roadways Transport
Corporation (RSRTC) to Jaipur is operational from the premises of
Bikaner House, Pandara Road © 011-23383469, journey time about 5 hours.
Delhi is connected to Jaipur via Darukhera, Behror, Kotputli and
Shahpura on NH 8. Jaipur is further linked to Mumbai via Ajmer, Udaipur,
Ahmedabad and Vadodara on NH 8. RSRTC also connects major destinations
in Rajasthan through express and deluxe buses from Jaipur.
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