Regarded as one of the iconic symbols of the state of Rajasthan, the Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds) sits peacefully in the center of the busy city of Jaipur. Built as an extension to the women’s chambers of the city palace, it was intended as a viewing screen. Through this screen—a kind of architectural veil—women of the royal family and harem could freely view the bazaar and its vibrant proceedings unseen.
The term mahal in this context is almost misleading, as the building was never meant to serve as a residence.
The five-story building, completed in 1799, is actually quite shallow, with the top three stories being barely a room deep and containing quaint chambers in which the women sat. In keeping with the visual language of the “Pink City” of Jaipur, the structure is built entirely in red sandstone, which in the sunlight glows with a pink hue. Although credited to the Rajput style of architecture, it also has very strong Mughal influences manifested in the symmetry of the facade. This 50-foot-high (15 m) facade has more than 950 windows, each painted with motifs in white limewash. The main entrance is at the rear of the building, where a series of ramps lead to the upper stories. These were designed to facilitate palanquins (chairs carried on men’s shoulders). The Hawa Mahal, as its name suggests, continues to be a fitting vernacular response to the harsh climate—its numerous windows allowing the breeze to keep the internal spaces cool in the desert heat. (Bidisha Sinha)
