The
maharajas of Rajasthan were as much protective of their queens as they were
of their kingdoms. They always attempted to keep their ladies safe from the
prying eyes of the locals. And that was the reason that a delicate structure
like the Hawa Mahal came into being. Today, the Hawa Mahal or the Palace of
Winds, is the cynosure of all eyes in the pink city of Jaipur.
Glimpses From The Past
The palace, which is one of its kind, was erected by Maharaja Sawai Pratap
Singh in the year 1799. The edifice, in fact, was an extension of the zenana
quarters (special quarters for royal women). In the days of the Rajput
maharajas, the queens and the royal ladies observed strict purdah (veil) and
were not allowed to come out in the open to partake in or even witness the
activities outside the palaces.
The Hawa Mahal was thus built to provide a refuge for the women of the
royal household. The ladies were first brought to the palace in palanquins.
And then through the openings, that are almost peepholes, they had the
controlled freedom of watching the processions and the activities down in
the streets. The tiny windows afforded wonderful views of the city and its
bustling markets as well.
Architectural Attractions of Hawa Mahal
Looking
like a facade from the roadside, the Hawa Mahal is much more than what a
first-look puts together. The palace comprises of five stories and is
pyramidal in shape. The fragile structure is truly contradictory to its
strength. It has numerous small casements, windows and arched roofs. The
hanging cornices, that showcase detailed works of art, are worth seeing.
The ground-storey has two courtyards while the top three stores are only
one-room thick. The fifty-foot-tall structure is made up of red and pink
sandstone. The overall design was the creative thinking of Lal Chand Usta, a
devout follower of Lord Krishna and Radha. And it's interesting to note that
the edifice resembles the crown over Krishna's forehead.
Through the tiny openings, one can have wonderful views of the walled city
of Jaipur and the numerous other forts and palaces that dot the city's
landscape. Watching structures like the Jantar Mantar, the City Palace and
the Nahargarh Fort from here, in the early hours of the morning, is a worthy
experience for sightseers.
Reaching There
Getting to Jaipur is never a problem, for the capital city has well
established air and land routes. The Sanganer Airport is at a distance of
just 11 km from the city centre. Domestic carriers like Indian Airlines and
Jet Airways have regular flights connecting to the key destinations of the
country. The railway station of Jaipur has links with places like Delhi,
Bikaner, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Secunderabad, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Agra, Kolkata,
Mumbai and Chennai. National Highways 8,11 and 12 account for an excellent
road network of Jaipur.
Best
Golden Traingle Tour (7D) 
