Hawa Mahal, the Palace of Winds, is a five-storey landmark in Jaipur’s Old City and one of the city’s best-known monuments. Its pink sandstone façade and rows of jharokhas make it a distinctive stop; you can see the exterior from across the road or visit the palace itself.
- Location: Jaipur Old City, beside Johari Bazaar.
- Architecture: 953 windows, or jharokhas.
- Opening hours: Incredible India gives the hours as 09:00 AM–04:30 PM.
- Getting there: Local bus, taxi and auto-rickshaw are options.
What makes Hawa Mahal distinctive
Hawa Mahal is known for its pink sandstone exterior, five storeys and 953 jharokhas. Rajasthan Tourism describes its architecture as a blend of Hindu Rajput and Islamic Mughal styles.
Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh had the palace built in 1799. Its windows allowed royal women to observe the streets of Johari Bazaar without being seen, according to Rajasthan Tourism. That connection to the street helps explain why the façade is the landmark’s defining feature.
Where to view the façade
You can view Hawa Mahal’s façade from across the road, a simple way to appreciate the rows of windows without entering the palace. Rajasthan Tourism identifies this as a place to see the exterior.
Johari Bazaar is directly associated with the palace’s history. The surrounding Old City also has bazaars worth including in your plans, such as the lanes and markets covered in this guide to Johari and Bapu Bazaar.
Visiting the palace from the inside
Inside Hawa Mahal, you can climb to the top and visit an archaeological museum housed in the courtyard, according to Rajasthan Tourism. The interior visit adds the palace’s upper levels and courtyard to a look at its street-facing architecture.
For a wider Old City outing, City Palace and Jantar Mantar can be combined with Hawa Mahal, Rajasthan Tourism says. A visitor guide to City Palace can help you plan that nearby landmark as part of the same day.
How do you get to Hawa Mahal, and what should you check?
You can reach Hawa Mahal by local bus, taxi or auto-rickshaw, according to Rajasthan Tourism. Opening hours are 09:00 AM–04:30 PM. Check the official site before you go, especially for current opening and ticket details.
The Rajasthan Tourism page does not specify entry prices, so confirm ticket arrangements with an official source before setting out. If you are planning a broader day around the Old City, this Jaipur one-day route includes the area’s sights.
Hawa Mahal is about a 14-minute walk from Rawla Mrignayani Palace.
FAQs
Can you see Hawa Mahal without going inside?
Yes. Rajasthan Tourism says you can view the façade from across the road.
What is the Palace of Winds?
It is another name for Hawa Mahal, the five-storey Jaipur landmark.
Can you visit a museum at Hawa Mahal?
Yes. The palace houses an archaeological museum in its courtyard.