Hawa Mahal - Palace of the Winds Travel Guide

Jaipur is known as the Pink City, with its numerous pink buildings, of which the Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds) stands out with its crowned outline and beehive-like facade as an irreplaceable landmark in Jaipur. The following will take you from the facade to the interior of Hawa Mahal and share with you the information that will help you realize a memorable trip to Hawa Mahal, such as the best spot to capture Hawa Mahal, the best time to visit it, how to get to it, its opening hours and entrance fees, etc.

Why Is Hawa Mahal Worth Visiting?

Hawa Mahal is one of the most iconic buildings in India, a pink not-to-be-missed fairy tale, a palace to capture the lovely city, a miracle that tells its story through the winds. Its dreamy colors and striking architecture make it a favorite among photography lovers. Its world-renowned facade has left countless people yearning, and its interior is something else worth exploring.

How to Explore Hawa Mahal?

You can start with the facade of Hawa Mahal to admire its symmetrical beauty, fantastic colors, and exquisite casements. After that, enter the interior of Hawa Mahal. The five floors of the interior are cleverly laid out and decorated differently. You can stroll floor by floor and experience their different charm. Through the small casements, you can overlook the bustling streets of Jaipur.

Admire the Facade of Hawa Mahal

The facade of Hawa Mahal is the most attractive part of the palace, and its appeal is everlasting. The facade, full of rhythm and dynamism, is a subtle blend of fluted pillars, carved screens, arched awnings, small casements, and floral patterns. The facade's elegant and dignified outline, based on Krishna's crown (Krishna, the Hindu god), combined with the lively pink color, makes the facade look like the embodiment of a fairy tale princess.

Casements on the Facade to Look out at the Bustling Street

The 953 small, delicate casements on the facade make it look like a giant beehive from a distance. These casements allow the wind to enter the Hawa Mahal and blow away the heat from every corner. In addition to ventilation and cooling, these small casements were also the connection between the royal ladies and the world outside the palace. Hawa Mahal is an extension of the women's quarters of the City Palace. Royal ladies can easily come to Hawa Mahal and with these small casements, they can look out at the bustling street scene without being seen by the public.

Explore the Interior of Hawa Mahal

The interior of Hawa Mahal is in yellowish hue and contains many surprises. The interior has five floors called Sharad Mandir, Ratan Mandir, Vichitra Mandir, Prakash Mandir, and Hawa Mandir, names that speak of their respective uniqueness.

Sharad Mandir

Come to the first floor, Sharad Mandir, which has a beautiful courtyard with a fountain, where various festivities are held every fall, hence the name of this floor, Sharad Mandir, Sharad meaning fall. Next to the courtyard is an archaeological museum with a large collection of valuable paintings, armor, swords, etc. The museum is open every day (closed on Fridays) from 10 am to 4:30 pm.

Ratan Mandir

The second floor, Ratan Mandir, is notable for its many delicate, colorful glass doors, which, when the sunlight meets them, are as translucent and dazzling as jewels. In Hindi, Ratan means jewel, hence the name Ratan Mandir.

Colorful Glasses at Ratan Mandir

Vichitra Mandir

Vichitra means "weird", and the third floor, Vichitra Mandir, is so named because this is where the king of the time would spend his "weird" time. When the king felt stressed and wanted to escape from the outside world for a while, he would come to this empty floor and immerse himself in his own world, which at the time was considered to be "weird" to close himself off like this. This quiet space once inspired the king to write poetry. You can also try to enjoy some time alone and look forward to a burst of inspiration.

Prakash Mandir

The fourth-floor Prakash meaning light, as its name suggests, is full of light. Unlike the relatively enclosed first to third floors, this floor has an open-air terrace and lots of casements, which makes "light" its theme. In the hallway, you can push open the small casements like the royal ladies did and watch the interesting things happening on the street. Come out onto the open terrace and you can enjoy the sunshine.

Hawa Mandir

Hawa Mahal is named after the fifth floor, Hawa Mandir. Hawa means wind, and the fifth floor has the most wind to keep the heat at bay. The fifth floor has a wide view and is the best place to enjoy and photograph the cityscape of Jaipur, you can see other must-see attractions around such as City Palace and Jantar Mantar.

Where to Find the Best Spot to Capture Hawa Mahal?

The facade of Hawa Mahal is the protagonist of tourists' cameras, and the most eye-catching photos are often panoramic shots of the facade. The top floors of the buildings opposite Hawa Mahal are the best places to take panoramic photos, and some of the cafes, such as Wind View Cafe, and Tattoo Cafe are the most popular ones, which have open-air balconies.

Find a Good Spot to Capture the Palace of the Winds

Standing in front of the Hawa Mahal gives you another spot to take great photos. You can capture the details of the wall, including the undulations of the wall, the carvings and patterns on the casements, the elegant arched awnings, etc. A low-angle shot will emphasize the soaring and solemnity of the Hawa Mahal.

When Is the Best Time to Visit Hawa Mahal?

Visit Hawa Mahal By Month

The temperatures in Jaipur are more comfortable from October to March, making it suitable for a visit to the Hawa Mahal. Jaipur enters the summer season in April, when the temperatures can reach more than 40 degrees Celsius, and the heat can last until September. If you don't mind the heat, you can also visit during the summer months and enjoy the discounts. It will also be a lot easier to photograph the facade in summer, as there won't be crowds coming in and out of your shot frequently.

Visit Hawa Mahal By Day

Early morning is the best time to enjoy Hawa Mahal, the sunlight falls on the casements of Hawa Mahal's facade, and the gold and pink colors blend to make Hawa Mahal dreamy. After visiting the facade, you can enter the interior of the Hawa Mahal just after it opens (at 9 am), before the hordes of tourists arrive.

Sunset is another excellent time to visit Hawa Mahal and enjoy its otherworldly beauty. In the setting sun, Hawa Mahal looks gorgeous golden, fading away from naivety to look elegant and solemn. If Hawa Mahal in the daytime is a cheerful nursery rhyme, the Hawa Mahal in the sunset is a magnificent symphony.

What Are the Opening Hours and Entrance Fees?

Hawa Mahal is open every day from 9 am to 4:30 pm and the entrance fee is 200 INR (2.4 USD). Hawa Mahal is open for free on Rajasthan Diwas (March 30th), World Heritage Day (April 18th), International Museum Day (May 18th) and World Tourism Day (September 27th). If you are also planning to visit other attractions in Jaipur, you can buy a composite ticket (12 USD, valid for 2 days) which covers Hawa Mahal, Jantar Mantar, Amber Palace, Albert Hall Museum, Nahargarh Fort, etc. You can buy tickets online or at the ticket office of Hawa Mahal.

How to Get to Hawa Mahal?

Hawa Mahal is located in Jaipur, the capital city of Rajasthan, about 5 hours drive from Delhi. You can also fly to Jaipur International Airport and reach Hawa Mahal in about a 30-minute drive. Apart from flying to Jaipur International Airport, you can also take a train to Jaipur Junction Railway Station, where you can reach Hawa Mahal in about a 15-minute drive.

How Long Does It Take to Visit Hawa Mahal?

Reserving 3 to 4 hours for Hawa Mahal is enough. Viewing and photographing the Hawa Mahal's most stunning facade from different angles will take up most of your time; the interior of Hawa Mahal has five floors but not much space and will take you about 1 hour. Photography enthusiasts may spend more time capturing the Hawa Mahal at different times of the day, and the expansive cityscape seen from the fifth floor of the interior is also worth the time.

Where to Stay When Visiting Hawa Mahal?

Hawa Mahal is located in the center of Jaipur and you have several options of great luxury and budget hotels within a 10-minute drive from Hawa Mahal. It is recommended that you stay near Hawa Mahal if you don't want to miss the Hawa Mahal in the morning.

What Things to Do Nearby the Hawa Mahal?

After visiting Hawa Mahal, there is a lot more for you to explore. Just within a kilometer from Hawa Mahal, there are several famous attractions where you can feast your eyes and bazaars that will make your mouth water.

About 700 meters from Hawa Mahal, Govind Devji Temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna and this exquisitely ornate temple is a holy place for devotees.

The City Palace, about 800 meters from Hawa Mahal, is a fusion of different architectural styles and is a symbol of Jaipur's history.

City Palace

Johari Bazaar, about 900 meters from Hawa Mahal, has a wide variety of the most authentic local delicacies such as Daal-Baati-Choorma (made of whole wheat flour and a variety of vegetables) and Dahi Vadas (made of yogurt and fried lentil fritters).

Hawa Mahal Travel Tips

• To enter the Hawa Mahal, you cannot carry dangerous items such as knives; to protect the Hawa Mahal, smoking, littering, food and beverages are not allowed; drinking water is allowed.
• When you visit the open terrace on the interior fourth and fifth floors of Hawa Mahal, please keep a distance from the walls, which are lower.
• The narrow passageways between the interior floors of Hawa Mahal can be a challenge for claustrophobic visitors, so if this bothers you, please do not visit alone, but with friends.

  Plan Your Jaipur Tour with Odynovo

Can't wait to jump into the fairy tale world that Hawa Mahal has built for you? Let Odynovo create travel plans and handle possible hassles for you, so you can enjoy your trip to the fullest.