Hawa Mahal
Palace Ornate pink sandstone palace with lattice windows
Jaipur’s Hawa Mahal presents a perforated pink‑sandstone façade of many small windows built for royal women to observe street festivals; tourists photograph the latticework, explore nearby bazaars and study Rajput architecture.
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Hawa Mahal is a pink sandstone palace façade located in the old city of Jaipur, Rajasthan, built in 1799. It is a five-storey structure famous for its richly perforated front elevation of small windows and balconies.
The intricate façade with hundreds of tiny windows and latticework is the primary attraction, photographed from the street and from nearby terraces. The structure was designed to provide ventilation and views of processions while preserving royal seclusion.
A small interior museum and a series of narrow passages and viewing galleries behind the façade can be explored, offering different perspectives on the façade and the surrounding City Palace area. The structure is emblematic of Jaipur’s late 18th-century Rajput architecture.
Commissioned by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh in 1799 and attributed to architect Lal Chand Ustad, the building formed part of the City Palace complex and the royal urban fabric of Jaipur. It has been maintained as a civic landmark and museum since the colonial period.
Hawa Mahal stands on the eastern edge of the old city of Jaipur, close to the City Palace and Jantar Mantar observatory, in the heart of Jaipur’s historic district.
- Façade detail: The distinctive perforated façade was designed to allow the royal women to observe street life while remaining unseen, and contains 953 small windows or jharokhas.
How to Get to Hawa Mahal #
Hawa Mahal sits in the old city (Pink City) of Jaipur on Hawa Mahal Road near City Palace and J.D. Marg. It is within Jaipur’s historic centre, about 3 km from Jaipur Railway Station (a 10-15 minute drive) and easily reached on foot, by cycle rickshaw, auto or local bus from nearby bazaars; from Delhi it is roughly 250-280 km via NH48 (about 4-5 hours by car).
Tips for Visiting Hawa Mahal #
- Visit around sunrise or early morning when the façade is softer and the street in front is less crowded; the best framed photos come from across the square or from nearby rooftop cafés.
- For the classic vantage point, head to one of the small rooftop terraces in the market blocks opposite Hawa Mahal rather than the street level; many visitors don't realize those cafés offer unobstructed views of the honeycomb façade.
- Combine your visit with a quick walk through the adjacent City Palace/Johari Bazaar lanes-tour groups often skip the nearby lanes where you can see the palace side elevations and quieter palace gates.
Best Time to Visit Hawa Mahal #
Best visited October-March when temperatures are cooler and sightseeing around Jaipur is most comfortable.
Weather & Climate near Hawa Mahal #
Hawa Mahal's climate is classified as Hot Semi-Arid - Hot Semi-Arid climate with very hot summers (peaking in June) and mild winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 8°C to 40°C. Moderate rainfall (639 mm/year) with a pronounced dry season.
January
January is the coolest month with highs of 22°C and lows of 8°C. Almost no rain and clear sunny skies.
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February
February is cool with highs of 25°C and lows of 10°C. Almost no rain and clear sunny skies.
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March
March is mild with highs of 31°C and lows of 16°C. Almost no rain and clear sunny skies.
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April
April is hot with highs of 36°C and lows of 22°C. Almost no rain and mostly sunny skies.
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May
May is hot with highs of 40°C and lows of 26°C. Light rainfall and mostly sunny skies.
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June
June is the hottest month with highs of 39°C and lows of 27°C. Moderate rainfall (49 mm).
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July
July is hot, feeling like 32°C. Heavy rain (217 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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August
August is hot, feeling like 32°C due to high humidity. The wettest month with heavy rain (221 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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September
September is hot, feeling like 30°C. Regular rainfall (94 mm) and mostly sunny skies.
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October
October is warm with highs of 33°C and lows of 19°C. Almost no rain and clear sunny skies.
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November
November is mild with highs of 29°C and lows of 13°C. Almost no rain and clear sunny skies.
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December
December is cool with highs of 24°C and lows of 9°C. The driest month with just 3 mm and clear sunny skies.
