Rising five storeys above Jaipur's bustling Badi Chaupar bazaar, the Hawa Mahal, or Palace of Winds, is the most photographed monument in Rajasthan's Pink City. Built in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh and designed by architect Lal Chand Ustad, this delicate honeycomb facade was conceived so the royal women of the zenana could observe street festivals and daily life unseen, in keeping with the custom of purdah. The structure is famous for its 953 small jharokha windows, intricately latticed with jali screens that channel cool breezes through the building, giving the palace its evocative name. Made of red and pink sandstone, the building is shaped like the crown of Lord Krishna, to whom Pratap Singh was devoted. Though its street-facing front resembles a towering screen, the Hawa Mahal is surprisingly shallow, with narrow ramps instead of stairs leading to the upper floors and a quiet inner courtyard at the rear. Today the monument also houses a small archaeological museum. Best admired at sunrise when the eastern facade glows golden-pink, the Hawa Mahal blends romance, clever engineering and Rajput artistry into one unforgettable landmark, anchoring any visit to Jaipur's old walled city.
Top Attractions
The Five-Storey Pink Facade
The eastern facade is the monument's showpiece: a pyramid-shaped wall five storeys high, studded with 953 jharokha windows and crowned with domed chhatris. Carved from red and pink sandstone, the screen is shaped to resemble Lord Krishna's crown. Viewed from the street, it is one of India's most recognisable images, glowing warmest in the early morning light.
Visitor Information
- Entry Fee: Included in main ticket
- Hours: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
- Best Time: Sunrise to 8 AM
- Tip: Cross to the cafe rooftops opposite for the classic head-on facade shot without traffic in the frame.
Jharokha Windows & Jali Screens
Each tiny balcony window is fronted by a delicately pierced sandstone jali screen. These lattices allowed royal women to watch the world while remaining hidden, and together they funnel breezes through the building. Up close you can appreciate the precision of the stone carving and the way light filters through hundreds of geometric perforations.
Visitor Information
- Entry Fee: Included in main ticket
- Hours: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
- Best Time: Mid-morning
- Tip: Look through the windows from inside for framed views over the bazaar and the City Palace beyond.
Inner Courtyard & Ramps
Behind the famous facade lies a modest inner courtyard surrounded by the palace's two-room-deep chambers. Instead of staircases, gently sloping ramps connect the floors, designed so palanquins could carry royal ladies upward. The contrast between the ornate front and the plainer, intimate rear reveals how the building actually functioned as a private royal screen rather than a residence.
Visitor Information
- Entry Fee: Included in main ticket
- Hours: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
- Best Time: Morning
- Tip: The ramps are steep and uneven; wear flat, grippy shoes.
Upper Floors & Rooftop Views
Climbing to the upper storeys, named Prakash Mandir, Hawa Mandir and Sharad Mandir, rewards you with panoramic views over Jaipur's old city. From the top you can see Jantar Mantar, the City Palace and the distant Nahargarh Fort crowning the Aravalli ridge. The breeze here is noticeably stronger, demonstrating exactly why the palace earned its name.
Visitor Information
- Entry Fee: Included in main ticket
- Hours: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
- Best Time: Early morning
- Tip: Floors get narrow and warm by midday; go up first before the crowds build.
On-site Archaeological Museum
Tucked within the complex is a small museum maintained by the state archaeology department, displaying miniature paintings, ceremonial armour, pottery and relics tied to Jaipur's royal history. It offers helpful context on the Kachhwaha rulers who built the city, and makes a cool, quiet pause between exploring the palace's upper floors.
Visitor Information
- Entry Fee: Included in main ticket
- Hours: 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
- Best Time: Midday heat
- Tip: Photography rules vary inside the museum; check signage before snapping displays.
City Palace & Jantar Mantar (nearby)
A short walk away sit two unmissable sights: the lavish City Palace, still partly home to Jaipur's royal family, with its courtyards, textiles and armoury; and Jantar Mantar, an 18th-century astronomical observatory and UNESCO World Heritage Site featuring the world's largest stone sundial. Pairing all three makes an efficient half-day in the walled city.
Visitor Information
- Entry Fee: Varies (separate tickets, roughly INR 200-700 each for foreigners)
- Hours: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
- Best Time: Morning, before midday heat
- Tip: Buy a Jaipur composite ticket if you plan to see multiple monuments; it saves money.
Food & Local Flavours
The lanes around Hawa Mahal are a paradise of Rajasthani street food and old Jaipur sweet shops.
Pyaaz Kachori
A Jaipur breakfast institution: a flaky deep-fried pastry stuffed with a spiced onion filling, served piping hot and topped with tangy tamarind and mint chutneys. Crisp outside and savoury inside, it is best eaten fresh from famous old shops near the bazaar within minutes of frying.
Price: INR 30-60
Try: Rawat Mishthan Bhandar; sweet shops near Tripolia Bazaar
Dal Baati Churma
Rajasthan's signature thali centrepiece: baked wheat dough balls (baati) crushed and soaked in ghee, served with spiced lentil dal and sweet crumbled churma. Hearty and rich, it is the dish to order when you want an authentic, filling taste of traditional Rajasthani home cooking.
Price: INR 150-350
Try: Local thali restaurants in the old city
Lassi
A thick, chilled yoghurt drink served in earthen kulhads and topped with a layer of malai cream, sometimes with saffron or pistachio. The perfect cooling antidote to Jaipur's heat and to spicy street snacks, it is a beloved local refreshment found steps from the monument.
Price: INR 40-90
Try: Lassiwala and other shops on MI Road and the bazaars
Ghewar
A disc-shaped Rajasthani sweet made from a lattice of fried flour batter soaked in sugar syrup, often crowned with rabri, nuts and silver leaf. Especially popular during festivals like Teej, this honeycomb-textured dessert is a must-try from the historic sweet shops surrounding Hawa Mahal.
Price: INR 50-150 per piece
Try: Traditional mithai shops in Johari and Tripolia bazaars
Practical Information
Getting Around
- Walking: Free — Hawa Mahal sits in the walled old city, ideal for exploring nearby bazaars and monuments on foot
- Auto-rickshaw: INR 50-200 — quick hops around the old city; agree the fare or insist on the meter before starting
- App cab (Uber/Ola): INR 80-300 — convenient from hotels and the railway station, though traffic near Badi Chaupar can be slow
- Cycle-rickshaw: INR 50-150 — a slow, atmospheric way to wind through the narrow bazaar lanes around the palace
Budget Guide (Per Day)
- Budget: INR 1,500-3,000 (~$18-36): Guesthouse or hostel, street-food meals, monument entry tickets and shared autos
- Mid-range: INR 4,000-8,000 (~$48-96): Comfortable heritage-style hotel, sit-down restaurant meals, app cabs and a local guide
- Luxury: INR 15,000+ (~$180+): Palace or heritage luxury hotel, private car with driver, fine dining and curated city tours
Best Time to Visit
- October to March: Cool, pleasant weather ideal for sightseeing and the best season to visit Jaipur
- Early morning (around sunrise): The eastern facade glows golden-pink and crowds are thinnest for photos
- Avoid April to June: Rajasthan summers are extremely hot, often above 40C, making midday exploration uncomfortable
Interactive Map
Explore Hawa Mahal on the map.
Plan Your Trip
Build a personalised day-by-day itinerary for Hawa Mahal in 60 seconds.
Open Trip PlannerImage Credits
Hawa Mahal — Jakub Hałun, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons