The Maharajas of Rajasthan ruled the land with bespangled fists. And the opulence can well be observed in the gigantic and gilded forts and palaces that dot the landscape from one corner of the state to the other. Name a colour of your choice and surprisingly enough there's a city or a town matching it. Not only the cities and towns but the people who inhabit the region all colourful too. The state abounds in myths and legends and sets forth a lot of tourist potential that no one can escape.


Have you heard of a real castle in the air ? Yes, there exists one and the only one - the Hawa Mahal. It may be called a palace but doesn't have a palatial structure and that's the most interesting part of it all. It is more of a screen than a palace. The edifice that stands abutting the City Palace is simply outstanding. You are definite to find yourself out of words when you arrive here and have a look at the splendid structure that's one of its kind in the whole world.

Erected by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh in 1799, the Hawa Mahal or the Palace of Winds has five stories. The overall structure stands in the shape of a pyramid and comprises of small windows and screens with arched roofs. While you come here to fix a gaze upon, you will also notice that the rear side of the building is devoid of much ornamentation unlike the frontage. It's simply because much of the attention has been paid to the front as it has splendid embellishments and intricacy of work. The back side is an assemblage of pillars and passages.



At the time the Hawa Mahal was constructed, the ladies of the royal family observed strict purdah. And that was why such an a strange kind of an edifice came into existence. From here, the royal women could easily watch the processions in the streets below, preventing themselves being seen from the prying eyes. And this applies to why the palace has been provided with numerous tiny windows and multi screened balconies.

As you might be aware that the Rajput style of architecture is greatly influenced by the Mughal architecture, the palace is a fine example of the brilliant blend. Here, the interesting amalgamation has resulted into a unique edifice which a cynosure of all eyes. Besides being an elegant structure, the Hawa Mahal also extends stunning views of the city from the top. The Jantar Mantar Observatory is also visible from here.

The best time to fix a gaze on this brilliant piece of architecture is in the early morning when it catches the rays of the morning sun. As you enjoy the sight, you might think yourself in a fanciful state. And that a single blink of an eye could put an end to this dream which actually reality. But that's what makes the edifice special and the one of its kind.