The Palace, one which strikes in any traveler's mind when they take the name of Jaipur is, the Hawa Mahal. It is so famous and indeed people made it famous with the clicks they take making Hawa Mahal as a beautiful background. Because the vista of this palace is gorgeously spread in a large manner, and it looks exceptional because of its one of a kind structure. People dream a lot to get a perfect picture in this place, but I kind of failed in getting a one because of my tight schedule.
I actually visited this palace in the late evening during the sunset after visiting the City Palace in Jaipur and Amber Palace in Amer. Hence, I became late in the evening. All the palaces in Jaipur will be closed by 5.30 pm. And I was late when I reached there. I kind of felt bad, but Jaipur is one place which you can't finish in one trip. But, I felt it as a sign for my next visit and I was so fortunate enough to visit the exteriors of Hawa Mahal when there was less crowd and the orange-colored sun was setting off.
5Trust me, I couldn't explain the beauty in words. It was so cold and warm at the same time. Because, the Palace of Winds or the Palace of Breeze or Hawa Mahal, has constructed in such a way that the place stays always cool, even in hot summers. The person behind this beautiful construction, Lal Ustad has made it in such a way that it remains to look all the time because this is the only place, where the queens and other royal women were allowed to look around the Jaipur through the windows which were constructed to every room of this 5 storeys architectural epitome.
So, it was in the evening, I have just reached in my cab with my driver and my tour guide. The place looks so crowded as it is a kind of edge to the pink city. And most importantly, this place is the perfect example for people to understand what is being a Pink City.
Hawa Mahal was constructed with red and pink sandstone and after the recent renovations, it has been designed in an extraordinary way by the government of Rajasthan. The Pink city market is attached to the exteriors of Hawa Mahal and you can find a lot of stores that sell various signature products of Rajasthan style, culture, and traditions like clothing, jewelry, and art.
People think that the Hawa Mahal is visible on the roads, as the entrance, but actually, it is the rear view of the Mahal. This means, it is the backside of the Palace of Breeze where a person can find the beehive structure, geometrically, it is considered as an octagonal structure. The colorful glass windows attached to the rooms on five floors look too elegant and regal enough.
This Palace sets an example for the Rajasthan Royalty and how kings used to follow the culture and used to protect their women and queens all the time. When I went to get myself pictured in front of the beehive structure, I was just awe-struck with the construction. I wonder, how they managed to construct such a clumsily attractive architecture. Surely, there were the greatest minds of the Lal Ustad and the founder of Jaipur, Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh. Salute to them for leaving such a wonderful monument on earth, especially in India.
The name pink city was actually given because of the construction of these palaces with pink and red sandstone and all the red and white painting all over the pink city market. I have heard that here the people or the residents are allowed only to paint their houses in a brick red color which made this place, quite interesting. This is one of the biggest tourist attractions in the world.
Hawa Mahal is one of the most visited monuments in India and foreigners and Indian travelers die to get a cool picture at this Mahal. Making this fact, as a base, some guides, and other people, may ask you to come to their stores opposite the Mahal to get a good picture. Some are good, but some may make you purchase stuff forcefully and also may make fake promises too. So, be careful with your belongings and do not get engaged in conversations with people, especially the vendors in the Pink city market and people who sell stuff near the Hawa Mahal.
Just enjoy the beauty for a while by standing in front of the Mahal. Close your eyes for a while and listen to the sound of the wind, you feel like waves touching the shore. I went in the evening at sunset time and I could see the orange hues on the Pink walls of Hawa Mahal, which is just inexplicable. So, if you want to feel the same, how I felt when I visited, do visit the Hawa Mahal in the evening after closing time and before the Palace gets to lighten up because you can see the palace in the midst times of day and night. Even though you visit the palace in its timings, try to visit in the late evenings. Just a piece of advice from a traveler's mind. Hope you take it...
