HAWA MAHAL (PALACE OF THE WINDS)

The Palace of the Winds, with its ochre facade with dozens of windows, stands on five floors. It is necessary to take the measure of the building by the street before visiting the building. The best thing to do is to have a drink on the terrace of the Tattoo Coffee to take some pictures. It's best to come in the morning to enjoy the soft light and take pictures without the traffic. You will also be less harassed by the bazaar vendors. Decorated with 61 jharokha (loggias with openwork stone windows) and 953 windows, the palace was built in 1799 to allow the princesses of the court to contemplate the spectacle of the street and the parades without being seen by the public. At that time, they had to respect the strict rule of "purda", which obliged them to hide from any foreign look. The Hawa Mahal was connected to the zenana (women's quarter) of the City Palace. It owes its name to the refreshing breeze(hawa) that its ingenious openings let filter through. It quickly became a summer palace for the king and his wives.

Once inside the monument (access by the back of the building, it is signposted from the street) you will quickly realize that it is actually a big wall that overhangs the street. Apart from a few sets of stairs and corridors, the palace does not contain much. We still recommend climbing to the top, where the view of the old city grid and the City Palace is breathtaking.