The grandeur, royalty and architectural excellence of Jaipur, the capital city of Rajasthan, lies in its majestic pink monuments. When Prince of Wales visited Jaipur in 1853, the entire city was painted in pink color (his favourite) to welcome him. This way, all the prominent monuments in red and pink sandstone serve as the key attraction to Rajasthan Heritage Tourism. Of all the prominent architectural wonders of the colourful city Jaipur, the Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds) serves as a major landmark.

History

Hawa Mahal in Jaipur is one such structure that showcases a marvellous blend of Rajputana as well as Mughal architecture. Built in five stories, the palace is highlighted with white quick lime. The best part with the structure is that it is shaped like a crown adorning Lord Krishna's head.

Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh of Jaipur ordered for the construction of Hawa Mahal in 1799. Basically, it is built inside the City Palace and extends the Zenana or women's chambers (the chambers of the harem). The upper floors of the palace were built for royal ladies to observe everyday life in the bazaar street below.

Architectural Beauty

The true beauty of the Hawa Mahal lies in its intricately carved 953 small windows. Through these windows the breeze circulates in the entire palace and keeps it cool even in hot summers. If one wishes to reach the upper floors, there are only ramps and no stairs. This pyramid-shaped facade, over the time, has become synonymous with Jaipur tourism.

Jaipur is the largest city and the capital of Rajasthan state in India. The city is also called the Pink City and remains remarkable amongst the pre-modern Indian cities for regularity and width of its streets laid out into 6 sectors. These are separated by a broad street about 34 meters wide. Nowadays, it is growing fast and the private enterprises as well as the government are completing a variety of developmental projects.

Places of Tourist Interest in Jaipur

Hawa Mahal
This palace was designed in 1799 by Lal Chand Usta and built by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh shaped like the crown of Hindu God. The 5-storey palace is constructed of pink and red sandstones with a tinge of white lime. The side of the building along the street has about a thousand small windows. Its name was derived from the name of the breeze that goes through these windows. It keeps the atmosphere cool even during summer.

Jaigarh Fort
This fort is situated around 15 kilometers from Jaipur. It is one of the spectacular forts in India and the center of artillery production of Rajputs. The fort is home to the Jaivana, the world's biggest cannon on wheels. The 5 kilometer long canal could be seen entering the fort to bring water from the hills and become stored in the fort for army men.

Nahagarh Fort
This fort stands on the edge of Aravalli Hills and has an overlooking view of the pink city of Jaipur in the Indian state of Rajasthan. Along with Jaigarh Fort and Amber Fort, it formed a tough defense ring for the city. This fort serves as the refuge for the Europeans fleeing from havoc created by mutineers in neighboring states. The fort is also known as the hunting residence of the Maharajas.