Bucket list experience:
Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
The intricate lattice-screened and salmon-pink facade of the Hawa Mahal, or the ‘Palace of Winds’, is probably the most iconic image of Jaipur, Rajasthan’s capital.
Constructed in 1799 as an extension of the maharaja’s City Palace, it was designed to permit ladies of the royal court to see the comings and goings of the outside world without themselves being seen by strangers. This tradition of purdah – essentially female seclusion – was strictly observed by the royals.
Its hundreds of tiny arched windows and niches with decorative dome-like mouldings and balcony-like brackets are rather fetching. The entire mahal is reputedly shaped like the god Krishna’s crown. Surprisingly, there’s not much to see behind the facade.
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Destination Guide >Hawa Mahal is in the centre of Jaipur, just around the corner from City Palace and next to Badi Chaupar metro station.
Many visitors content themselves with a (free) look at the facade from the public road it overlooks. Iconic though it is, the Hawa Mahal is really just about its remarkable facade.
However, you can visit the interior and, just as the courtly ladies once did, gaze out through its diminutive windows and screens. Buy tickets on the spot; access is via a small lane off Tripolia Bazar.
The Palace is open all year round, seven days a week. It’s worth noting that as the building faces east, you’ll want to be there in the morning – the earlier the better – to catch the best sun-lit pictures of its photogenic facade.
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Our writer’s picks of the best places to stay near this experience, closest first
Jaipur, Rajasthan, India[1.5 miles]
A beautiful boutique hotel combining heritage and romance in an atmospheric corner of the Old City.
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Jaipur, Rajasthan, India[2.1 miles]
Characterful and charming heritage hotel in central Jaipur – a haveli, or mansion, originally built for a wealthy noble family. Excellent value for money.
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Jaipur, Rajasthan, India[3.4 miles]
Formerly the Maharaja of Jaipur’s palace, this superb heritage hotel boasts luxurious and characterful rooms, coupled with impeccable service and charming gardens.
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Jaipur, Rajasthan, India[7.8 miles]
A top-end, spacious reinvention of a Rajput fortress with beautiful gardens spread over 32 acres, with accommodation in elegant Maharajah-style tents or luxurious villas.
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Destination guides including or relevant to this experience
India
India’s cultural essence combined with its most iconic sights and greatest bucket list experiences, all distilled into one compact, diverse and vibrant region.
Rajasthan, India
Rajasthan’s state capital is a compelling blend of huge hillside forts, extravagant palaces, bustling bazaars, memorable heritage hotels and almost comically thronged streets.
Our writer’s recommendations of other bucket list experiences our writer says you must do in this destination, closest first
Jaipur, Rajasthan, India[0.4 miles]
A fascinating, and among the best-preserved palace complex in Rajasthan, set in the heart of Jaipur’s Old City.
Best for ages: 13+ | £2
Jaipur, Rajasthan, India[0.5 miles]
Vibrant Johari Bazaar encapsulates the city’s reputation as India’s main gemstone and jewellery centre, with artisans’ workshops dotting its lanes and alleys.
Best for ages: 13+ | Free
Jaipur, Rajasthan, India[1.9 miles]
One of India’s most famous and flamboyant cinemas, it remains a Jaipur landmark and often screens movies to a full house.
Best for ages: 18+ | £1 | 90+ minutes
Jaipur, Rajasthan, India[7.3 miles]
One of Rajasthan’s great maharaja fortress-palace complexes, dating back to the 16th century, set amidst a spectacular backdrop of stark hills.
Best for ages: 13+ | Free
