Hawa Mahal

The city’s most striking landmark is famous for its pink latticed windows and balconies which offer panoramic views of the city below. This ‘Palace of Winds’ as it is often called, was constructed in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh, and used by the women in the royal family to observe the city’s processions without being seen. Built with red and pink sandstone, the five-storey monument was designed by Lal Chand Ustad who drew upon several Mughal architectural elements. An important note for visitors: entry to the Hawa Mahal isn’t from the façade but through a side road at the rear end of the monument.