Hawa Mahal

Hawa Mahal (Hindi: हवा महल Hava Mahal, " Palace of Winds " ) is an architecturally unusual building in the old city of Jaipur, Rajasthan ( India); it is a part of the huge city palace of the local Maharajas. The lavish lifestyle of the Rajputenfürsten documenting pleasure palace was built by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh in 1799 and is known as one of the main attractions of India around the world.

Architecture

The five-floor - only about five to eight meters deep - building dominated by countless Jaroka balconies facade is made of red and pink sandstone with decorations from lime and served only to the ladies of the harem the view of the honor of the ruler or religious holidays to allow organized pompous processions without being seen themselves. The facade facing the street contains 953 small, artfully designed and latticed windows, which ensure a constant, a little cool air circulation, hence the name Wind Palace ( hawa = wind, mahal = palace). The lattice window ( jalis ) allowed the women of the court to be able to pursue the unnoticed and bustle on the street. The many ( semi- ) dome- arched and pulled down in the corners of roofs meet the Bengal type, the spread in the 17th century to the Mughal architecture to the Rajputenpalästen and merchant houses ( havelis ) Rajasthan.

Symbolism

Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh was a devotee of Lord Krishna and thus reminds the general view of the Hawa Mahal to the jeweled crown of the Hindu god. The countless small roofs of the building are inflated by as many gilded kalashas, an ancient symbol of good luck of Hinduism.

Others

The Roman Palace of Winds of Mary M. Kaye and based thereon Movies (English: The Far Pavilion) and the eponymous television series have nothing to do with the Hawa Mahal.