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In the amazing palace of the city of Jaipur (Rajasthan) – the building with the romantic name Hawa Mahal – Indian Maharajas tried hide from prying eyes his many beautiful wives. Here, surprisingly, it is always cool – thanks to almost a thousand windows and unique natural ventilation.
The history of the construction of the Palace of the Winds
Palace of the Winds (Hawa Mahal translates that way) got its the name is because of this particular ventilation system, which provide not only many windows, but the architecture itself buildings, arrangement of its internal premises.
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Due to this, even in unbearable heat to the inhabitants of Hawa Mahal it was much cooler than other residents of the city. By the way, this a system that creates a pleasant breeze on the premises is recognized perfect even by modern professionals. Enough in jaipur hot climate, so the cooling of rooms, especially in summer, is an urgent need. Palace of the Winds is designed so that the higher the outside temperature, the stronger the wind inside it, causing the rooms to naturally cool.
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According to the original plan, Hawa Mahal was to become the temple of Krishna, whose headdress he looks like. However Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh, by command of which was erected the building, changed his mind, deciding that a grandiose building would be the palace.
It is not known exactly when the construction was completed, however it is generally accepted that this happened no later than in 1799.
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The beautiful appearance of Hawa Mahal
Pink Sandstone Palace, located in the center of Jaipur, impossible to confuse with any other building, so its architecture is peculiar. The facade of this building, made in Moorish style, looks like a giant anthill or a casket with many jewels (windows, niches and balconies). Curiously, for all its splendor, Hawa Mahal It does not look overloaded, but rather refined.
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Features of the Palace of the Winds
A special function (and even more than one) is performed by the palace windows. Firstly, coupled with other old architectural ideas designers, they create ventilation. And secondly, sometime in literally, Maharaj’s wives served as “windows to the world.” Women have been here quite often, but they were strictly forbidden appear to strangers in the eyes.
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Windows served as a kind of “TV”, so that noble the ladies had fun watching the life of the city. Seeing them yourself is not nobody could – such was the design of the windows, of which there are in the palace 953. However, the beautiful building was never intended for the harem, as it is quite flat, with small rooms. Women were there only during the holidays.
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No less interesting, even intriguing feature of this building as many as five tiers is the absolute absence of stairs, which is also promoted ventilation. A logical question immediately arises: a how did women move between floors? For this served as special slopes of the floor, most of which did not even there was a railing. They should be walked in special shoes with special notches on the soles.
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And rising in this building is not without interest, because the higher you climb up the palace, the more beauties will open before you. The upper rooms, decorated with stained glass windows not visible from the street, intended for the most influential and beloved Indian wives princes.
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Hawa Mahal offers spectacular views of the famous Jantar Mantar Observatory, City Palace, as well as the bazaar Siredeori.
Today in the Palace of the Winds is a small but very an interesting museum, among the exhibits of which are miniature paintings and ceremonial armor.
