Hawa Mahal

Where it is & how to get there

• Location: On Badi Chaupar in the Old City.
• Entrance: The entrance is at the back, from Tripolia Bazaar side lane.
• View: The famous facade is best seen from the cafés across the road.

The story of Hawa Mahal

Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh built the Hawa Mahal in 1799 so that royal women could watch street festivals without being seen. The small windows, called jharokhas, let in cool breezes.

The five-storey building is only one room deep in places. Climbing to the top gives views over the Old City and Jantar Mantar.

Best time to visit

Tips before you go

• See it from the rooftop cafés opposite.
• Photograph the facade from a rooftop café opposite.
• Combine with the City Palace and Jantar Mantar, both nearby.

What's around Hawa Mahal

• City Palace10-minute walk.
• Jantar MantarAstronomical observatory.
• Johari BazaarJewellery market.
• Albert Hall Museum10 minutes by rickshaw.

Questions travellers ask