Geography of Jaipur

Location: 26 92' N 75 82 E
Altitude: 431 m above sea level

Jaipur is one of the first planned cities of India.

It situated in the foot hills of Aravali range.
Total length of Jaipur from East to West is about 60 km
and total width from North to South is about 75 Km
Very close to Jaipur, there is a single natural lake
named Sambhar lake, the water of which is salty and is
the largest source of good quality salt in India.

Climate of Jaipur
The summer in Jaipur are very hot while winters are
extremely cold.
Temperature:
Summer: 45C max. 25Cmin.
Winter: 22C max. 05C min.
The minimum temperature as low as -2.2 C was
recorded on 16th January, 1964 and 31st January,
1905.

JAL
IS

SECTION
VENTURI

Allows diffused
light to enter
minimising the heat
gain.
Also minimises the
entry of dust

COLLONAD
ES
AND
CORRIDORS

CHAJ
JA

ABHANERI, 95KMS FROM

JAIPUR

WATER

Hot air

cool air

Heat transferred
to water body

JAL MAHAL

INTRODUCTION

Hawa Mahal is the most popular

monument of Jaipur, located in the
Tripolia Bazaar in the west of GPO.
It is also known as "The Palace of
Winds" and was built in 1799 A.D by
Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh (grand
son of Sawai Jai Singh and son of
Sawai Madhoo Singh).
Sawai Pratap Singh was a great
devotee of Lord Krishna and he
dedicated this mahal to the Lord.
The exterior wall of Hawa Mahal
looks like a mukut (crown), which
adorns Lord Krishna's head.
The hawa mahal is the extension to
the Zenana Quarters and the main
motive behind the making of Hawa
Mahal was to enable ladies of the
royal household to watch the
everyday life and royal processions
of the city.

ARCHITECTURE

Lal Chand Usta was the architect of

the Hawa Mahal.

Constructed in pink sandstone, Hawa

Mahal is intricately carved and
bordered with white motives.

Motifs and carvings designed on the

walls of the Hawa Mahal are proof
of the efforts, dedication and
skillfulness of the artists of that
period.

This five-story, pyramid-shaped

structure endorses 953 small
peepholes.

Each peephole has tiny lattice

worked (jali) pink windows and
arched roofs with hanging cornices.

architecture

Hawa Mahal is famous for its

windows or 'Jharokhas' which
enable free circulation of air
within the structure

The uppermost three stories are

just a single room thick but at the
base are two courtyards.

It is a fifty-foot high thin shield,

less than a foot in thickness, but has
over 900 niches and a mass of semioctagonal bays, carved sandstone
grills.

The pyramidal outline of the

structure has one characteristic
feature of architecture - symmetry,
and, as in Jain temples, uses
repetition of motifs to great
enhancement of beauty and looks.

INTERIORS

The interiors of Hawa Mahal are

stark and plain with a mass of pillars
and passages that lead to the top
storey.

The upper floors are reached

through a ramp rather than the
regular stairs, a device to facilitate
movement of palanquins carried by
servants which is a less tiresome
way.

STRUCTURE

The entrance of Hawa Mahal is

beautifully adorned with a stately
door that opens into a spacious
courtyard.

The entrance to Hawa Mahal is from

City Palace side.

The beautifully carved doors open

into the courtyard of Hawa Mahal,
surrounded by double storeyed
building on three sides.

The exotic monument also boosts an

archeological museum.

Only the eastern wing has three

more storeys above, which are just a
single room thick. No regular stairs
to reach the upper floors, but only
ramps.