Also referred to as the 'Palace of Winds', Hawa Mahal is a stunning monument known for its historical significance and gorgeous exterior.

Rajasthan is home to a number of impressive palaces, and Hawa Mahal is undoubtedly one of the most significant among them. Located at Badi Chaupad in Jaipur city, this massive structure is indeed an architectural masterpiece reflecting an amalgamation of Hindu Rajput and Islamic Mughal architecture style. With the magnificent facade, fluted pillars, pink-coloured balconies, lots of colourful windows and more, this palace is truly a majestic beauty which leaves all its visitors in an awe.

Here are some fascinating facts about the Hawa Mahal:

Hawa Mahal was built by Rajput Sawai Pratap Singh in 1799. He built this monument after getting inspiration from the impressive structure of Khetri Mahal.

There is no direct entrance at the Hawa Mahal. The visitors enter the palace through the side of the City Palace.

As previously mentioned, Hawa Mahal is a blend of Islamic Mughal and Hindu Rajput architecture style. The stone inlay filigree work and arches reflect the Islamic Mughal style, while the Hindu Rajput style gets seen through the domed canopies, lotus, fluted pillars and floral patterns.

The palace is five-storey, having been constructed with red and pink sandstones. The floors are named as Sharad Mandir, Ratan Mandir, Vichitra Mandir, Prakash Mandir and Hawa Mandir respectively. The top floor offers a spectacular panoramic view of the entire city.

There are 953 windows ("Jharokas" in local language) at the palace which allow the cool winds to pass inside it. These were designed to replicate the beehive of a honeycomb.

Wondering the idea behind constructing such a unique structure? Well, it was so that the royal women could observe the daily life on the streets through the windows. Because of the traditional Purdah system, the women could not let themselves get noticed in public.

The entire structure is built in the shape of a crown, resembles a lot like the crown of Lord Krishna. It's believed that Rajput Sawai Pratap Singh was a great devotee of Lord Krishna.

The building was designed by Lal Chand Ustad. He was also a devotee of Lord Krishna.

Despite of being a 5-storey building, Hawa Mahal doesn't have any stair. One can reach the top floors through the ramps.

Inside the palace, there are three small temples named Govardhan Krishna Temple, Hawa Mandir and Krishna Temple.

There's a museum at the large courtyard of the palace. It's home to historical paintings, relics, ceremonial armour and more.

It's surprising that Hawa Mahal is built without any solid foundations. Thus, it's considered as world's tallest building without any foundation.