Hawa Mahal

Palace Complex, Jaipur

The Hawa Mahal (Palace of Breezes), a ventilated residence, overlooks a busy downtown street near the City Palace in Jaipur. Built in 1799, it allowed court women to observe the passing scene while remaining in seclusion. Behind its five-story facade, the building is only one room thick from front to back. Click here for a close-up of this unique structure.

The distinctive color of the building is characteristic. Jaipur is known as the Pink City, although the buildings seem more salmon-colored to me. The color was first applied in 1856 to honor a visit by Prince Albert, pink being the traditional color of hospitality in Rajasthan.