Hawa Mahal – A Photo Story thru the Palace!

#MapRoute

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There is lots to come….

Intrigue, safety, love, honour and more….

The CHANDRAPOL or Chand

Darwaja……Moon Door

Entrance to the Hawa Mahal!

The Moon Goddess hence the Moon Door or CHANDRA POL…..

Take her blessings before entering!

GANPATI, SHIVA, MOON GODDESS, VISHNU & SOMEONE ELSE ;)

GREETING YOU IN STYLE!

Don’t forget to

notice the Doors!

The Intricately carved top floor roofs…. You can hear the music playing,

women whispering and bursting into peals of laughter and just the general

buzz of a Palace of the Royal Ladies

A hall for music, dance, mingling and fun. No need for a purdah or veil as

outside men aren’t allowed in this Palace – only for the Royal ladies, their

maids and eunuchs and the king!

Light shines out from the multi-colored glass giving everything a surreal feel…

The turrets and balustrades…

Multi-colored windows giving a light touch to the

dining room!

You can almost smell the aroma of delicious feasts being prepared ……oh yes, you are in the Bhojan Bhavan(Food Room)

The Light filtered in…..

The King’s Rooms….

No the birds haven’t been

forgotten…. Water Pots for

them in the courtyard

Notice that peacock that watches all the intrigue …..

Tis all a maze filled with Colorful bandhni dupattas, royal decrees and some

hope!

Simple colored glass windows just giving so

much ambience to the palace rooms!

Its here that dance instructions, programs

happened….

CHARMING in the DARK….

View from the

Window…. Watching the

commoners go by,

processions with all their

fanfare and the silent

nights

Small windows & peepholes

ensure that the world cannot

peep in… allowing the women to

roam freely without pardah…

VICHITRA (CRAZY) MANDIR…..

All of Jaipur is in front of you….don’t miss the domes of the city palace to

your left and the triangular Brihat Samrat Yantra on your right…..

If you are planning to visit those other wonders then just know – they all close

by 5pm! So hurry! ;)

On your way down don’t forget

to just meander along the

various corriders and rooms. The

Mahal is a lot bigger than it

looks… with hidden staircases,

dark, unlit rooms and surprise

terraces!

The picture to the right was one

such chamber I just came across

while roaming around.