| Built
in 1799, the Hawa Mahal, or Palace of the Winds, is one of the major landmarks
of Jaipur. This five storey
building, which looks out over the main street of the old city, is a stunning
example of Rajput artistry, with its pink semioctagonal and delicately honeycombed
sandstone windows. It was originally built to enable ladies of the royal household,
to watch the everyday life and processions of the city. The palace was built by
Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh, and is part of the City Palace complex. There is,
also, a small archaeological museum on the same site.
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