This document provides a photo story tour of Hawa Mahal in Jaipur, India. It shares details about the palace's Moon Door entrance, ornate carvings and decorations honoring deities. Photos depict the palace's balconies, windows, dining hall and king's rooms. The text describes how the palace served as a place for royal women to socialize and entertain without purdah (veil), while being protected from outside views. It encourages visitors to explore the palace's hidden areas before it closes at 5pm.

1. Hawa Mahal – A Photo Story thru the Palace!
#MapRoute
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2. There is lots to come….
Intrigue, safety, love, honour and
more….

3. The CHANDRAPOL or Chand
Darwaja……
Moon Door
Entrance to the Hawa Mahal!

4. The Moon Goddess hence the Moon Door or CHANDRA POL…..
Take her blessings before entering!

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

6. GREETING YOU IN STYLE!

7. Don’t forget to
notice the Doors!

8. 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

11. 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…

12. The turrets and balustrades…

13. 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)

14. The Light filtered in…..

16. The King’s Rooms….

17. No the birds haven’t been
forgotten…. Water Pots for
them in the courtyard

19. Notice that peacock that watches all the intrigue …..

20. Tis all a maze filled with Colorful bandhni dupattas, royal decrees and some
hope!

21. Simple colored glass windows just giving so
much ambience to the palace rooms!
Its here that dance instructions, programs
happened….

22. CHARMING in the DARK….

23. View from the
Window…. Watching the
commoners go by,
processions with all their
fanfare and the silent
nights

24. Small windows & peepholes
ensure that the world cannot
peep in… allowing the women to
roam freely without pardah…

25. VICHITRA (CRAZY) MANDIR…..

27. 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…..

28. If you are planning to visit those other wonders then just know – they all close
by 5pm! So hurry! ;)

29. 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.