The Hawa Mahal was built in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh; and designed by Lal Chand Ustad in the form of the crown of Krishna; the Hindu god.

Jaipur is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Rajasthan. It was founded on 18 November 1727 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II; the ruler of Amber; after whom the city was named. The city today has a population of 3.1 million. Jaipur is known as the Pink City of India.

The city is remarkable among pre-modern Indian cities for the width and regularity of its streets which are laid out into six sectors separated by broad streets 34 m (111 ft) wide. The urban quarters are further divided by networks of gridded streets. Five quarters wrap around the east; south; and west sides of a central palace quarter; with a sixth quarter immediately to the east. The Palace quarter encloses the sprawling Hawa Mahal palace complex; formal gardens; and a small lake. Nahargarh Fort; which was the residence of the King Sawai Jai Singh II; crowns the hill in the northwest corner of the old city. The observatory; Jantar Mantar; is a World Heritage Site. Pictures From Asia David Henley