Built for the breeze

Numerous pale-red sandstone structures lend Jaipur its reputation as the 'Pink City,' but none are as large and striking as the Hawa Mahal. We're seeing just one cascading corner of this palace's impressive façade, which forms a huge grid of 953 windows (none pictured here), often likened to a beehive or tiered crown. The latticed openings allow air to pass through, cooling the whole complex via the Venturi effect. This built-in air conditioning is what gave the monument its name: Hawa Mahal means 'Palace of the Breeze.'