RAS question
The Hawa Mahal in Jaipur has how many windows (jharokhas)?
Correct answer: (B) 953.
Hawa Mahal in Jaipur has 953 small windows, called jharokhas, whose intricate latticework helps keep the palace ventilated and cool.
Explanation
Hawa Mahal's five-storey pyramidal structure has 953 small jharokhas arranged in a honeycomb-like pattern. Their intricate latticework lets cool air pass through the palace, keeping it ventilated and cool in summer. Lal Chand Ustad designed it as an extension of the royal women's chamber. The screened jharokhas allowed women to watch daily life and processions around Johari Bazaar without being seen. Hawa Mahal is therefore known not only for its height and pink-sandstone facade but also for these jharokhas. They ornament the palace, help keep it cool in a hot climate, and show the practical design of Rajasthani architecture.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) 500 is too low; Hawa Mahal has 953 jharokhas.
- (C) 1,500 is too high; Hawa Mahal has 953 small windows, or jharokhas.
- (D) 750 is incorrect; the correct count is 953 jharokhas.
Concept
This question concerns Rajasthan's built heritage. It tests both Hawa Mahal's climate-responsive design and its historical purpose. RAS art-and-culture questions often connect a monument with its period, purpose, and local architectural features.