Jantar Mantar and Hava Mahal, Jaipur, Rajasthan

This Jantar Mantar (photos 1-3), a step-up from the one visited in Delhi a few days ago, was far better preserved. We learnt how the larger instruments could be used for calculating the time, for example, to within a few seconds accuracy. The Hava Mahal "Palace of Breeze" was built in 1798 in the form of the crown of Krishna. Its unique five-storey exterior is also akin to the honeycomb of the beehive with its 953 small windows called jharokhas that are decorated with intricate latticework. The original intention of the lattice was to allow royal ladies to observe everyday life in the street below without being seen, since they had to observe strict "purdah" (face cover). Besides this, the lattice also provides cool air caused by the Venturi effect (doctor breeze) through the intricate pattern and thereby air conditioning the whole area during the high temperatures in summers. (Wikipedia).

Technical details: Sony a850 with Tokina 19-35mm and Minolta 70-210mm lenses.