Khetri Mahal, also called the Wind Palace of Jhunjhunu, is an airy, ruined palace set above the old town. Reached by lanes and ramps, it opens into high, open halls with colonnades, arches and long wind-tunnel corridors that give sweeping views over Jhunjhunu and nearby Badalgarh Fort. Almost all walls have arched openings instead of doors, allowing strong cross-breezes; interior spaces feel light and vertical, with remnants of pastel plaster and murals. Many travellers describe it as a “prototype Hawa Mahal,” but in a raw, less restored state.
About this place
History & highlights
Khetri Mahal was built around 1770 CE by Bhopal Singh, the ruler of the Khetri thikana and grandson of Sardul Singh of Jhunjhunu. Its architecture – multiple levels linked by ramps, open arches and wind-friendly design – impressed rulers elsewhere; Jaipur’s Hawa Mahal (1799) is traditionally said to have been inspired by Khetri Mahal’s concept of a “wind palace.” Bhopal Singh later died in the Second Battle of Loharu; a chhatri marks the spot of his cremation. Today Khetri Mahal is an atmospheric ruin and key example of Shekhawati palace architecture, frequently photographed from its terraces.
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