The famous Hawa Mahal, also known as the “Palace of Winds”, is located in which city of the Indian state of Rajasthan?

Introduction / Context:
This question links Indian geography with art and architecture by asking about the location of Hawa Mahal, an iconic monument. Hawa Mahal, often called the “Palace of Winds,” is a major tourist attraction and a symbol of Rajasthani architecture. Knowing the correct city helps you connect cultural heritage with its geographic setting, which is a standard skill tested in general knowledge exams.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The monument in question is Hawa Mahal.
• We are asked to identify the city within Rajasthan where it is located.
• The options given are Ajmer, Jodhpur, Jaipur and Kota.
• We assume standard facts from Indian history and tourism materials.

Concept / Approach:
Hawa Mahal is located in Jaipur, the capital city of Rajasthan, and is famous for its unique facade with numerous small windows (jharokhas) designed to allow royal women to observe street life while maintaining purdah. Ajmer is known for the Ajmer Sharif Dargah, Jodhpur for Mehrangarh Fort and the blue cityscape, and Kota for its coaching institutes and Chambal river. Therefore, recognition of the correct monument-city pairing directly points to Jaipur.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Hawa Mahal is a pink sandstone palace with many small latticed windows. Step 2: Remember that Jaipur is called the Pink City and that Hawa Mahal is one of its most famous landmarks. Step 3: Examine the options: Ajmer, Jodhpur, Jaipur and Kota. Step 4: Match Hawa Mahal with Jaipur based on tourism information and visual memory of the monument. Step 5: Select Jaipur as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative Check:
Tourism brochures, travel websites and school textbooks frequently show images of Hawa Mahal to represent Jaipur. In many photographs, you will also see Jaipur's bustling streets right in front of this monument. Ajmer, Jodhpur and Kota are highlighted for other distinct attractions, not Hawa Mahal. This consistent association between Hawa Mahal and Jaipur serves as a strong verification of the answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option a (Ajmer) is associated more with the Ajmer Sharif Dargah and Ana Sagar Lake. Option b (Jodhpur) is known for Mehrangarh Fort and the blue houses, not for Hawa Mahal. Option d (Kota) is a city on the Chambal river famous for its education sector and Kota stone, not for this palace. Although all are cities in Rajasthan, none besides Jaipur is historically connected to Hawa Mahal.

Common Pitfalls:
A common pitfall is to confuse various Rajasthani forts and palaces when learning quickly for exams. Students may mix up Hawa Mahal with palaces in Jodhpur or Udaipur. To avoid confusion, remember a simple link: Hawa Mahal with its honeycomb facade equals Jaipur, the Pink City. Visualising the monument's pink sandstone structure can help anchor this association in memory.

Final Answer:
Hawa Mahal is located in the city of Jaipur in Rajasthan.