One of the top tourist attractions of Jaipur, the huge Amer Palace Fort sits atop a small hill and is located at a distance of about 11 km from the main city. The magnificent Amer Fort or Amber Fort is an extensive palace complex that has been built with pale yellow and pink sandstone, and white marble. The fort is divided into four main sections that are graced with their own courtyards. Historically significant and architecturally stunning, Amber Fort is a well-preserved monument giving a peek into the Rajput rule in Rajasthan.
The historic hill fort rises above the town of Amer, which was the capital of the Kuchwaha Rajputs from the 11th to the 18th century. Construction began in 1592 by Maharaja Man Singh, considered to be one of the Navaratnas or the nine gems of the royal court of Akbar. Maharaja Man Singh was a powerful general in the army of the Mughal emperor Akbar. In shades of honey and rose stone, white marble and gilt decor, Amber Fort is more of a palace than a fortress. The architecture at the Fort is a splendid example of the Rajput style, which has been symbiotically mixed with Mughal architectural motifs. At the 37th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, in 2013, Amer Fort, along with five other forts of Rajasthan, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the group Hill Forts of Rajasthan.
Image Credits: Jaipur Tourism
A long, steep climb up to the fort takes visitors to a huge courtyard, Jaleb Chowk. Once through the ticket gate, there’s a lot to see in the palace complex as you move from one courtyard to another, each leading to more private and opulent chambers, plus temples, gardens and terraces. The first is the many-pillared Diwan-i-Am, the Hall of Public Audience. From there, you enter through the beautifully painted Ganesh Pol (gate) to the private inner apartments of the fort.
The Diwan-i-Khas includes an ornamental garden and the dazzling Sheesh Mahal, the Hall of Mirrors. The walls of the Sheesh Mahal are covered in an intricate mosaic of shards of mirror and coloured glass. It’s one of the treasures of Amber Fort, astounding visitors with the beauty of the cut Belgian glass. Other inner rooms include the Jal Mandir, or Hall of Victory, which features carved marble panels a mirrored ceiling, and expansive views over the ramparts of the fort.
The Sukh Niwas, the Hall of Pleasure, is a marble room that was cleverly cooled with water. Here, the Maharaja reportedly relaxed with his ladies. The oldest part of the fort, completed in 1599, includes the Palace of Man Singh and the zenana, women’s quarters. In the centre of the zenana is a pavilion, and the wives’ rooms were ranged around the courtyard. The fort is open every day from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. There is even a spectacular Sound and Light show organized in the evening, which is sure to impart a lasting memory on the visitors.
