Address
Amber Fort
Devisinghpura, Amer,
Jaipur 302001, India
Directions: Google Maps
Support
Phone: 91-141 253 0293
Phone: 91-141 282 2863 (Rajasthan Tourism)
Phone: namaste@rajasthan.gov.in (Rajasthan Tourism)
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About Amber Fort
Jaipur, the pink city of India is home to Amber Fort, a strikingly impressive and spectacular Rajput fortress, in the former princely state of Rajasthan, in Northwestern India. A popular holiday destination during the monsoons, the splendid Amber Fort overlooks the serenely beautiful Maota Lake, sitting atop the rocky Aravalli mountains.
Officially called as the Amer Fort, the ‘Meenas’ built the first settlements at Amber, before the invasion by the Kachwaha Rajputs in the 16th century, ruled by Raja Man Singh I. The fort remained a deep-seated political centre for over 600 years, and served as the capital state of the Rajputanas, before transferring the capital to Jaipur in 1728. The Amber Fort, along with several other fortress in Rajasthan, became a World Heritage Site, in 2013 by UNESCO.
Built by Raja Man Singh I in the 17th century, the construction of the Amber Fort stretched over 100 years, and reached completion by Raja Jai Singh I and, Sawai Jai Singh II. An excellent masterpiece of Indo-Saracenic Architecture, the complex is a fortified palace with several courtyards, gardens, durbar halls, and private dwellings. Embellished ceilings and walls with mirrors and mosaic work, intricately carved jail window screens, pillars with stucco work, and motifs engraved sandal wood doors, are some of the interior detailing of the fort.
Laid with red sandstone and marble, the facade is resplendent with domes, towers, and carved citadel walls. Notably, the fort complex has four courtyards, and each courtyard designates various functions of the palace, namely the first courtyard (Jalebi Chowk), the second courtyard (Diwan-e-Am), the third courtyard (Jai Mandir and Sukh Mahal), and the fourth courtyard (Zenana). The Jalebi Chowk is the main entrance gate, and Diwan-e-Am is a pillared audience hall, whilst the Sheesh Mahal is the Palace of Mirrors, and the Zenana is the royal chamber of the women.
A must-see attraction of the fort is the Sheesh Mahal, studded with over thousand mirrored tiles and colored cut glasses, over the walls and ceilings. Likewise, the flower fresco detail, over the column capital, comes across as a fish, lotus, scorpion, snake, and elephant trunk, at different angles.
Open all days of the week, from 9am-6pm, the fort is perfect to visit after the monsoon rains, from October-March. Easily accessible from the city centre, the fort is 11km from Jaipur, and well-connected to all modes of public transport. The entry fee costs INR 100 for Indians and, INR 500 for non-nationals and, INR 1000 for the elephant ride, whilst the 45-minute Light show at the fort starts at 7:30pm, and costs INR 200.
