Amber fort is also pronounced as Amer Fort, which is situated in Amer town at a distance of 4 sq km and 11 km from the Jaipur, Rajasthan. This fort is situated on the hill top and is the most attracted tourist place in the Jaipur city. Raja Man Singh I built this Amer fort. This fort represents the both Hindu and Rajput rudiments through its artistic designed structure. In the front side of this fort, there is a lake named Maota and this fort has gates in a series with paved path having huge walls.

This fort has a luxurious palace that has a very terrifying ambience having four level walls on every courtyard. This fort is built with the combination of marble and red stone. These marbles or red stones were used to the built the various different yards like Diwan-e-Aam, which is also known as "Hall of Public Audience", Sheesh Mahal that is commonly called mirror palace, the Diwan-e-Khas, which is also known as "Hall of Private Audience", Jai Mandir, and the most common is Sukh Niwas, which his famous for the water cascade through which an artificial cool atmosphere was developed by blowing the winds over it in the palace. Due to this reason,Amber fort is also called as Amer palace. The families of Rajputs Maharajas were lived in this palace. Near the Ganesh gate of Fort at the palace enterance, a temple of goddess Chaitanya cult is located that is devoted to the Sila devi.  This temple was acquired by the Raja Man Singh after he conquered the Raja of Jessore in year 16045 at the Bengal.

This fort is situated on the Aravalli hills at the Cheel ka Teela in line with the Jaigarh fort. This fort is present as a one complex as two forts were in connection via subterranean passage. The royal family of this Amer fort used this passage to escape during the war times and they got shifted to the Jaigarh fort.

There was a annual record of the visiting of tourists every year. The Superintendent of Department of Archaeology and museums in the Amer palace reported visiting of tourist as 5000 visitors every day. During the year of 2007, around 1.4 million visitors were reported by them.

History

In the 11th century, Amer was ruled by the Kachwahas at the time of 1.37 to 1727 AD and it is also called as Dhundar at the time period of medieval. These rulers founded their whole empire at the Amer so they witness the history of Amer.

Before the ruling of Kachwahas, Meenas built this small place Amer that is a holy version of Amba, a Goddess Mother. This Goddess is also commonly known as 'Queen of Pass' or ‘Gatta Rani’. In the year 1592, this Amer fort was built at the time of ruling of Raja Man Singh who is also the member of Akbar’s nine courtiers and is main commander of Akbar. Later on Jai Singh I expands this structure fully. Later on more over the 150 years, this fort undergone the various additions and constructions at the time of their rulers till the capital of Kachwahas shift to the city of Jaipur in 1727 at the time of Sawai Jai Singh II

These structures of Meenas of the ancient times were now destructed. While the palace complex built by the Rajput Maharajas at the time of 16th century with attractive edifice were still preserved and protected.

Architecture

Each gate and courtyard of this fort has four divisions.

Its first courtyard has the main entry via the Suraj Pole that is leaded to the Jaleb Chowk. At this place, when the army returned from the battles held their parades of victory at this place and the woman of Royals witnessed through the windows. This gate has the main entry and was guarded by the guards into the palace. Due to its direction towards the east at the sun rises, so as it was named as Suraj Pole. Dignitaries and cavalcades of the Royals also made their entry into the palace through this gate.

Jaleb Chowk is basically the place for the assembling of the soldiers. This court yard is one among the four courtyards and it was built at the time of ruling of Sawai Jai Singh during 1693 to 1743 AD. Under the commands of the Fauj Bakshi, the parades of the personal bodyguards of Sawai Jai Singh were held here. Group of the guards were examined by the Maharaja. The upper rooms of this place was taken by the guards and the lower ports were occupied with the horse stables.

First courtyard

Into the grounds of the palace, a stairway leads from the Jaleb Chowk. Right towards the entry of these stairways, there is a temple of Sila Devi that was established by the Raja Man Singh for the worship in the 16th century to the time of year 1980s. This was happened after the animal sacrifice got stopped by the Royals.

To enter into the Maharajas private palace, there is an entry named Ganesh gate, the name of which was derived from the Lord Ganesh who according to the belief of Hindus is a God that removes all the hurdles from the life. This gate was leaded toward the private quarters and this was built by the Mirza Raja Jai Singh as this also is a three-level structure having lots of frescoes. The functions that are held in the Diwa-i-Am was seen by the ladies of the Royals through the windows that are situated just above this gate named as Suhag Mandir.

Second courtyard

This courtyard is just above the first courtyard and also included a Diwan-i-Am or the public Audience Hall. There are about 27 colonnades at the platform of Diwan-i-Am in the two columns and these are having galleries with elephant shapes mounted on it. This place is basically for the public whose petitions were heard by the Raja itself.

Third courtyard

In this courtyard, there were the private quarters of the family of Royals. This courtyard shows sculptures and mosaics and it has entry through the Ganesh gate. As similar to the Mughal Garden, this courtyard has building facing each other that are separated through the garden. At the left side of the gate, the building is known as Jai Mandir as this building has multi-mirrored ceilings and surrounded by a beautiful grass in panels. These mirrors were decorated with the paint and colorful foil that usually glitters at night and these mirrors were in convexshape. This mirrors place is popularly known as Sheesh Mahal. The colored glasses of the palace were sprinkled as the jewel box that glittered with candle light.

The next building was opposite the Jai Mandir, which his popularly called as Sukh Niwas or Sukh Mahal. There was a door that was made of sandalwood having marble work on its surface. There is an open canal through which the water is supplied and runs across this structure that keeps the vicinity cool just like the air conditioned atmosphere. The water supplied by these channel was used to water the gardens.

Fourth courtyard

This is the place of residence for the women or the mistresses of the imperial family. There are many living rooms in this courtyard. The queens use to live in these rooms and were being visited by the king on his choice and no one can judge that to who was being visited, as all the rooms have there exit in the common corridor.

The companions as well as the mothers of the king use to reside in this part of palace within Zanani Deorhi. The mother of the queen showed her keen interest of building temples in the viscinity of the Amer town. There is a private audience hall named as Jas Mandir is also located in this palace with flowery glasses inlays.

How to Reach

By Air

About the 11 km distance, Jaipur Airport is the most near airport. Flights from this airport linked with other major cities like Mumbai, Jaipur, Kolkata, Delhi and other various cities of India.

By Rail

Rail network connects all the major cities of India from this place. This city also has a major attraction that is “Palace on Wheels” a luxurious train that roamed all over the city.

By Road

By road, various major cities connected with the Jaipur through the bus transport.

Nearby Places to Visit

Diwan I - Aam

Mirza Raja Jaisingh built the Hall of Audience that is three-sided open. This hall has a vaulted roof that is supported by pillers of sand stone and grey marble lining. The emperor Jahangir shows its jealousy towards the paintings and carving of elephant that was shown in the pillers so he covered all the paintings with the plaster covering. There are about 48 columns that showed the inter-columniation angle and this system represented the architecture of indo-Muslim.

The Ganesh pol

In 1639 A.D., Mirza Raja Jaisingh has built this Ganesh Pol. This pol has paintings that showed the symbols of temper and mosaics. For the decoration of royal apartment, colored glasses having paintings on it were used.

Shila Mata Temple

Singh Pol has the Shila Mata temple entry. Shila Mata is the Victory Goddess and an idol of Shila Mata is made of black colored marble and Raja Man Singh of Jessore in year 1604 brought the idol of the Shila Mata. On the temple's silver gate, there were nine prints of Goddess Durga and 10 images of Goddess Saraswati. On the Mandap in the temple, there were idols made of white marble having color contrasts.

Diwan-i-Khas (Hall of Private Audience), Sukh Niwas, Jai Mandir & Jas Mandir

Architecture of the Mughal and Rajputs were shown in the Diwan-i-Khas with rich outlook. Including that, Sukh Niwas, Jai Mandi, Jas Mandir and the Diwan-i-Khas also shown this type of architecture. On the ceilings and walls of the Diwan-i-Khas, there were amazing mirror work that gives beautiful look. There were colored murals on the glass of the hall that showed the images of Krishna and Radha.

Things to Do

Elephant Ride

As the Rajasthan's Royality is shown only by a ride on the elephant moving towards the Amber fort. Towards the fort ramparts, the elephant sits besides the platform with a well designed seat for the tourist to sit. The elephant is a royal creature who was drive by the mahout who drives the elephant using a ankush, which is a hook type support that used to pod the head of the elephant and then he moved up to the rampart of the fort. This elephant was decorated with the colorful powders, chalks and flowers over to the trunk so that it looked very amazing.

Weather and Best Time to Visit

The basic climate of Jaipur is of extreme type. During the summer season the maximum temperatue goes up to 47°C and during the winter season (December to February) the minimum temperature goes down to 4°C. In the months of June to September, the average rainfall is very medium.

There are various festivals for which the Jaipur is very popular named Gangaur fair and elephant festival in the months of March and in April’s first week. Most of the tourist visited here due to these festivals in this season.

The months of October to mid April is the good time to visit the city of Jaipur. In the months of June to September, if the tourist visits, they can see the monsoon clouds moving every where.

Accomodation

The Gold Palace & Resorts

This is a luxurious hotel situated in Jaipur nearby the Jaigarh Fort, Jal Mahal, and Amber Fort.Near to this hotel, there were Amber Palace and Gaitor.

Address

Jaipur-Delhi National Highway,
Kukas, Jaipur,
Rajasthan, 303101 India

Trident, Jaipur

As nearby the Gaitor, Amber Fort, and Jal Mahal, this hotel is situated in the city Jaipur. Tourists attraction is mainly the Amber Palace and Jaigarh Fort.

Address

Amber Fort Road opposite Jal,
aipur, Rajasthan
India

Holiday Inn Jaipur

As nearby the Nahargarh Fort, Gaitor, and Jal Mahal, in the city of Jaipur, this hotel is situated. This hotel is also in the nearby range of Hawa Mahal and City Palace.

Address

Amer Road Rajasthan,
Jaipur, Rajasthan -302 002
India

Timings and Tickets

Timings: 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Tickets: Entry charges are:

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