Amber Fort or Amer Fort is a historic fort that is situated in Amer, Rajasthan and is just around 11 kilometers away from Jaipur. The Amer Fort is one of the major travel attractions near Jaipur and is known for its historic architectural beauty and the surrounding landscape. The Amer Fort near Jaipur is situated on a hill, and is famous for its artistic Hindu style elements that are seen inside the fort. The Amber Fort overlooks the Maota Lake, and this lakes is one of the major source of water for this Fort. The presence of the lake near the Amer Fort makes this Fort look more beautiful and attractive.
The beautiful Amer Fort in Rajasthan is constructed using red sandstone and marble and this palace fort contains 4 levels and each levels have its own courtyard. The levels of the courtyard are Diwan-i-Aam (Hall of Public Audience), the Diwan-i-Khas (Hall of Private Audience), the Sheesh Mahal (mirror palace) and the Sukh Niwas. The courtyards of the Amber Palace is known for the cool atmosphere that is caused as a result of the winds that blow over a water cascade within the Amer Fort Palace. Once the residence of the Rajput Maharajas and their families, the Amer Fort is located on the Cheel ka Teela (Hill of Eagles) of the Aravalli hill ranges.
For those interested in exploring the history of India and also in enjoying the beauty of the ancient monuments in India, the Amber Fort will be a perfect place for such people. Travellers from different places visit The Amer Fort to see and explore the ancient heritage and architectural beauty of this historic fort in Jaipur.
The Amer Fort is just another example of the amazing ancient Indian architectural beauty that is present in Rajashan, and it becomes a busy place during the peak tourism season. For those who do not want to walk upto the Amer Fort, elephants are available to take you up to the Fort. The Elephant ride on the way up to the Amber Fort is something that you can cherish for your lifetime. But of late, a lot of Elephant abuses have been reported and authorities are now taking firm steps to avoid such abuses towards animals.
If you are planning for a travel trip to Jaipur in Rajasthan, then you should not miss out on the Amer Fort. It is one of the best travel places in Jaipur and worth watching with friends, families or alone. You will really experience a memorable travel experience after viewing the majestic architectural beauty of the Amer Fort in Jaipur. More over, the Amer Fort is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site which adds more value to this fort. The Amber Fort was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2013, along with 5 other forts in Rajasthan.
There are a lot of things to see inside the Amer Fort and the major 5 attractions inside the fort are given below.
1) Ganesh Pol
Ganesh Pol is the main gate of the Palace and you can see small windows with a passage that was located above the gate. It is also known as Suhag Mandir and this was the place where the royal ladies used to see what was happening below. Painted in vegetable dyes, the Ganesh Pol gate is one of the best things to view in Amer Fort.
2) Jai Mandir
Jai Mandir is a building that is built with glass inlaid panels and multi-mirrored ceilings, making it a marvelous piece of architecture. The Jai Mandir also consists of the Hall of Private Audience, which is also known as Diwan-e-Khaas, where highly secretive meetings and discussions took place.
3) Sheesh Mahal (Glass Palace)
Also known as the Mirror Palace, the Sheesh Mahal in Amer Fort is another perfect example of the magnificent architecture that is built with precious stones and glass along with handmade paintings. The Sheesh Mahal in Amer Fort was built by King Man Singh in the 16th century and the construction was completed in the year 1727. The ceiling and walls of the Sheesh Mahal are marked for its beautiful painting and flowers that are made of glass and other precious stones.
4) Sukh Niwas
The Sukh Nivas is also called as Sukh Mahal, which literally means the “Hall of Pleasure” and this hall can be accessed through a sandalwood door. The hall has a unique nautral air conditioning system, that makes the hall always cool, especially in summer. Water channels are present inside the hall, which allows the water to enter and leave the hall, providing a natural cooling effect. The Bundi styled murals all over the walls of the Sukh Nivas is something unique and worth watching especially for the avid travellers coming from different parts of the world.
5) Zenana Mahal
The Zenana Mahal inside the Amer Fort in Jaipur was once the palace for the royal ladies and is one of the integral part of the palace. Built in the early 1600s was once the venue for a large number of royal weddings. Also known as the “Queen’s Palace”, the Zenana Mahal is constructed in such a way to protect the royal ladies and there are not windows at all. But the inside of the Zenana Mahal provides an enthralling sights for the travellers coming from different places.
Things to Do in Amer Fort, Jaipur
For a traveller, there are a lot of activities and things to do inside the Amer Fort in Rajasthan. One of the main and interesting activity is the elephant ride around the fort and facility for elephant ride usually ends by afternoon.
Another activity is to go for a four wheel drive tour inside the fort and this comes at a minimal cost of around INR 300 including one hour waiting time. If you are staying late at the Amber Fort, then you will also be able to experience the amazing light show during the night. Viewing the fort in a full illuminated mode from the bottom of the hill is another major things to do for the travellers.
Inside the Fort, there is the Char Garden from where you can get a panoramic view of the city. You can also enjoy classical dance programs that are conducted in the Sukh Mahal. The Surabhi restaurant inside the Amer Fort offers you an amazing taste of various cuisines that are worth experiencing. Also do not miss out the puppet shows and traditional songs that are available during the dinner time.
You could also visit the Turban museum where you can find a large collection of turbans and the entry is free of cost. If you are spiritually inclined, then you could be able to visit a number of temples inside the fort.
Entry Time
The Amer fort is opened to the visitors from 9 am in the morning till 6 pm in the evening. The Elephant ride is available from morning 9:30 till afternoon 1:00. The light show in Hindi starts from 8:00 PM and the English light show starts from 7:30 PM .
How to Reach Amber Fort in Jaipur
Amer Fort is just around 12 kilometers away from Jaipur city and Jaipur is well connected to other places through air, rail and road. You can easily hire a taxi or any other public transport system to reach Amer Fort.
Accommodation in Jaipur
There is no dearth of quality, luxury and budget accommodation facilities in Jaipur as the place has some of the best hotels and resorts that can provide better accommodation for travellers coming from various places. You can experience world class facilities and amenities at the accommodation options that you get in Jaipur.
Best Time to Visit Amber Fort
Jaipur will be under extreme heat climatic conditions during the summer season, which is the months between March to July. So it is better to avoid visiting Amber Fort during this time as you will not be able to enjoy the beauty and charm of this fort.
But during the winter season, the fort will become an ideal place to enjoy your travel trip and people will start filling this place during the months from September to February. The winter season is amazing in the north Indian states and you will really have a memorable visit to Amer fort if you do it during the winter season.
