Amber Fort Jaipur

Amer Fort or Amber Fort is located in Amer near Jaipur. This heritage site is one of the most famous forts in Rajasthan and among the most visited Jaipur tourist places. It is also one of the best preserved historical places to visit in Rajasthan and among the prime place to visit on a Jaipur tour.

Amber was founded by the Meenas in 967 AD and they dedicated the town to Amba, the Mother Goddess. Around 1037 AD, Amber was conquered by Kachhawa Rajputs and ruled it from the 11th to the 18th century, until the capital was moved from Amer to Jaipur. The Amber Fort was built by Raja Man Singh in 1592 AD and it was further expanded by successive rulers. Man Singh was one of the trusted generals of Emperor Akbar and one among the Navaratnas of his court. This fort is also very popularly known as the Amer Palace. Later in 1727 AD, Sawai Jai Singh II moved the capital from Amber to Jaipur.

The architecture of Amer Fort is influenced by both Hindu and Muslim styles. The fort was built using red sandstone and overlooks Maota Lake which is the main water source to the Palace. The Palace is divided into four main sections each with separate entry gate and courtyard. Main entry is through the Suraj Pole (Sun Gate) which leads to Jaleb Chowk. This was the place where armies would hold victory parades with their war bounty on their return from battles. It faced east towards the rising sun, hence the name Sun Gate. An impressive stairway from Jaleb Chowk leads into the main palace grounds. Shila Devi Temple and Ganesh Pol are located here.

The second courtyard houses the Diwan-i-Am or the Public Audience Hall. Built with a double row of columns, the Diwan-i-Am is a raised platform with 27 colonnades, each of which is mounted with an elephant-shaped capital, with galleries above it. This was the place where the general public assembled to meet the King and address their grievances. The third courtyard is where the private quarters of the Maharaja, his family and attendants were located. This courtyard is entered through the Ganesh Pol or Ganesh Gate, which is embellished with mosaics and sculptures. The courtyard has two buildings, one opposite to the other, separated by a garden laid in the fashion of the Mughal Gardens.

Sheesh Mahal or the Mirror Palace is one of the prime attractions of Amer Fort. The ceiling and the walls of Sheesh Mahal are engraved with innumerable pieces of mirrors with stunning floral paintings on them. When candles were lit in the room at night, the whole room appears like a sky filled with stars due to the reflection of the mirrors. The other building seen in the courtyard is the Sukh Mahal (Hall of Pleasure). The amazing huge doors of Sukh Mahal are made of ivory and sandal wood. There is a water channel running through the hall, which carried cool water that worked as an air cooler. Sukh Niwas was the place where the Kings used to spend time with their queens. South of this courtyard lies the Palace of Man Singh I, which is the oldest part of the fort.

History of the Amer Fort:
The Meenas founded the small town of Amer in 967 CE. The settlement was built by Raja Alan Singh of the Chanda clan. The famous Amer fort was later built on the ruins of this settlement by Raja Man Singh, the Kachwaha King of Amer. The city of Amer has become even more popular as the home town of princess Jodha- the Consort of Akbar. Raja Man Singh was an ally in the court of Akbar. Due to this, many structures in the fort are influenced by Mughal style architecture.

The reflections of it are present in the Diwan-i-Khas of the Amer Palace. However, the fort was completed and fully expanded by Jai Singh I. He built a beautifully painted Ganesh poll in the palace that still captivates the eyes of may visitors. Many ancient structures built by the Meenas have seen the wrath of time and lost their identity. But the edifice of the Amer fort still stands in all its glory. The fort saw many improvements in design and structure by the successive Rajputana rulers over 150 years. It is what shaped it into an excellent example of artistic architectural style.

The architecture of Amer Fort:
Amer Fort flaunts a colourful architectural design. The fort is a marvellous example of Rajputana architecture. It was built with red and white sandstones. It is a perfect amalgamation of Hindu style architecture and Mughal finesse. The carvings on the walls and ceilings are one of the key attractions in the palace. The palace is divided into four sections; each is called a courtyard. Rajput sculptures beautifully designed the entry gates of the courtyards in the palace, giving a unique architectural element to each of them.

The palace features many buildings and awe-inspiring structures Sukh Mandir, the famous Ganesh Pol, Sheesh Mahal and others. When you visit the Diwan-i-Khas(The house of minister) and the Diwan-i-Aam(The house of Public), you'll enter the world of glorious Rajput kings and Mughal emperors. Many vibrant and illustrative paintings of famous Rajput rulers and ancient hunting styles adorn the walls of the palace. The study of these paintings gives us a deep understanding of the prevailing Rajput culture of ancient times.

The palace overlooks the Maota Lake, and a beautiful lush green garden adds to its charm. The construction of Mughal gardens influenced the garden in Amer palace. There is not one but many wonderful structures and objects of artistic pleasure in the magnificent palace of Amer.