Amber (Amer) Fort

आमेर क़िला

A hilltop palace fort begun in 1592, with the Mirror Palace, the Hall of Victory and walls overlooking Maota Lake. It is the most spectacular fort palace in Rajasthan.

Amber Fort is located in Amer town, 11 kilometers north of Jaipur. It was the capital of the Kachwaha dynasty before Jaipur was founded. Man Singh I began building it on the ridge in 1592. Palaces of yellow sandstone and white marble rise through four courtyards, with Jaigarh Fort on the hilltop above and Maota Lake below. In 2013 it was inscribed as a World Heritage Site as one of the Hill Forts of Rajasthan. Highlights include the first courtyard, Jaleb Chowk (a former parade ground), and the climb through the Sun Gate to the Diwan-i-Am, the hall of public audience. Beyond that, through the painted Ganesh Pol (gate of the elephant-headed god), lies the royal quarter: the Sheesh Mahal (Mirror Palace), whose walls and ceilings are inlaid with tiny mirrors so that a single candle can light the whole room; the Sukh Niwas, a hall of pleasure with a water-cooling system; and a Mughal-style garden. At the innermost level is the harem courtyard where the 12 queens lived. Foreign visitors pay 500 rupees (the 1,000-rupee combined ticket includes this site). Open 08:00 to 17:30. There is also a sound-and-light show and evening opening from 19:00 to 21:30. Getting there: a taxi from the old city takes about 30 minutes, or you can take an AC bus. To go up the hill, you can walk for 15 minutes (recommended), take a jeep (about 300 rupees per vehicle), or ride an elephant. Elephant rides are not recommended because of animal welfare concerns. Next to the fort is the Panna Meena ka Kund stepwell, a popular photo spot. At the foot of the hill, Amer town has the Anokhi Museum of Hand Printing. Arrive at 08:00 when the gates open. Allow 2 to 2.5 hours, then visit Jaigarh Fort, which has a passage connecting to Amber (a separate ticket is needed for the combined site).

Notes: From November to February, peak season, groups become dense after 10 a.m. A licensed guide costs about 500 rupees. The fort has many steps and uneven paths.

Amber (Amer) Fort

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