When you visit the Pink City, a tour is incomplete without exploring the Amar Fort. Spread over an area of 4 sq km, the palace is reminiscent of the royal era and its grandeur.
What makes Amar Fort even better is its location, i.e. it is perched on top of a hill, making it a favorite tourist spot for tourists all the time. The fort is known by many names including Amar Ka Qila, Amber Palace, Amber Fort and Amar Palace. Amar Fort is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List as part of the “Hill Forts of Rajasthan”.
Amar Fort is a fort built following traditional Hindu and Rajputan architectural styles. It is beautifully designed with marble and red sandstone giving it a rustic and quaint look. There are delicate paintings of ancient hunting styles and portraits of notable Rajput rulers. Amar Fort is divided into four sections, each with its own entrance and decorated courtyard.
The main entrance to the fort is called ‘Suraj Pol’ or Sun Gate. The stairs to the right of the palace will take us to the Siladevi temple. The public audience hall known as Diwan-e-Am is the second level of Amar Fort. It is a large hall open on three sides. With elaborate mosaic glasswork, elephants stand supported by two mounted pillars.
The third courtyard of Amar Fort surrounds the royal house. Entry into this state is through Ganesh Pol. ‘This Sheesh Mahal’ is the most beautiful attraction of the entire complex and is left up to the entrance gate.
The walls and ceilings have beautiful floral carvings and glass paintings. The Sheesh Mahal gives off beautiful illusions, and if you light a couple of candles inside the hall, you can hear people discussing that the ceilings feel like a thousand twinkling stars. Opposite Sheesh Mahal is another mandapam ‘Sukh Mahal’ built of sandalwood and ivory.
It has many channels through which cold water flows. Another highlight of the Amar Fort is the ‘Magic Flower’, a marble painting and a delicate carving of Lord Ganesha from a piece of coral. The final stage of the Amar Fort was built for royal women.
Today, Amar Fort is one of the major tourist attractions in Jaipur. The palace’s rich history, coupled with the natural beauty of its location, attracts visitors from all over the world. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this palace has been seen in many Bollywood movies like Jodha Akbar, Baji Rao Mastani, Phool Balayya.
Many shops around the fort sell beautiful Rajasthani handicrafts and home decor. You can opt for an Amar Fort elephant ride to experience the royal route into the palace.
