The famous Pink City is mostly renowned for its majestic fort – The Amber Fort. The popularity and importance of Amber Fort are so high that the fort is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, listed in the “17 Iconic Tourist Sites” by the Ministry of Tourism of India and at the top in the “Hill Forts of Rajasthan” cluster.

Amber Fort is built atop Cheela ka Teela (Hills of Eagles) which is part of the Aravali Hills Range. It was constructed in mid 16th century with the use of pastel-hued sandstone and marble. The fort is a masterpiece of ancient architecture consisting of a series of palaces, halls, enchanting courtyards, gardens, gates, paths, and painted walls along with all the essential facilities such as water harvesting, drainage system, etc.

 The fort gained so much popularity because of its architectural construction that it was the main attraction of all the kings & rulers of that time. Till now Amber Fort is the finest piece of art representing the perfect fusion of Rajpur and Mughal style architectures. The beauty of the Fort will make you stop at the moment as soon as you catch the glimpse of Amber Fort.

A Brief History:

The Amber Fort was built over two centuries. The construction was started by Maharaja Man Singh in 1592 and finished by Sawai Jai Singh at the beginning of the 18th century. The fort later became the grand residence of Rajput Kings and their families.

During that time Jaipur city was known as Amber Principality which was later named after Sawai Jai Singh as Jaipur. Because of the close relationships with the Mughals the fort has the fusion of both Rajput and Mughal styles which represent the two opposite Hindu and Islamic styles respectively.

Later on, two forts were built near Amber Fort known as Jaigarh Fort and Nahargarh Fort built by Sawai Jai Singh and Sawai Jai Singh II respectively. Amber Fort and Jaigarh Fort are interconnected through an underground tunnel for safety purposes.

The Amber Fort was declared as a UNECO World Heritage site in 2013.

Exploring the Amber Fort:

The Amber Fort is very big and complex and sometimes it can be tricky to find a way around it. The fort is built in four stories with its own courtyard. This article will guide you to enjoy the beauty of this Fort in a step-by-step manner. The main entry gate is known as Suraj Pol (Sun Gate) which leads to the first courtyard.

1. First Courtyard 

A few staircases lead to the main palace grounds and Jaleb Chawk. To the right, lies the Shilla Devi Temple. In this courtyard, the King’s Soldiers used to assemble and parade. On the opposite side, there is another gate known as Chand Pol (Moon Gate). 

2. Second Courtyard

This houses the Diwan-e-Aam (The Hall of Public Audience), where the king used to hear the public. The hall has many large marble stone pillars which are decorated with precious stonework, carvings of elephant heads, and beautiful archways. 

3. Third Courtyard

Later the path leads to Ganesh Pol, a gateway that features the artwork of Lord Ganesha (The Elephant-Head God). Here is Diwan-e-Khas (The Hall of Private Audience) also known as Sheesh Mahal (Hall of Mirrors) as the complete hall is decorated with dazzling mirrors. The mosaic is designed in such a way that a single candle at the center could light up the entire hall. 

On another side, there is Sukh Mahal (The Hall Pleasure) where the kings used to relax with their queens.

4. Fourth Courtyard

This is known as Zenana Mahal (Hall of Royal Women). In the center, there is a hall that was used for meeting by the queens and other women. Around this hall, there are several rooms for the queens encircling the courtyard. 

Amber Fort Timing:

Fort Timing is from 08:00 am to 05.30 pm during the day. Since the fort has been a part of the Jaipur Night Tourism Program, the fort also can be visited from 06:30 pm to 09:30 pm. The sound & light show is hosted over the walls of the fort to display the history of the royal pink city – Jaipur. This show is of 50 minutes and is hosted between 06:30 pm to 08:30 pm.

Thoughts for The Amber Fort:

The fort is like no other fort because of its massive structure and magnificent ancient architecture. The beauty of Amber Forts attracts tourist from all over the world and give them a feeling of nostalgia for Royal Life. Do not forget to visit the Great Wall of Amber, Kesar Kyari Garden, and Panna Meena ka Kund, a man-made pond for elephant bathing, elephant ride, and shopping from local markets.