Amber Fort is a famous palace complex consisting of many castles, temples, gardens and pavilions, which took almost 2 centuries to build. The appearance of this structure causes very ambiguous impressions. On the one hand – impregnable fortress walls, on the other-a real oriental oasis with wonderful arches, ancient mosaics, mirrors, fountains and an intricate maze of passages that hide a great many secrets.
General information
Amber (India) is a majestic structure perched on a rocky cliff 11 km from Jaipur, the capital of the Indian state of Rajasthan. Its history began in 1592 with the construction of an ordinary defensive bastion designed to protect the principality of Dhundhar from enemy attacks. Work on this truly grandiose project was initiated by Raja Man Singh I, but he did not manage to enjoy the results of his work – the famous military leader died long before it ended.
For the construction of the fort, which remained the administrative center of these regions until the foundation of Jaipur, local sandstone was used. The walls, made of this light yellow rock, almost merged with the surrounding panorama. The effect is so strong that it is almost impossible to see Amber from afar. This decision was not made by chance – with frequent military attacks, it played a huge defensive role.
By the way, it is because of this material that many guides claim that the name of the palace comes from the English word “amber” — “amber”. But, despite the fact that in the pre-sunset hour the walls of the fortress really turn orange, this is far from the case. In fact, the fort is named after the Indian goddess Amba, also known as Durga.
Curiously, fortified settlements on this site existed as early as 1000 years before the events described I. When the main road to Delhi was laid past them, strengthening the approaches to the Dhundhar residence became a strategically important task. Moreover, the local raja was so afraid of the troops of the Delhi Sultanate that another fortress was built near Amber, connected to it by numerous underground tunnels. Together with Amber, it forms a powerful defensive structure, the walls of which extend along the mountain hills for almost 20 km. For such an impressive size, locals often refer to it as the “Great Wall of India”, hinting at the similarity with the famous Chinese landmark.
Work on the fort was completed by Jai Singh I, who succeeded the previous raja. It was during his time that the Amber Fort in Jaipur turned into a beautiful palace complex with 4 separate courtyards, a man-made Maota Lake, luxurious mosques and gardens. And even though the bastion began to fall into disrepair after the entire princely court moved to another city, it continued to be the most important fortification of Rajasthan for many years to come.
Today, the Amber Palace is part of the” Golden Triangle of India ” and is one of the most visited attractions in the country. In 2013, it was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Structure and architecture of the palace
Despite the centuries-old history of its existence, Amber Fort (Jaipur, India) continues to be the brightest demonstration of the beauty and luxury that medieval Indian rajas surrounded themselves with.
Designed in the best traditions of the Rajput architectural style, which at that time was at the peak of its development, it is distinguished by strict forms and perfectly proportioned lines. However, behind the simplicity inherent in external walls, there is a rich interior decoration and various decorations that are inaccessible to the common man.
The interior structures of the fortress are complemented by beautiful balconies, miniature gazebos arranged at the corners of roofs and awnings, arched columns made of snow-white marble, and barred windows that provide fresh air.
Features of the fort structure
Like other structures built during the Rajput period, Amber has several distinctive features. If the central part of the complex was occupied by the prasada, the main residential building consisting of several tiers, outbuildings and pavilions, then the rest of the citadel is divided into 3 different parts. The first is a zenana, women’s rooms with open terraces and mini-parks. The second is courtyards with private royal chambers, a palace forum and a study. Well, the third was the service yard, which housed stalls, warehouses and armories.
Gates, courtyards and rooms of the complex
The path to the fort starts on the banks of Maota, a small artificial lake, in the center of which is located the picturesque Dalarama Garden. After a short walk, visitors will find themselves in front of Jai Pol, the central entrance gate. By the way, there is another way to them. We are talking about a stone staircase with unusually high steps, which in former times were used by Indian horsemen.
After passing the large patio that follows the first gate, tourists find themselves in front of Suraj Pol or the Gate of the Sun. They discover the Jaleb Chowk, the same farmyard with barracks, barns, stables and other outbuildings. After it, you can see the Moon Gate or Chandra Pol, leading to two shrines – Jagat Shiromani and Narasingha.
Then there is the Singh Pol or Lion’s Gate, which leads to the Divan-i-Am, a pavilion for business meetings and private audiences, whose vaults are supported by four dozen columns. Some of them are made of marble, others of orange sandstone. Curiously, the upper part of these pilasters has the shape of elephants with their trunks raised up. It is they who play the role of support for the ceiling. The Sofa-i-Am ends with a small open veranda, framed by a beautiful decorative grid.
The next gate of Amber Fort (Rajasthan, India) is the Ganesha Pol, which guards the entrance to a cozy courtyard with private apartments of the Rajas. In the old days, only members of the royal family and their servants had access to this part of the palace.
If you look to the right, you can see the marble Sukha Niwas Palace, whose carved doors are decorated with sandalwood and ivory. The building of this castle is cooled by water that flows through a channel laid directly in the floor and flows into char bagh, a small Islamic garden. In the immediate vicinity of this place is Jai Niwas, another castle, in the walls of which there are many amazing objects.
Among them, Yash Mandir (Hall of Fame), Shish Mahal (Mirror Room) and Divan-i-Khas deserve the most attention. The walls and semi-circular ceilings of the first two are decorated with a huge number of broken mirrors, gilded tiles and pieces of glass. All these elements are put together in a unique pattern that creates the effect of a starry sky, even if there is a single lit candle. As for the second one, its floors are decorated with relief floral ornaments, a border created from semiprecious stones, all sorts of drawings and inlays made from ancient colored mosaics.
Almost under the very roof of Jai Niwas, a special platform is equipped, where court meetings were held with the arrival of cold weather. The last element of Fort Amber is the zenana, a complex maze that housed only the female half in its rooms. Staying in this part of the complex, you can’t help but feel the presence of Maharani (queens) and kumari (princesses), who led such a quiet and secluded lifestyle that they could only be detected by the soft chime of anklets.
The numerous galleries and flat roofs of the palace, which are also used for promenades, offer beautiful views of ancient citadels, impregnable mountain peaks, defensive towers and the calm waters of Lake Maota, stretching somewhere far below.
Practical information
- Amber Castle, located at Devisinghpura, Amer, Jaipur 302001, India.
- It is open daily from 08: 00 to 17: 30.
- The cost of visiting is about$ 7, but if you come here in the evening, you will pay only $ 1.5 for admission.
It should also be noted that at sunset, sound and light shows are organized on the territory of Amber, during which visitors are introduced to the history of the fort and significant events of Rajasthan. A ticket for an English-language performance costs up to$ 3, in Hindi-2 times cheaper. This event lasts about an hour.
On a note! For those who are planning to spend at least a week in Jaipur, we recommend that you purchase a comprehensive ticket that will allow you to visit not only this fortress, but also 3 other palace complexes, the ancient Jantar Mantar Observatory and the Albert Hall Cultural and Historical Museum.
Useful tips
When traveling to Amber Fort, take note of some important tips:
- If you are going to climb the territory of the complex on an elephant, we recommend that you come directly to the opening. Firstly, there is a huge queue for this “mode of transport”, and secondly, the number of elephants is limited, so there may simply not be enough for everyone who wants them. In addition, each animal can only make 4 trips, after which they are sent to rest until the next day.
- You can also get to the fort by car, but due to one-way traffic, there is a high probability of not missing a cow that gets in the way. Of course, you will still get to the main attraction of Rajasthan, but it may take a little longer than you expected.
- Tips in India are usually given to everyone – from waiters to doormen and maids. For a small reward, employees of the fort will also be expected-snake charmers, photographers, teamsters, etc. The latter receive 100 rupees from each animal.
- At the entrance to the fortress, you will probably be offered to buy some souvenir (usually one or several elephants at once). Do not rush to agree – at the exit, the same product will cost much less.
- In general, you should be careful with street vendors in Amber. If you don’t plan to buy anything, put on the most detached look and try not to even meet their eyes. Once you start a conversation with at least one of these businessmen, others will immediately catch up with him. This company will accompany you to the very landing on the elephant, and if you still agree to buy something, you will also get in the way of it.
- Don’t forget to bring a light snack and water. It will take at least 4 hours to explore the entire area, and the air temperature in India rarely falls below +30°C.
- Another feature of the fort is the local photographers. They snap photos of tourists during the entire ascent, and then offer to buy these pictures for$ 8-9 (there are 15 pieces in the album, but it’s better to count them). But don’t jump at the first suggestion that comes along. First, look for photos taken from the highest points (they have very beautiful views), and then bargain hard.
- Other tourists will become a free alternative to local photographers. Make an appointment with those who are driving ahead and behind you, and then exchange pictures via email.
- Walking around Amber Fort in India is best done with a professional guide. There are so many loopholes, rooms and corridors that without it you will definitely miss something.
- When you arrive in Jaipur in December and January, expect to see a gray haze all over your morning photos. This is nothing more than a fog mixed with smog. The reason for their appearance is strong differences in day and night temperatures.
