Exploring Jaipur’s Amer Fort
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Rajasthan is well known for its majestic forts and palaces, which exhibit the power and grandeur of the era of ruling royal kingdoms. Many such forts have been declared UNESCO World Heritage sites. One such fort is the Amer Fort, located in the town of Amer, just 11 km from Jaipur.
I have been to Amer Fort twice and have experienced several amazing things on every visit. I have been smitten by this magnificent fort from several viewpoints. My favorite one is the point from which the fort overlooks Maota Lake and the saffron garden. Many tourists also refer to Amer Fort as Amber Fort.
History of the Amer Fort
Amer was originally the capital of Rajasthan until the 18th century. The Amer Fort or Amber Fort was constructed in the 16th century by Raja Man Singh I who was one of the Navratnas (nine gems) of the Mughal Emperor Akbar.
It was further expanded and renovated by Raja Singh I and other successive rulers. Amer Fort had served as a royal residence to Rajput rulers until Jaipur was declared as the Capital of Rajasthan.
Architecture of Amer Fort
The Amer Fort is built of red sandstone and marble. It is a perfect blend of the outlooks of the Rajput (Hindu) and Mughal (Islamic) architectures. It has a grand layout comprising royal courtyards, temples, palaces, gardens, and chambers.
This fort’s spectacular architecture will leave you completely spellbound by its beauty.
Visiting Today: What to Do in Amer Fort
Once you reach the parking or the drop-off point of Amer Fort, you can either climb the stairs to reach the fort or drive up to the fort.
I preferred climbing up to the fort because of the perfectly fine weather and the beautifully surrounding views. If you are also keen on climbing up to the fort make sure you are in your comfortable shoes because there are a lot of stairs up to there.
However, you can also reach the fort entrance directly by your car. The main entrance of the fort is through Suraj Pol (Sun Gate).
Now, let’s have a look at the major sightseeing places that you should not miss out on in this palace.
Jaleb Chowk
The entrance of the fort will lead you into the main courtyard of Jaleb Chowk. This is the place that used to be the major assembly area for the soldiers of the royal military force.
This courtyard covers a vast area where many important parades and declarations for the military forces took place. From here you can purchase tickets for further viewing of the fort.
The main palace starts after you climb the stairway from this courtyard which would lead you to the second courtyard.
Diwan – e – Aam (Public Audience Hall):
As the name suggests, Diwan-e-Aam is where the ruler used to address and hear the petitions from common people. This hall stands on a raised platform having evenly built pillars made of marble and red stone.
Ganesh Pol
Ganesh Pol is a very exquisitely decorated entrance gate to the third courtyard which houses the private premises of the ruler. It is named after Lord Ganesha who is a symbol of wisdom and new beginnings.
As you pass through Ganesh Pol, you will see a beautiful Mughal-style garden separating two buildings, one is Sheesh Mahal and the other is Sukh Niwas.
Sheesh Mahal
Sheesh Mahal is the most amazing part of Amer Fort. The walls and ceilings are decorated with intricate mirror works and colored glasses. The women of the palace were not allowed to go outside in the night.
The ruler called out for the finest architects to build Sheesh Mahal with mirror work. The women used to light one candle during the night in Sheesh Mahal, the spark reflected on the ceilings making it look like the night sky full of twinkling and sparkling stars.
On top of the Sheesh Mahal is the Jas Mandir which was a place for relaxation for the ladies of the palace. This part of the palace is also very beautifully designed and decorated with floral patterns and mirror works.
Magic Flower
The magic flower is a floral pattern designed in one of the pillars of Sheesh Mahal. It has a very unique feature of having seven different designs depictions from a single flower.
It unfolds designs of a lotus, a fishtail, a hooded cobra, an elephant’s trunk, a lion’s tail, a scorpion, and a cob of corn each time when partially covered by both hands. The magic flower is one of the rare things you come across while visiting such forts and palaces.
Sukh Niwas
Sukh Niwas was where the ruler used to relax and spend time with his ladies. It is also beautifully decorated with ornate carvings.
There is a channel from where a piped supply of water flows into the garden keeping the atmosphere within Sukh Niwas cool and airy. This used to be an ancient technique to maintain the environment within the quarter’s air condition.
Zenana
Further is the fourth courtyard comprising Zenana, which is the area where the women of the palace resided. Zenana had separate rooms for each queen.
Each room had a private passage to the king’s room. The king would visit the queen he wished to spend time with through one of those passages.
Kesar Kyari
Kesar Kyaari is a very scenic and picturesque garden of saffron built over the Maota Lake. It is said that saffron plants were used to be planted here by the king in the 15th century.
Sila Devi Temple
The king found the deity from a seabed after being instructed by the Goddess Kali in his dream. After the king won a war against Bengal, his belief became strong and he then installed the deity in the temple and called it Sila Devi.
During a Hindu festival Navratri, the royal family used to sacrifice a goat’s life and offer prayers for the goodwill of their kingdom. However, this practice was stopped under a law in 1975.
This temple has an entrance through a double door made of silver and can be reached through a flight of stairs from Jaleb Chowk.
The Sila Devi temple is the most visited part of the fort and remains crowded due to a large number of devotees visiting it to offer their prayers.
Light and Sound Show
The Amer Fort illuminates beautifully during the evening hours. It has an amazing light and sound show near Kesar Kyari showcasing the history of Amer Fort and the culture of the people of Amer.
There are two shows every night, Hindi and English. The Hindi version starts at 8 PM and the English version at 7:30 PM.
Best Time To Visit Amer Fort
The best time to visit Amer Fort is during the winter season which falls between October and February.
Weather during the monsoon time during Mid July till September is also good and bearable.
The summer season between March and June must be avoided because they are very hot and extreme.
How to Reach Amer Fort
Amer Fort is located at a distance of 11 km from Jaipur. You can easily hire a cab from Jaipur city to reach Amer fort.
The cost of the cab depends on where you are picking it minimum being Rs. 150.
However, if you are visiting Hawa Mahal in Jaipur, you can catch a bus from there that will take you to Amer for just Rs. 18.
Opening Time Of Amer Fort
Amer Fort is open for visitors every day from 8 AM to 5:30 PM. It re-opens at 7 PM for the light and sound show.
Ticket Prices for Amer Fort
The ticket price for Amer Fort is Rs 100 for Indians and Rs 500 for foreigners. There are also composite tickets available at the counters here costing Rs 300 for Indians and Rs 1000 for foreigners. This ticket is valid for two days and you can visit any fort including Amer Fort, Jantar Mantar, City Palace, Nahargarh Fort, Albert Hall, and Hawa Mahal.
Have you been to the Amer Fort in Jaipur? Do share your experience/opinion here, I would love to hear from you 🙂
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These images are gorgeous. This is going on my bucket list. What a beautiful place and thorough explanation of the fort.
I am glad you found it resourceful 😀
Thanks for sharing this, I love finding out about places I wouldn’t know about otherwise. I’ll be sure to add this to my list for a visit!
Welcome:)
nice informative article, keep it up
Very informative blog, the pictures are absolutely beautiful. It’s been very long I have visited Jaipur, have to go again soon.
Thank you! Jaipur has lots of places to explore, you must definitely make a visit there.
I thought that the Sheesh Mahal was stunning. I loved the coloured glass and the the way the light reflected off it. I can imagine that it must have been really beautiful in candle light.
I absolutely loved the Lights and Sound show at Amer Fort. Your post bought back memories. Also learned a thing or two from it!
Loved the article and all the details about amer fort.
What an impressive place, I hadn’t even heard of it before. The courtyards are lovely and the architectural details are beautiful. It looks so huge too.
oh my god, this place is breathtaking. so beautiful, I hope to visit one day <3
Hi Anjali, love your description and details, especially the history, palace layout and architecture, along with the pictures. It’s such a charming palace. The sheesh mahal and the gardens looks so pretty. What was your favorite part?
Thanks a lot 🙂 I loved the sheesh mahal, kesar kyari and the surrounding views from the fort!
This fort looks amazing. I love seeing the history of places I visit. Military history is my favorite and love how prestine the fort is kept.
Amer is one of the most beautiful and well maintained forts I have seen in India.
I am planning to visit Jaipur in October this year. Amer fort would be in the must visit list. I just have one question. I heard about elephant safari at the fort. Is this ethical there?
I was at Amer Fort last month and didn’t find any elephant rides going on there. I am not sure if it’s still allowed.
I missed the light and sound show last time. Your post is very precise and informative too.
Thank you 🙂
What a fabulous informative post! I would love to visit India someday and visit the Amber Fort, your pictures are really beautiful, the place looks amazing, thanks for sharing!
Louise | http://www.loudoestravel.com
You are welcome 😀
Thank you for an informative and very detailed guide! Amer Fort keeps appearing on Instagram feeds lately and it has really made us want to visit some day!
That architecture is amazing, I can’t imagine how long that took to create. Thank you for providing the history too!
Rajasthan and it’s architecture! Always so appealing! You’ve shared some great facts here which I didn’t know about. Thank you 🙂
I have never been to India but these Forts are so grand and majestic. I wold love to visit here one day 🙂
It’s good to see that the palaces of Jaipur have been well preserved. They are magnificent, aren’t they? We’re visiting this winter and will definitely use your guide.
Yes, they are magnificent, well preserved and very beautiful! I am sure you are gonna enjoy your trip.
These images are absolutely stunning and your writing brought back a lot of great memories from my time in Jaipur. Thank you for sharing
Welcome 🙂
Anjali loved the detailed blog post with such stunning images. We have been to Amer before but the kids hardly remember anything. I guess it’s time to head back to Amer 🙂
Wow looks like a beautiful site to visit. I didn’t know much about this place before reading your post, thanks for sharing. The photos looks incredible by the way!
You are welcome!
I haven’t been yet but it’s on my list for whenever I get to visit India! I bet the sound & light show would be really cool.
The architecture is absolutely amazing! Now it makes me want to see it in person. Great shots btw. Thanks for sharing ♥️ ♥️ By any chance you are interested on doing collaborations, you can check out the collaborations portal of Phlanx.com and connect with amazing brands!
Xoxo,
Tiffany
Beautiful images and very informative.
I visited Amer Fort a couple of years ago,. I absolutely loved it. Such beautiful architecture, it was great to learn more about the history from thsi article.
Ive never heard about Amer Fort but it looks stunning! I love places with a wonderful architecture and history!
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Incredible Indian architecture, visited this place last year itself with my family and experience was just incredible.
I have been in Rajasthan, visited Ajmer Fort but I never knew all these with so much details.
Wow. This place is beautiful. I have been to India, but I did not visit there. That might just have to be added to my bucket list.
What a beautiful area! I need to get here one day. I always like exploring new parts of the world.
These locations are grand! I would love to visit the forts and historical locations while traveling the world.
Your images are beautiful I love how detailed and intricate the architecture is, I wish to be able to visit one day.
Thank you 🙂
I have never been to this part of the world. It looks so beautiful and very rich in history. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you so much for the info. This gives me an idea of what to do when next I visit.
That is one amazing building. The details is it are wonderful, thanks for sharing this photo.
Last year we went Rajasthan and cover almost every place which you mentioned above. But there are few places which we missed like Kesar Kyari Garden, Sukh Niwas, Zenana etc. These places looks quiet amazing. We need to cover the remaining places asap. Thanks for the article. This is beautifully written.
You are welcome and thank you so much for appreciating 🙂
Wowo!So many pictures!
Loving your read and would love to visit.
I have never heard of this place but love to live through gorgeous photos that others share. This looks like a great place to visit.
I always love getting to know the history and some extra information standing behind the place I’m going to visit. I’ve never heard of Amer Fort Jaipur, but thanks to you I’d definitely love to visit it! 🙂
I love your photos, they are so beautiful and capture the real beauty of the place as if they are telling a story. I’ve never been here, but I may need to add it to my travel bucket list.
Been reading a lot about Jaipur and honestly I didn’t know much about this and good thing I head over your site too. It has so many good places to explore.
Rajasthan is my absolute favorite! We are planning to visit again next year when we go to India. Your pictures are breathtaking.
It all looks so beautiful out there. They have some amazing architectural wonders out in India I would love to see, and now this one would be added to the list. So amazing.
Beautiful fort, next time if we visit India sure we will go the Jaipur . Love to see fort and hawa mahal.
Your photos are gorgeous and this place looks fantastic! I love visiting historic places and old buildings!
Amer-Font is an amazing place to visit. I love to visit these types of places and know new cultures. It’s good that you let us know what is the best time and route to reach so whoever want to visit this place can reach easily on right time.
These are all so gorgeous! Thank you for all the information you shared. Now I really want to see these places!