Amer Fort Jaipur | Facts, History, Timings and more

(This article has affiliate links to products which we may make commission from at no extra cost to you.)

Rajasthan is very well known for it’s majestic forts and palaces. These exhibit the power and grandeur of the era of ruling royal kingdoms. Many such forts have been declared as the UNESCO world heritage sites. One such fort is the Amer Fort located in the town Amer which is just at 11 kms from Jaipur. This magnificent fort overlooks Maota lake and is spread over a very captivating landscape. The Amer Fort is also referred to as Amber Fort by many tourists.

What’s the History behind 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 very grand layout comprising of royal courtyards, temples, palaces, gardens and chambers. This fort’s spectacular architecture will leave you completely spell bound by it’s beauty.

Sight seeing in Amer Fort:

Once you reach at the parking or the drop off point of Amer fort, you can either climb the stairs to reach to the fort or you can 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 till 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 sight seeing 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 Jaleb Chowk. This is the place which 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 the area 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 lit one candle during the night in Sheesh Mahal, the spark of which 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 fish tail, hooded cobra, elephant’s trunk, 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 the place 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 quarters air conditioned.

Zenana :

Further is the fourth courtyard comprising of 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 spent 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 15th century.

Sila Devi Temple :

It is said 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 starts 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 which falls 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 kms from Jaipur. You can easily hire a cab from Jaipur city to reach Amer fort. The cost of the cab depends from 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 in just Rs. 18.

Opening Time Of Amer Fort :

Amer Fort is open for visitors everyday 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 prices for Amer Fort is Rs 100 for Indians while Rs. 500 for foreigners. There are also composite tickets available here costing Rs. 300 for Indians and Rs. 1000 for foreigners. This ticket is valid for two days and you can visit any forts including Amer Fort, Jantar Mantar,  City Palace, Nahargarh Fort, Albert Hall and Hawa Mahal.

If you are planning to stay in Jaipur, you can book your perfect hotel from the box below showing the best hotel deals;

Booking.com

Best Tours For Amer Fort

Travel Tip : To check out current airfare prices, head over to search and compare flights on JetRadar and find the best deals on flights.

Have you been to the Amer Fort in Jaipur? Do share your experience/opinion here, I would love to hear from you 🙂

Related Read : 10 Best Things To Do In Jaipur | Where To Stay, Shop In The Pink City

If you haven’t already, like Cheerful Trails on Facebook for more travel diaries and photos!

Don’t Forget To Share And Save This Post For Later <3