Amber Fort India. Fairytale palace of Amber. At the time when the hall was built, such mirrors were made only in Europe. They were expensive, and their delivery to the fort cost the rulers a considerable amount. Legends were made about the wonderful view of the hall; many dreamed about it.

The city was founded during the reign of Maharaja Bhagwan Dash as the seat of his second son Mado Singh and was a very prosperous Indian city for quite some time. Gradually its influence declined and after the famine of 1783 it became uninhabited.

According to one legend, the city was cursed by a magician named Bala Nath. Initially, he blessed the construction of the city on the condition that the shadows of the palaces being built in it should not touch the place of his meditation, otherwise the city would be destroyed. But neither the Raja nor his son listened to him and as a result the city began to collapse. Since then, when new houses were built, their roofs were destroyed.

Today it is a deserted, ruined place that can only be visited during the daytime. This is regulated almost at the level of law: at the entrance to the city there is a sign from the Archaeological Survey of India, which states that staying in the city after sunset is prohibited.

Coordinates: 27.09470100,76.29060400

Amber Fort

Amber Fort, built in 1592, is considered one of the finest fortified structures in India. It is located on a hillside, and its walls are reflected in the waters of Lake Moata. Tourists are delivered to the fort in different ways– amateurs hiking can climb up on their own, lovers of comfort can go on one of the tourist roads, and exotic lovers can go to the fort riding an elephant. Inside the fort, in the first courtyard, there are many souvenir shops. A little further is the Shila Devi temple, dedicated to the warlike goddess Kali. Wild monkeys can often be seen on the huge open terraces. If you move deeper into the temple, you find yourself in the Hall of Pleasure, not far from which there is a canal that was previously used as a water storage facility. Their Jai Mandir temple next to the Maharaja's chambers offers a wonderful view of the entire complex and the lake below.

Another fort, Jaigarh, is located above the Amber fort. It was built by Jai Singh in 1726. Well preserved observation towers of this fort, and it is here that the world's largest wheeled cannon is located.

Coordinates: 26.98430900,75.85119700

India, Amer, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302001, India

General information

“Amber Fort”, “Great Indian Wall”, as they call it local residents a huge citadel located 11 km from the Pink City of Jaipur. The fortress stands at the very top of a rocky hill. This creates a wonderful contrast between the clean lines and austere forms of the formidable walls of the Amber Fort in the Rajput architectural style and the light water surface artificial lake Maota.

From the height of the fortress walls it opens beautiful view to the hills, city, ancient ruins. In the XII-XVIII centuries, the fort was the capital of Jaipur. Now it is a popular attraction in India, to which about half a million tourists climb every year along the wide stone road in jeeps, riding elephants or simply on foot.

How to get to Amber Fort

A flight from Delhi to Jaipur will take about 30 minutes or 6 hours by train, and the walk to the massive gates of the fortress will take about the same. A bus will take you to the very walls of Amber in 5.5 hours; the cost of such a trip from Delhi will be at least 500 rupees.

Attractions of Amber Fort

The interior decoration of the citadel reveals to the guest complex patterns in a mixed style, characteristic of all Indian architecture: there are elements of traditional Mongolian architecture, and traces of Hindu and Muslim influence.

Inside the fortress, the buildings are richly decorated with thin columns, stone lattices, balconies, arches and gazebos, many mirrors and paintings carved from solid coral.

Chamber of Mirrors

This architectural complex, also called the Sheesh Mahal Palace, undoubtedly evokes the strongest emotions among visitors. All rooms of the Chamber are decorated with mirror mosaics from floor to ceiling. In the hall you can see complex designs with floral motifs, with monochromatic glitter, as well as interspersed with colored glass.

Jaigarh Fort

The name of the citadel is translated as “victory fortress.” It is located just above the Amber Fort, but within its walls. This was once a defensive bunker attached to the main fort. That’s why you won’t find any special luxury in decoration here.

There is a museum in the fort, where you can see one of the largest wheeled cannons in the world - the 50-ton Jaivan cannon.

Audience halls

The complex is represented by two spacious pavilions: Diwan-e-Aam or “Hall for the Public” and Diwan-e-Khas (Hall for Private Audience). Both rooms are located under vaulted roofs, each supported by 40 columns.

The public hall has an extension in the form of an open terrace with panoramic view to the surrounding area. The walls of the private audience hall are decorated with ornate carvings, and on the ceiling you can see a unique mirror mosaic surrounded by traditional Indian stucco.

Amber (or Amer in some sources) - the fortified residence of Raja Man Singh in the suburb of Jaipur of the same name, on the ridge of a rocky hill behind Lake Maota. Despite the formidable appearance, the interior chambers of the fortress amaze with the sophistication of the lush decoration, made simultaneously in Indian and Muslim styles. Amber Fort is deservedly the main attraction of the Indian state of Rajasthan...
You can climb to the fort on elephants, either on foot or by car. Moreover, all three ascent options are 3 different roads, so if you are an athlete who does not like animals, then don’t worry - you won’t have to dodge cars or step over elephant waste products...

View of the elephant's dashboard, elephant's mahout's turban...


Motorists can ascend to the fortress from reverse side and enter through the entrance previously used for women to enter ( warriors and aunts could not use the same gates). Pedestrians will climb the stairs leading from the Amber Gardens located near Lake Maota ( in winter it dries out a little more than completely). The elephant drivers use the main, once front, road to the palace, so I recommend taking a ride on an elephant...




Man Singh, who began the construction of a fortress-palace here in 1592, was one of the first military leaders of Emperor Akbar the Great, the ruler of the Great Mughals, whose mausoleum I talked about last time. For many years, the administration of the Jundhara principality was carried out from here, and only in the early 1700s the capital of the principality was moved to the newly founded Jaipur, just 11 km from here...


Initially, the fort now known as Amber Fort was just a palace complex, an appendage of the military fortress now known as Jaigarh Fort. Jaigarh and Amber were ( yes to this day) are connected by protected transition walls and underground tunnels...


Between Amber and Jaigarh lies a whole block of ancient houses and buildings, only a small part of which is inhabited. The rest are picturesque ruins scattered on the slopes of the hill...


If you came to Jaipur for more than one day, then you can safely devote a couple of days to a pedestrian exploration of the old walls and towers of the neighboring rocky ridges. The views that you will see from there will be 100% unique, which will not be available to any “organized” tourist. By the way, about the name of the fort, and indeed the city in general - there are at least 2 versions of the origin of the name, which the guides will stuff you with: (1) They will show you in the direction of the town, that somewhere there ( the guide's finger makes a circle covering an area twice as large as the several thousand people of Amber) there was a great temple in which there was a statue ( I don't remember who, sorry) from a single piece of amber ( Amber in English is amber, just in case anyone doesn’t know); (2) You will come across a very stupid guide who will say that amber is yellow and the palace is made of yellow sandstone, which is why the type was named amber. You can only believe in these versions if you believe in Santa Claus...


Main entrance to Amber ( in the photo the gate is on the right) - Surajpol brings you to palace square Jaleb chowk. In ancient times, the square was the site of a parade of troops returning victoriously from campaigns and battles. If you nevertheless arrive on an elephant, the driver will lead the elephant almost along the perimeter of the square and, before parking at a special ramp, will definitely tell a heart-warming story about what the animal needs to eat. At the same time, the elephant begins to sniffle and stagger ( because the bastard driver imperceptibly stabs him with a lance), the pale-skinned tourist becomes even pale-skinned, gives the driver a tip and, as if by magic, the elephant calms down and parks at the ramp... But this is not necessary, you don’t have to give anything and let your conscience bite you that the elephant will go to bed hungry...








In theory there should be beautiful lake, washing no less beautiful garden on an artificial island. However, it is now January and everything is dry. And it looks something like this ( photo not mine, opens in a new window) ...


All the ridges of the hills as far as the eye can see are covered with battlements of fortifications and towers...




One of the inner chambers of the palace is called the "Room of a Thousand Mirrors". Its walls and ceiling are lined with a mosaic of mirrors. Just one candle was enough to brightly illuminate the entire hall... Also on the photo card you can notice that a white woman with a slightly open back is almost porn for local youth ( and not only young people), they will quietly take pictures on their mobile phones and follow on their heels...










All military power and defensive potential were held, as you already understood, not by Amber Fort, but by Jaigarh. In addition, the treasury of the principality was kept here. I will tell you a little about Jaigarh, I will show you in one of the following stories...




Harem courtyard. Of course, before it was not so dull and scorched by the sun. There were a lot of fabrics used as awnings and walls. Children were playing on the veranda in the middle. The balcony in front on the left is the Shah's room. Small balconies around the perimeter are his wives' apartments. A network of complex passages, corridors and doors along the perimeter of the courtyard allowed the Shah to get to one of his wives without anyone else knowing about it and without them being offended...








To view the fortress from space, click

Amber Fort is one of the main attractions on the Golden Triangle route of India. The fortress is located 11 km from Jaipur, the capital of the Indian state of Rajasthan in the north of the country. Amber is a classic example of a Rajasthani fort-palace, located on a mountain above the valley in which Jaipur is located. At the top of the mountain there is another fortress - Jaigarh, which guards the approaches to Amber and Jaipur. The fortress wall stretches from one fort to another and encircles the nearby hills. The length of the walls is about 20 km. Locals call it the “Great Wall of India” by analogy with the famous landmark of China.

Amber Fort was the capital of this region before the founding of Jaipur and still allows one to imagine the luxury and beauty in which the Rajas lived. The fort was built in the classic Rajput architectural style, which is characterized by impeccable proportional lines and strict, clear external forms. For the construction of the fort, only local materials were used, which created an unusual effect - against the backdrop of the surrounding mountains, the fortress looks like a creation of nature, and not of human hands. At sunset, the yellow sandstone turns orange, which may have been the reason for one of the misinterpretations of the name of the fort. Some guides say that the name comes from English word amber (“amber”) due to the color of the walls. This is one of the myths surrounding the fortress.

The fort was named after the goddess Amba, better known as Durga in Indian mythology.

Story

On the ridge of rock where Amber Fort now stands, fortified settlements existed more than 1,000 years ago. In the 11th century, the principality of Dhundhar was founded here, whose rulers fought for a long time with the Delhi Sultanate. Amber was located on the main road to Delhi, so its fortification was a strategically important task. In the 14th century the capital was moved here and the principality now bears the name of Amber. In the valley behind the fort, the princely residence of Kadhimi Mahal was built. And for additional protection, there is the Jaigarh fortress, located higher on the cliff and connected to the Amber fort by underground passages.

The heyday of the principality came in the 16th century, when the Raja became an ally of the Mughal dynasty. In 1588, large-scale production of cannons began in Jaigarh, which brought material prosperity to the principality, and a large-scale reconstruction of the Amber fort by Raja Man Singh I began, which was continued by his grandson Raja Jai ​​Singh I. It was then that the fortress turned into a magnificent palace complex with four isolated courtyards and an artificial lake Maota, gardens and temples.

In 1727, the Raja moved the capital of the principality from Amber to Jaipur, after which the fort residence began to decline. IN new capital Not only the princely family moved, but also noble courtiers. Only the temple servants remained. Jaigarh Fort played a prominent role for a long time due to its advantageous strategic position. In 2013, Amber Fort was included in the list World Heritage"UNESCO".

Attractions

Visitors enter Jaleb Chowk through the Sun Gate (Suraj Pol), which was intended only for the passage of the Raja and his dignitaries. Guard parades were held on the square, and military successes were also celebrated. On the top of the surrounding buildings there are galleries, through the lattice windows of which the women of the Rajah's harem could watch the celebrations. By law, women could not show themselves to strangers.

Further through Lion Gate(Singh Pol) you can get to the Diwan-i-Am pavilion, where the Raja holds public audiences. Particularly noteworthy are the columns, which end with beautifully carved elephant heads from marble. It looks like the elephants are supporting the roof arches with their trunks. There is a terrace nearby from which you can see the surrounding area and the city, as well as the artificial Maota Lake and the island garden. There was once a fountain in the center of the garden, and waters from the lake brought coolness to the palace.

IN private yard Rajas can be passed through the Ganesha Gate. The upper part of the gate building, which has three levels, is decorated with a statue of the god Ganesha, made from a single piece of coral. The gate itself is decorated with mosaics and openwork stone carvings.

The two residential palaces of the Maharajas, Shish Mahal (Palace of Mirrors) and Sukh Niwas, are located in the third courtyard and are built opposite each other.

The Sheesh Mahal hall is decorated with mirror patterns on the walls and ceiling in such a way that even one lit candle can cause the effect of a “starry sky” and illuminate the entire hall.

Mirrors at that time were made only in Europe and their delivery to India was very expensive. This hall alone speaks of the luxury in which the rajahs lived.

Sukh Niwas translates to "house of joy". Here the ruler met with the women of his harem. Moreover, the rooms were arranged in such a way that he could come to one of the wives unnoticed by others. To escape the eternal heat, a cooling system was invented here - a water channel passing through the palace and flowing down into the courtyard.

The main building of the inner chambers of the maharajas is Jai Niwas (Victory Palace). Its main building is the Yash Mandir (Room of Glory). The palace is built entirely of white marble, richly inlaid precious stones and decorated with stone carvings. The walls of Glory's room are additionally decorated with paintings. There is a terrace on the roof of Jai Niwas. Here in winter season Court meetings were held.

Nearby is the zanana (women's part), where there are bedrooms, storage rooms, kitchens, bathrooms and covered terraces.

Thanks to Google panoramas, you can see the Amber Fort from the inside.

Prices

You can enter the fort territory for free, but entry into the courtyards is paid.

Tickets for tourists cost 200 rupees. For student tourists 100 rupees.

Official English-speaking guide - 200 rupees.

In the evenings the fort hosts a sound and light show. English at 7:30 pm (price 200 rupees) and in Hindi at 8 pm (cost 100 rupees).

How to get there

Amber Fort is located 11 km from Jaipur. You can get there by bus, tuk-tuk and taxi.

By bus

A stop at the square at the foot of the cliff on which the fort is located is called Fort Amer. Buses 3B, AC1, AC5 go here from Jaipur. They all pass through the city center. The cost of the trip is from 10 rupees. Buses are often overcrowded. In particular, the AC5 bus passes by central park capitals.

By tuk-tuk

Travel time is approximately 30-45 minutes (depending on the traffic situation). Cost from 150 rupees (don't forget to bargain).

By taxi

The cost of a trip from Jaipur is around 500 rupees. You can arrange with a driver to take you all day and go to neighboring attractions - the Jaigarh fortress and the “palace on the water” Jal Mahal. It will cost you around 900 rupees.

How to get to the fort

From the square at the foot of the mountain, where all transport arrives directly to the fort, you can get there in 3 ways.

On foot

The journey will take about 10 minutes, but the road is uphill. According to Google panoramas the path looks like this.

On elephants

The journey will take about 15 minutes. Cost from 900 rupees for two.

Elephants work from 8:00 to 11:00 and from 15:30 to 17:30.

The fort is located near the mountain on a plateau that turns into terraces. At the very top stands the Jaigarh fortress, whose name translates as Victory Fort. She guards both Amber and the city of Jaipur. Amber has a very good position, it stands in such a way that it is surrounded on all sides by hills and mountain ranges. Fortress walls with a palisade stretch along almost the entire length of the ridge.

Construction of the structure began in 1592 under the leadership of Raja Man Singh I. At that time, this man commanded the troops of Akbar's empire. Construction was completed after his death, when all the work was supervised by the descendant of Raja Jaya Singh I. The fort received its name from the name of the goddess Amba, whom all residents know as Durga.

Surprisingly, only local stone and wood were used for the foundation of such a magnificent structure. Thus, the builders have achieved that from a distance it is completely impossible to understand whether this structure is natural or man-made. In those days, this effect was very useful, since the territory of the fort was constantly attacked. In Amber you can trace clear, even lines, which are a characteristic feature of the Rajasthani style. At first glance, such a simple external design cannot convey luxury, but the first impression is deceptive. Inside, the fort is richly decorated with stucco and carved balconies, which were skillfully hidden from prying eyes. Hidden under the external severity was a piece of paradise with numerous gazebos, lattice windows and extraordinary arches.

All local forts at that time were created according to the same scheme.

In the very center was the main building with several floors, which was surrounded by two-story pavilions. The palace itself was divided into several parts: a service courtyard, a square and halls for ceremonial meetings, and private chambers overlooking the alley. There was also a treasury and a small chapel here.

Travel to Amber Fort

The path to the fort starts from Maota Lake, with an island on which Dalarama's garden is located. From here to palace complex leads big road, along which elephants constantly walk with numerous tourists and travelers. The first stop is the Jaya Pol Gate. For those who like to travel on horseback, a special road has been built leading there. Afterwards you come to Suraj Pol or Sun Gate. They open the way to a courtyard with military barracks. Further along the course is the Gate of the Moon, leading to the Vishnu temple.

After the Lion's Gate, all tourists arrive at the audience hall. This is a beautiful building, the roof of which rests on 40 columns made of white marble. They differ from others in that the very tops are shaped like elephant heads, whose trunks seem to hold the base of the roof.

After the audience hall, tourists find themselves in a courtyard with the rulers' living rooms and a small garden. By right side Sukh Niwas is located. This architectural structure is encrusted with jewels and decorated with carved details. The room is always cool. This is achieved by streams of water passing directly across the floor and falling into a miniature pool. The canal is decorated with white and black marble, enhancing the effect of running water.

Walking a little further than the palace, you reach the Nat Mahal terrace. In those distant years, meetings, or darbars in other words, were held here. Near Jaya there is a zanana, which consists of bedrooms, closets, bathrooms and courtyards. All tourists who have been here note the special atmosphere of the presence of monarchs.

For tourists

Most often, tourists get to the fort on elephants, along the road of the same name. Once upon a time, ammunition and weapons were delivered to Amber along it. Before your trip, traders will definitely come to you with souvenirs. Wooden elephant figurines are in demand. For three such souvenirs, sellers will ask for 1000 rupees, but don’t open your wallet right away, haggle. The Indians are quite easy to persuade, and then you will pay the same money for 10 nice figurines. All guides advise you to buy something right away, otherwise the Indians will follow you for a long time on the way to the fort. The most the best option There will still be some souvenir shopping on the way back. Firstly, they will cost much less, and secondly, you will not need to constantly carry them with you during the excursion.