Amber Palace, Jaipur

Amer Fort located in Amer, Rajasthan very close to Jaipur or in outskirts of Jaipur. Amer a small town where fort is located is four square kilometres town and located few kilometres from Jaipur - the Pink City. This fort is great piece of beautiful Architecture. The serene Lake and Hills that surrounds the boundaries of Palace. The architecture of the fort is very well preserved, especially in the mirror hall. An excellent place for history buffs. Great monument of the ancient Indian history. The interesting part of the visiting of the Amber palace is elephant ride from the parking place to the palace. Do not miss its fascinating, gorgeous & amazing hilltop view. Check also the light and sound show at Amber fort. Amer Fort, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the group Hill Forts of Rajasthan along with five other forts. Amber fort is made of red sandstone and marble, the attractive, opulent palace is laid out on four levels, each with a courtyard. Amer fort has four meeting rooms in those days "the Diwan-e-Aam", or "Hall of Public Audience", the Diwan-e-Khas, or "Hall of Private Audience", the Sheesh Mahal (mirror palace), or Jai Mandir or "Water Temple", and the Sukh Niwas or "Peaceful place" where a cool climate is artificially created by winds that blow over a water cascade within the palace. This palace, along with Jaigarh Fort, is located immediately above on the Cheel ka Teela (Hill of Eagles) of the same Aravalli range of hills. Amer Palace is situated on a forested hill promontory that juts into Maota Lake near the town of Amer. The fort is divided into 6 separate sections each with its own entry gate and courtyard. Suraj Pol (Sun Gate) is the the main entry gate which leads to the first main courtyard.

Amber Fort located in the town of Amer. Fall deeply in love with the beauty of this megalith structure made from red sandstone and marble. It took nearly 100 years to build the fort and consists of several palaces and hence is also Amber Palace. Located above the Hill of Eagles on the Aravalli range, the opulent palace is spread across four courtyards each with elegantly decorated gates such as the Ganesh Gate, Tripolia Gate , and the Lion Gate. Gardens and temples adorn the interiors of these entrances.

History

Early history

The settlement at Amer was founded by Raja Alan Singh, a ruler from the Chanda clan of Meenas in 967 CE. The Amer Fort, as it stands now, was built over the remnants of this earlier structure during the reign of Raja Man Singh, the Kachwaha King of Amer. The structure was fully expanded by his descendant, Jai Singh I. Even later, Amer Fort underwent improvements and additions by successive rulers over the next 150 years, until the Kachwahas shifted their capital to Jaipur during the time of Sawai Jai Singh II, in 1727.

Take over of Amer Fort by Kachwahas

The first Rajput structure was started by Raja Kakil Dev when Amber became his capital in 1036 on the site of present-day Jaigarh Fort of Rajasthan. Much of Amber's current buildings were started or expanded during the reign of Raja Man Singh I in the 1600s. Among the chief building is the Diwan-i-Khas in Amber Palace of Rajasthan and the elaborately painted Ganesh Poll built by the Mirza Raja Jai Singh I.The current Amer Palace was created in the late 16th century, as a larger palace to the already existing home of the rulers. The older palace, known as Kadimi Mahal (Persian for ancient) is known to be the oldest surviving palace in India. This ancient palace sits in the valley behind the Amer Palace. Amer was known in the medieval period as Dhundar (meaning attributed to a sacrificial mount in the western frontiers) and ruled by the Kachwahas from the 11th century onwards – between 1037 and 1727 AD, till the capital was moved from Amer to Jaipur. The history of Amer is indelibly linked to these rulers as they founded their empire at Amer.Many of the ancient structures of the medieval period of the Meenas have been either destroyed or replaced. However, the 16th-century impressive edifice of the Amer Fort and the palace complex within it built by the Rajput Maharajas are very well preserved.