Description: The Amber fort Jaipur.
The amber fort is on the outskirts of the City perched high up on the top of one of the surrounding mountains of Jaipur. It is approximately five miles from the centre of Jaipur and building of it started in 1592 by Raja Man Singh I and was completed by his son Raja Jai Singh I.
At the base of the fort there is the massive Moatha lake but when we visited in March it was dry which was a shame as it would have looked quite spectacular. In the middle of the lake is a raised flower parterre which can be viewed from the Fort way above.
To get up to the fort you can either ride atop an elephant with queues as long as you can imagine for about £7 however the waiting time was about one and a half hours or you can take a jeep ride up which races up the narrow side streets on its climb to the fort entrance.
From a distance the fort looks very imposing overlooking a small hamlet where you can see many Temples and Mosques below. Some of the houses are painted and you could quite clearly see troupes of monkeys playing and sunning themselves on the flat rooftops far below.
We chose to go up to the fort by Jeep which was the quickest option but due to the roads being narrow and the speed the jeeps race up there you have to pay attention to what they are up to. The drivers of the jeep will park up and wait for you to return to take you back down the winding roads. The visit to the fort took approximately 3 hours.
Continuing to walk up quite a steep incline you reach the main gate and once through this you immediately step into a massive square known as the Jaleb Chowk which is absolutely vast. The elephants come through the gate on the opposite side of the square and walk around the perimeter to drop their passengers off at a raised platform. The elephants appear well cared for and are draped in red sheeting and are highly decorated with colourful designs on them. These elephants are used not only for transporting tourists up to the fort but also take part in Jaipurs elephant festival. Here in this square is where they also hold a son et lumiere show in the evenings.
The entrance up to the palace is via a very steep stairway or up through a ramped access to reach a Hindu temple dedicated to the goddess Kali which is guarded by silver gates and houses a black marble image of the goddess which was stolen from Bangladesh following a big battle there. You continue onwards into the palace itself.
The palace courtyard.
The first palace courtyard is very beautiful there is a hall of public audience where the Maharajah would meet members of the public with their petitions. The building consists of many columns which are intricately carved and it is quite roomy and airy which provided shade from the fierce heat of the sun. The Maharajah would listen to people’s complaints then pass judgement. His word was final.
The inner courtyard is very large with carved screened areas on the upper floors so that the women from the harem could watch what was going on in the court below. They were able to view all the activities without being seen thereby remaining in purdah. The main entrance to the palace proper is very grand indeed and decorated very ornately with coloured marble tiles and semi precious stones. In the left hand side of the courtyard are the Turkish baths where the Maharajah could enjoy his bath in a suite of rooms. The cast iron fire is still there where the water was heated and pumped around the Sauna. From the windows of the Turkish bath there are stunning views into the valley and across to the surrounding mountains.
The Moatha Lake and the formal garden terraces in front of the palace way down below would have looked stunning had the lake not been dry but apparently within days of the rains coming in the monsoon season the lake fills up once again.
Entering the palace through the grand entrance you pass through beautifully decorated rooms and apartments which lead out into various garden courtyards. One of the most significant rooms is the Sheesh Mahal which is decorated with tiny mirrors and painstakingly decorated with beautiful flowers and other designs. It is said that only one candle or light can light up and reflect in all the mirrors. This part was used during the winter months. The upper floors were used in the very hot summer months where the breezes helped to keep the royal family cool. Long sheets of material were hung and water drained down the sheets which were left flowing and the water dripping down added to keeping the royals cool.
The final and very interesting part of the palace was the Maharajahs’ quarters and the Harem. The Maharajah had a focal point where he could watch the women of the harem bathe down below him where he would choose whom he would sleep with that night. The harem is so designed like a hive of corridors through which he could visit the ladies whenever he wished and without being seen. His apartment was nicely decorated with lots of small carved out niches which were lit by tiny oil lamps.
The Maharajahs quarters are reached by walking up a steep ramped walkway but to walk up there you have to bow your head at the doorways. It would have been guarded heavily so that anyone who tried to get to him would be in a bowed position to get through the doorways where he would be decapitated by the palace guards.
The Harem known as the Zenana was also guarded by an army of women guards who were just as fierce as their male counterparts. There are also secret tunnels for the Maharajah to escape and flee any invasion to one of the other surrounding forts.
The amber fort is absolutely stunning and well worth to visit with brilliant views over the surrounding town and countryside. It is very ornately decorated with a myriad of courtyards to explore and discover. The palace is still lived in at times by the Maharajah and his family although you can practically visit the whole fort except for the Maharajahs private quarters.
If you are visiting Jaipur this is definitely a must place to visit and well worth spending a few hours here. I would advise you to go early in the morning before it gets too hot. To ride up on an elephant is perhaps a brilliant way of making your grand entrance if you have the time to join the queues and it would give you an idea of how the Maharajah must have felt entering the fort atop of an elephant. The elephants do not take people back down.
Opening times are from 09:00 to 4:30 PM.
Every evening there is a sound and light show although I did not go to see this but with the grandeur of the palace and fort I should imagine it would be a spectacular show.
Highly recommended.
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