Impregnated with history and legends, Rajasthan sets forth a panorama that could turn you nostalgic at the very first instant. The Rajput kings ruled the region with bejewelled fists and patronaged art forms and architecture. Their great tastes and support led to a huge architectural and cultural legacy that Rajasthan feels majestic about even today, roping in hundreds of thousands of tourists and vacationers from all over the country and the world. Garrisons, castles and grand mansions dot the landscape from one corner of the state to the other.


Travelling a distance of 11 km from Jaipur, you arrive at Amber (or Amer) Fort, the erstwhile capital of the Kacchawa Rajputs. Surrounded by rugged hills, the fort is a piece de resistance for tourists arriving in Rajasthan. The fort epitomises a fantastic blend of the Hindu and the Mughal architecture. The fort, that was a brainchild of Raja Man Singh I, was completed later by Sawai Jai Singh I. The intricacy of the wok inside the fort bedazzles onlookers and the aesthetic blend of the red sandstone and white marble to create such a masterpiece beggars description.

As you enter the front courtyard, you come to observe the Diwan-i-aam, the hall of public audience. Here, the splendid pillars that support the hall are worth seeing. Besides, the two tiered painted gateway the Ganesh Pol also catches one's eye. The Sheesh Mahal or the Palace of Mirrors is a wonderful piece of architecture inside the fort premises. The walls, that have been inlaid with exquisite mirror, embellish the interiors much. Moving towards Jas Mandir, you can witness a fantastic amalgam of the Mughal and Rajput styles of architecture. The beautiful jali screens and the delicate mirror and stucco work are worth watching.

The Amber Fort can be entered through the Dil-e-Aaram Garden that has been erected following the Mughal styles of architecture. Moving ahead and climbing up an elegant flight of stairs, you get to the Diwan-e-Am or the Hall of the Public Audience. The lattice work in the galleries is wonderful effort of the artisans. To the right lies the Kali Temple has gigantic doors made out of silver.


While you are at the Amber Fort, don't miss to explore the walls that have been inlaid with precious stones and mirrors to give an aesthetic sense of style to it all. Apart from these excellent mirror work, you can also see a series of war and hunting paintings that gives us an interesting insight into the life of the valiant Rajput kings. Adorning the fort all the more is the Maota Lake reflecting the splendid Amber Fort. The Sukh Niwas and the Jag Mandir apartments are other attractions inside the fort premises. The fort houses a number of temples, step wells, memorials and town houses that could be of interest to one and all. Also worth watching is the Zenana Mahal or the Palace of Women that was designed to provide intimacy to each of the queens of the Maharaja.

To make this visit an epic journey of your life, you can choose to enjoy a royal elephant ride that takes you up to the Amber Fort. This particular elephant ride happens to be a craze among visitors. It's all because this is the way the Maharaja made his grand entry into the imposing fort.

It's about time you made a thumping entry into the fort the Maharaja style. A valorous act indeed !