Breakaway Destination Guides (International)
Breakaway’s Travel World
A Guide to Golden Lands and Faraway Places
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Amber Fort, Jaipur
Amber Fort is located in Amber, which used to be the capital of the Kachhwaha clan, till Jaipur was made the official capital in 1727. The crystal mirror
image of the Fort, on the still waters of the lake, seems to be a beautiful illusion. Construction in 1592 the Fort was started by Raja Man Singh I.
Amber Fort in Jaipur, Rajasthan was built in 1592. It represents one of the finest examples of Rajput architecture. Perched high on a barren ridge, Amber
Fort commands a panoramic views of the deep narrow valley below and the wider plains beyond. It was the citadel of the Kachhawaha rulers until 1727.
 Amber Fort Palace Main Gate
The Kachchawahas (also written Kachhwaha) ruled from Amber, 11km from Jaipur, for seven centuries. With such a long history, it would not be surprising that
Jaipur hold a lot of its archaeological history. While the early structures have either disappeared or badly ruined, those dating from the 16th century onwards
are still in a remarkable state of preservation. Of these, Amber Fort still stands strong today. It is the handiwork of three of the Kachchawaha Kingdom's rulers,
Raja Man Singh I, and Jai Singh I and II (also called Mirza Raja Jai Singh and Sawai Jai Singh).
 Amber Fort, Jaipur
The Old Palace lies at the base of the Jaigarh Fort. This area was the original Amber before Man Singh I came along and went on a building spree. The early 13th
century palace here is not very interesting as compared to the grand Amber Fort-palace, yet you could do with a visit. This Old Palace can be reached from the
Amber Palace, there is a stone path leading from the Chand Pol to these ruins at the base of the hill. The road is currently being restored. Here lie the remains of
ancient Amber which include temples and crumbling palaces and patches of walls. The cobbled streets and broken down havelis (mansions) give it the aura of a medieval
town. But these mute remnants of a bygone golden era seem to speak volumes.
 Section of Amber Fort near Jas Mandir, the hall of private audience.
Like the entire fort complex, Amber Fort is constructed of white and red sandstone. The Fort is unique in that its outside, an imposing and rugged defensive
structure, is markedly different from its inside, an ornate, lavish interior influenced by both Hindu and Muslim (Mughal) styles of ornamentation. The walls of the
interior of the fort are covered with murals, frescoes, and paintings depicting various scenes from daily life. Other walls are covered with intricate carvings,
mosaic, and minute mirror work.
 The Jas Mandir, or hall of private audience, has beautifully latticed windows
Amber Fort is divided into four sections. Each is accessible via large staircases from a central location, or from a broad pathway leading to each of the sections.
The pathways are currently used to transport tourists via an elephant ride. The main entrance of Amber Fort, Surajpol, leads to the Jaleb chowk, the main courtyard of
the Fort where the staircase to the palace is located. In ancient times, Jaleb Chowk was the area where returning armies were paraded back home.
 The ornate columns of the Diwan-i-Am of Amber Fort
Today, tourists can ride up to the fort from the base of the hill on elephants. On the ride, one can see the skyline of Jaipur, Maotha lake, and the original
city walls. The fort can be toured with a guide or on one's own.
One of the most striking parts of the fort is the Hall of Mirrors. Tour guides tell visitors that when the palace was occupied by royalty, the hall could be lit
at night by a single candle because of all the tiny, intricate mirrors.
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