AMBER FORT
– A GOLDEN STREAK AMIDST THE PINK CITY
The Amber Fort and Palace complex Jaipur is a great piece of the Hindu architecture with sprinkles of the Mughal Style, located on the foothills of Aravalli overlooking the Maota lake in front the views of Amber Fort complex mesmerises the onlookers the vast golden infrastructure and the grace in its vicinity added by the small foothills, gardens and views of Jaigarh Fort (where it is said to be the largest cannon in the world) in the backdrop. Located at a distance of 10k.m ride from City Palace or the Palace of winds a.k.a Hawa Mahal Jaipur the fort stands testimony to the capital city of Rajasthan.
It opens at 8:00AM till 5:30PM & at night Amber Fort timings are 6:30PM – 9:30PM
Entrance gate of Amber Fort.
Half a km walk from the base to the gate of the Amer Fort. Once inside the courtyard with trees on the vast courtyard over the hills, whose floor at night is lit as such recreating the stars beneath.
Hall of the Common’s
From here a few more stairs and we reach to the Diwan-e-Aam that translates to the hall of the commons where once the people of the state visited at the time of the kings. Its a great stone carved structure made of red sandstone.
House of Common illuminated at night.
On the right is the main entrance to the Amber Palace known as the Ganesh Pol named after Lord Ganesh the son of SHIVA and the god of prosperity and wealth. The gate is decorated with a painting of Lord Ganesh and the carved windows above through which the royal ladies used to watch the processions as they were not allowed to come out barefaced in front of the public.
Amber Palace
Inside the private part at the Jaipur Fort are gardens with fountain the path leads us to the Diwan-e-Khas or the most special palace at Amer which was for the royals and their close friends and ministers. Enveloped among marbles and great interiors made out of pieces of mirrors is the Sheesh Mahal or the Mirror Palace, these small mirror pieces are used to create images of flower pots, stars and other abstract designs. It is said in earlier days when a candle was lit in this palace it got reflected from the mirrors and created the stars indoor, now one can expeience the charisma of the place as it is among the few monuments in India that are open to visitors at night.
Amber Fort Night timings : 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM
View of the Mirror Palace from the Sukh Niwas.
Opposite to the Sheesh Mahal complex is the air-cooled compartment of Amber Fort Jaipur known as the Sukh Niwas or the relaxing place with water channels flowing through it creating cooling effects in the harsh summers of Rajasthan, India. The walls are carved in shapes of flower vases and filled in different colors more of Islamic in nature but add a charisma to the cool ambiance. This palace has a chariot and old ivory and sandalwood gate on display but is not so good condition as the wood just parted off with time.
Zenana / Women Compartments
The next compartment is the Zenana or the place for the women’s of the Palace with a small lobby for the queen’s in the mid of the courtyard and surrounded by personal rooms of the many queens. In one end of the Zenana was the Palace for the King of Jaipur which once used to be the most special place of the Palace decorated with his riches but now all that remains is a painting of Lord Krishna and Radha on the pillar in the center of the room, rest all were whitewashed, Sadly.
The Pavilion for Queens in the Zennana
As after the formation of Independent India most parts of Jaipur Fort were painted white in an effort to make them look shiny and new but rather than preserving the heritage, the government made a failed attempt at destroying the elegance, heritage and charm of the past lost to the whitewash.