Amber Fort, Jaipur

Amber fort, also known as Amber Palace boasts of an artistic grandeur and structural expertise. It is a reminiscent of the bravery and courage of the mighty Rajputs, who had played a remarkable role in the history of medieval India.

This rambling Palace depicts the true lifestyle of the gutsy Rajputs who are better known for their radical, audacious, volatile and decadent behaviour. One among the best hill top palaces, amber palace presents a curious blend of Muslim and Hindu architectural design. An aide memoir of the yesteryears, this palace is a redolent of creativeness of the artisans of ancient time.

Situated just over 10 kilometres away from Jaipur on the Jaipur-Delhi highway is Amber, which was the ancient capital of Jaipur State. A bus leaves from Hawa Mahal every 30 minutes and a well-laid out road takes the visitor out of the city and very soon one witnesses lush green hills.

One then notices a lake and standing next to it is the majestic Amber Fort which several rulers of the erstwhile State of Jaipur recognized as a vantage military building. The excursion start of Jaipur recognized as a vantage military building. The excursion starts with the Dil-E-Aaram Garden which is laid out in the traditional Mughal style. The complex of palaces, halls, pavilions, gardens and temples was built by Raja Man Singh, The Rajput commander of Akbar's Army, Mirza Raja Jai Singh an Sawai Jai Singh, over a period of about two centuries. One can climb up to the fort from the road in about 10 minutes, go up by a jeep or even on elephant back. The diwan-E-aam (hall of public audience) has latticed galleries and double row of columns each having a capital in the shape of elephants on the top. To the right are steps that lead to the Kali Temple where everyday a goat was sacrificed right up to 1980 when the practice was banned by the state government. The temple offers a wonderful sight and has huge doors made of silver. It is said that Maharaja Man Singh prayed to the goddess for victory during a particular battle. The goddess was said to have come in his dream and said that if he won the battle, then he should retriever her image which was lying at the bottom of the sea. he won the battle, retrieved the image and installed it at the temple of Shitla Devi.

The maharaja's residence is at a higher elevation and can be entered through a decorated gateway. The Jai Mandir (hall of victory) has a glittering ceiling of mirrors and elegant inlaid panels. In front of the Jai Mandir is the Sukh Niwas (Hall of pleasure) with a door made of sandalwood, inlaid with ivory with a channel running through which once carried cool water. The zenana or women's apartments were designed in a manner which could easily facilitate the entry of the maharaja to various chambers without any of the concubines aware of any visitor. Mohan Bari or Kesar Kyari in the centre of the Maotha lake gives a scintillation view from the palaces above it.