Amer Fort of Jaipur in Rajasthan

Have you ever dreamed of living like a royal monarch since the 11th C.?  

Well, Amer Fort of Jaipur (also known as Amber Fort) makes it a reality just for you!

Besides being hailed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Amer Fort of Jaipur in Rajasthan boasts pristine architecture and a stark history like no other.

Are you intrigued to know more?

Well then, keep reading to find out what makes it a crown jewel of the Pink City!

Table of Contents

• HISTORY OF AMER FORT
• ARCHITECTURE OF AMER FORT
  • 1. First Courtyard:
  • 2. Second Courtyard:
  • 3. Third Courtyard:
  • 4. Fourth Courtyard:
• TOP ATTRACTIONS OF AMER FORT AND PALACE JAIPUR
  • Palace Of Raja Man Singh
  • Sheesh Mahal
  • Shila Devi Mandir
• WHERE IS AMER FORT? HOW TO REACH THERE?
  • • 1. Buses
    • 2. Rickshaw
    • 3. Taxi
• THINGS TO DO AT AMBER FORT JAIPUR
  • 1. Kickstart Your Amer Adventure On Elephant Back.
  • 2. Step A Little Closer To History At The Museums Of This Lofty Fort In India.
  • 3. Drench In The Cultural Ecstasy Of This Majestic Fort.
  • 4. Eat From The Regal Food Palette Inside The Fort.
  • 5. Go Religious At The Various Temples In The Fort.
  • 6. Enjoy The Scenic As Well As Architectural Delights.
• AMER FORT TOUR
  • BEST TIME TO VISIT AMER FORT JAIPUR: October- March
    • • AMER FORT TIMINGS:
      • ENTRANCE FEEs AND CHARGES
    • WHERE AND HOW TO BUY YOUR TICKETS FOR AMER FORT?
• LAST MINUTE TIPS FOR YOUR TRIP TO AMER FORT
• FAQs- 

HISTORY OF AMER FORT

Picture a fortress that’s more than stonewalls- Amer Fort, A UNESCO World Heritage Site in Jaipur, is a treasure chest of stories! 

Built in the 16th Century by Raja Man Singh over ancient ruins, this hilltop marvel took two centuries of Rajput grit to perfect. Beyond its grandeur lies intrigue- legends hint at hidden Afghan treasures within its walls. 

Intrigued? Amer Fort of Jaipur is a riddle wrapped in royal history. Who knows? Perhaps its next secret is yours to discover!

ARCHITECTURE OF AMER FORT

A Fusion of Styles: the Amer Fort of Jaipur exhibits an enticing concoction of Hindu and Islamic architectural vogue. Expect stunning structures built from red sandstone and gleaming white marble. Divided into 4 courtyards, each offering an extraordinary scenery and architectural glimpse.

Without further ado, let’s explore!

1. First Courtyard:

To be honest, the first courtyard is huge! It’s a three-level complex with two gates. It houses temples, latticed windows, a stable complex and quarters for horse riders. Entry can be made from either Chandra pol (moon gate) or Sooraj pol (sun gate). Out of these two gates, the sun gate was the preferred gate of the royal family. Still, it’s the Shila Devi Mandir and Suhag Mahal that are the eye candy of this area.

2. Second Courtyard:

The second complex isn’t a residential complex like the first one. Rather, it was the royal court for the subjects. The courthouse is beautifully made out of red sandstone with a series of 21 columns. Ganesh pol marks the entrance of this courtroom, which in itself is iconic as in Hindu mythology Ganesha is the demolisher of obstacles

3. Third Courtyard:

The third courtyard was the pleasure ground for royals, which means that it is secluded from the other marvels in the Fort complex. It contains two structures standing sturdy facing each other. One of them is the palace of mirror Sheesh Mahal and the other one is the palace of pleasure Sukh Mahal. The palace of Raja Man Singh and magic flower fresco also co-exist in this courtyard.

4. Fourth Courtyard:

This particular courtyard was dedicated to the queens and women of the palace. Housing many halls that were cleverly separated from one another, the fourth courtyard also harbors Jas Mahal.

TOP ATTRACTIONS OF AMER FORT AND PALACE JAIPUR

Palace Of Raja Man Singh

Welcome to the oldest structure of Amer Fort. Here, you will find a pillared pavilion, vibrant frescoes and colored tiles decorating rooms in the brightest shades of yellow. The structure is full of details and aptly justifies 25 years of construction time.

Sheesh Mahal

Sheesh Mahal was basically a winter resort for the royals as the reflections from the mirrors kept the palace warm. As a result, the walls and the ceiling here in Sheesh Mahal are made up of pure glass so that the purpose of the palace is practically and aesthetically feasible.

Sheesh Mahal was basically a winter resort for the royals as the reflections from the mirrors kept the palace warm. As a result of which, the walls and the ceiling here in Sheesh Mahal are made up of pure glass so that the purpose of the palace is practically and aesthetically feasible.

Shila Devi Mandir

The aura of the Shila Devi temple is magnetic. This small but beautiful temple on the premises of the first courtyard gives out a unique vibration that is felt by many. The deity of this temple is Goddess Kali who is known to destroy all evil in the world,

There are many mixed legends attached to this temple. Out of which, the one where the deity asks King Man Singh to rescue her from the sea in Bengal seems to be the most popular one. So, if you are someone who loves a spiritual twist to an architectural wonder, then, you should definitely add this monument to your list.

WHERE IS AMER FORT? HOW TO REACH THERE?

Situated 11 kilometres from Jaipur on a secluded hilltop of the Aravalli range, here are a few ways to reach the Amber Fort:

1. Buses

Inter-state buses are saviours if you are under budget. Although, you will have to adjust to the local crowd and chaos, travelling from a bus will only cost you a dime. Just board any frequently moving bus from Hawa Mahal and in INR 15 to 20 you will reach your destination.

2. Rickshaw

Do you want a more personalized experience? Then, how about enjoying a tuk-tuk ride all the way to the Amer Fort entrance? Doesn’t this sound like a perfect plan if you aren’t on a budget? Yes, it does, so, go splurge on comfort.

3. Taxi

A taxi ride to Amer Fort is the most elite option on our list. It does cost much more than the other two options. Still, if you are someone who puts comfort over money, you will love your air-conditioned ride to Amer Fort.

THINGS TO DO AT AMBER FORT JAIPUR

Paying homage to Amer Fort is apparently one of the best things to do in Jaipur. However, do you know what to do and try after you enter its premises? No? Then, here are the top things to do in Amer Fort:

1. Kickstart Your Amer Adventure On Elephant Back.

Fulfil your India travel fantasy by riding on an elephant back. Embrace the royalty in you and reach the fort like the rulers of yesteryears. Understanding their virtues will be easier from here, trust us on that.
Note: The elephant ride ends in the afternoon. Make sure to plan it before that.

2. Step A Little Closer To History At The Museums Of This Lofty Fort In India.

Turn back time by visualizing the lifestyle of the royal bygones. Enjoy the charms of the royal treasure trove with collections as pristine as jewels and as quirky as turbans.

3. Drench In The Cultural Ecstasy Of This Majestic Fort.

Enjoy light shows, classical dance performances at Sukh Mahal, puppet shows, traditional songs and whatnot in the vicinity of the fort. Give more to your inner culture-vulture fellas!
Note: Tickets for the same will be available only offline in the fort premises.

4. Eat From The Regal Food Palette Inside The Fort.

Gorge on some finger-licking good delicacies at Surabhi restaurant. Enjoy not only the flavours of Rajasthan but also of the other regions of India too.

5. Go Religious At The Various Temples In The Fort.

Just enjoy their existence and placement at different parts of the fort. Stay focused, let’s see if you are able to catch its pattern or not!
Just enjoy their existence and placement at different parts of the fort. Stay focused, let’s see if you are able to catch its pattern or not!

6. Enjoy The Scenic As Well As Architectural Delights.

Well, this is no biggie as there is no shortage of scenic views here in Amer Fort. So, do add them to your things to do in India list.

AMER FORT TOUR

BEST TIME TO VISIT AMER FORT JAIPUR: October- March

Amer Fort is a prized possession of the Rajasthan’s forts and palaces in Jaipur. So, it comes as no surprise that the best time to pay it a visit is during the winter months. You can easily save yourself from the scorching summer heat of this desert state for starters during this time. Also, exploring the palace will be quite easy when accompanied by the chilling winter breeze, don’t you think?

AMER FORT TIMINGS:

• Amer Fort functions from 9 am in the morning till 5 pm in the evening.
• Will you be checking in for the elephant ride? Then, that will be available from 9:30 am to 1:00 pm.
• Are you interested in the light show? Then, there are two timings as per your preferred language. For English, the show starts at 7:30 pm and for Hindi, the show starts at 8:00 pm.

ENTRANCE FEEs AND CHARGES

Now that you have basic information about Amer Fort it’s time to talk about money. Don’t worry; a visit to the fort won’t cost you a fortune, but yes, you will need to keep the following amount in hand.

• Foreigner – INR 500 per person
• Indians- INR 100 per person
• Light Show(English) – INR 200 per person
• Light Show(Hindi) – INR 100 per person
• Elephant Ride – INR 1200 for two people

WHERE AND HOW TO BUY YOUR TICKETS FOR AMER FORT?

Now that everything is crystal clear it’s time to discuss the real deal, which is buying the tickets. Well, there are two ways to buy tickets for Amer Fort, online and offline.

Offline: If you are opting for offline purchase, then, the ticket counter will be available in the Jaleb Chowk courtyard opposite Suraj Pol. From here you can purchase the tickets for the fort and also, can hire a local guide or an audio guide.
Are you planning on staying for the light show? Then, tickets for the same will be available at the fort, Jantar Mantar, and Albert Hall Museum.
Note: If you are planning on buying the ticket at the fort, make sure you reach the counter an hour before to avoid the chaos.

Online: Can’t handle the heat and crowd of ticket counters? Then, book your tickets online. Just log on to http://www.bookrajmonuments.in/ and book your tickets in advance. A little birdy told us that there is a perk in booking online. What’s that you ask? Well, now you can book yourself a composite ticket that will work for many monuments in the city.
So, instead of paying a handsome amount alone for Amber Fort you can now visit Amber Palace, Jantar Mantar (Observatory), and Hawa Mahal. Nahargarh Fort, Albert Hall Isarlat, Sisodia Rani Garden, and Vidyadhar Garden at a discounted price! Woohoo!
Note: Want to avoid the fuss of roaming around the city and booking tickets? Then, it’s better to plan an iconic tour via a travel agency that will help you plan this trip. How about giving The Grand Indian Route a chance? We are forever ready to help. So, why not request a quote for India Rajasthan tour, eh?

LAST MINUTE TIPS FOR YOUR TRIP TO AMER FORT

Now that you know almost everything about Amer Fort, it’s time for us to give you some valuable insights. Besides the essential India travel tips that we’ve already covered earlier, we believe some exclusive tips for Amer Fort will help you big time. So, here you go.

If you plan on visiting all the famous monuments of Jaipur, then it’s better to get a combined ticket online. It’s cheap and cuts down the hassle of booking individual tickets.

• Travelling up to Amer Fort can be done in three ways. Either you can hire a jeep or scooter, on an elephant back or on foot. Although the guides here will suggest elephant rides as they earns them maximum profit, keep your mind open to other options as well. If you are thinking of traveling on foot it will take you about 30 minutes to reach the fort.
• Are you travelling via jeep? Then, make sure you ask your driver to stop at Panna Meena Kund which is a 16th-century reservoir.
• Carry water with you at all times. The fort is humongous and staying hydrated will always help you big during exploration.
• We highly recommend you hire a car and a bike to enjoy all the hidden charms of this structure.
• So, dear readers, are you ready to discover the secrets of Amer Fort firsthand?

Contact us today and let’s craft your perfect Rajasthan itinerary! 

FAQs- 

1. How much time should I realistically allocate for a visit to Amer Fort? 

• To fully explore the four main courtyards, the famous Sheesh Mahal (Hall of Mirrors), and enjoy the panoramic views, you should plan to spend at least 2 to 3 hours inside the fort. If you intend to take an elephant ride up, factor in extra time for waiting, especially during peak season.

2. What is the best time of day to visit Amer Fort for the best photos and to avoid crowds? 

• The ideal time to visit is right at the opening at 9:00 AM. You will experience the fort in the beautiful morning light with cooler temperatures and, most importantly, you will be ahead of the large tour groups that typically start arriving around 10:30 AM.