Located in the Aravalli Hills, 11 km from Jaipur city, is the Amer or Amber Fort in the diverse Indian state of Rajasthan. Overlooking the Maota Lake, this magnificent palace is built in pale yellow and pink sandstone and white marble and is a fine mix of Rajput and Mughal architecture. With its large ramparts, gates, and cobbled paths overlooking Maota Lake, the palace and the majestic fort are located on the top of the hill overlooking the city, protected by fortifications in all four directions. This guide gives you a tour with all the vital information needed to visit this historic monument.
Amber Fort Guide, Jaipur
Table of Contents
Amber Fort History
Amber was initially under the domain of the Susawat Meena tribe. During the 11th century, Dulahrai (Dhola), the son of Sodhadeva, laid the foundation of the Kachhwaha dynasty in the Dhundhar (Amber) region. His son, Kakil Dev, took over the reign of Amber from the Meenas and made Amber the capital city.
It is said that Maharaja Man Singh I built Amber Fort in 1592 A.D. Mirza Raja Jai Singh I and Sawai Jai Singh II made modifications and changes from time to time. Successive rulers are believed to have made improvements and additions over the next 150 years until the Kachwahas shifted their capital to Jaipur in 1727 in Sawai Jai Singh II. They also changed the interior decoration as per their own interest. The fort served as an administrative, ministry, and residential complex.
UNESCO Site
Amber Fort is one of the 6 majestic forts to be declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2013, touted as the “Hill Forts of Rajasthan.”
How To Reach From Jaipur?
Since Amber Fort is situated 11 km from the main city, there are two ways to reach it.
By Bus
There are several public buses available from Hawa Mahal to the Amber Fort. In our opinion, this is the best and cheapest option and costs around INR 20-30. You could also take the metro when you’re in Jaipur, you can take the metro, step down at Badi Chaupar metro station, and hop on a bus to Amber Fort.
By Taxi/ Car/ Two-wheelers
You can reach Amber Fort by booking an Uber or a private taxi. You can also rent two-wheelers and cars in Jaipur.
Timings
It is open from 8 AM to 9 PM on all days of the year, except on Holi, an Indian Festival.
Entry Fee
The entry fee is INR 100 per person for Indians, INR 500 for foreigners, INR 20 for Indian students, and INR 150 for foreign students, with free entry for children up to 7 years. You need to pay an additional fee for parking your vehicles. You can purchase your tickets online or get them directly from the ticket counter to buy them in person. UPI payments are accepted.
Twin’s Tip: If you are planning to visit more tourist spots in Jaipur, it would be better to buy a composite ticket for a better deal. It costs INR 400 for Indian citizens, INR 1000 for foreign visitors, and much less for students – INR 100 for Indian students and INR 500 for foreign students. The composite tickets also allow entry to the Albert Hall Museum, Amber Fort, Nahargarh Fort, Hawa Mahal, Jantar Mantar, Sisodlya Rani Ka Bagh, and Vidhyadhar Ka Bagh. The tickets can be bought at any of the monument’s ticket counters.
Tour Guides & Audio Book
Tour guides are all around the fort, at the entrances and parking lots. Most of them have official tour guide ID cards. They’ll charge you INR 400 for 1 to 4 people, INR 600 for 5 to 15 people, and INR 1000 for 15 to 35 people. Several travel agencies offer guided tours for attractive prices.
You can find name boards kept in most spots. The audio guide called “Speaking Facades” is also available in multiple languages and can be downloaded from both the App Store and Play Store.
The Different Ways To Enter The Fort
By Foot
The easiest and most effective way to reach the fort is to walk through the entrance directly. While you would have the Jeep drivers try convincing the visitors, the fort is barely 200-300 m away from this parking lot. You can also enter the fort by climbing from the main gate and parking your vehicles in this parking lot.
By Car
If you have a private car, you can park here and enter the fort via the Moon Gate or Chand Pol.
By Elephants
The royalness of the Amber Fort is adorned by decorated elephants that carry tourists and guests via the Sun Gate or Surajpol Dwaar from the parking lot. The ride costs INR 1100 on-way, and one elephant can carry two people. Due to the sweltering heat, the elephant rides are restricted to between 8 AM and 11 AM. The journey to the top takes about 20 minutes on elephants. As responsible travelers, we do not recommend that anyone choose elephant rides.
By Golf Cart
Once the elephants halt, the golf cart facilities come to service from 12 PM to 6 PM. This is a green initiative introduced for the convenience of the visitors. They charge INR 100 per person for the drop to the fort and INR 150 per person for the return. This takes the same route as the elephants take, i.e., from the parking lot to the Sun Gate.
By Jeep
The route taken by the Jeep is the same as the elephant and gold cart route. The jeep drivers will stop you from the first parking until the third or last parking lot. They charge INR 500 for a roundtrip ride.
How To Avoid Crowds?
The Amber Fort is crowded on all days of the year, be it a weekday or weekend. The only time to avoid crowds is to be early in the morning during the opening hours or visit them late at night during the closing hours.
Prominent Places In The Amber Fort Complex
- Maota Lake
- Sila Devi Temple
- Sheesh Mahal Mirror Palace or Jai Mandir
- Jas Mandir
- Sukh Niwas or Sukh Mahal or Hall of Pleasure
- Chahar Bagh or Mughal Garden
- The gates – Sun Gate (Surajpol Dwaar), Moon Gate (Chand Pol), Ganesh Gate (Ganesh Pol), Tripolia Gate, Lion Gate
- The four courtyards – Jaleb Chowk, Diwan-i-Aam or the Public Audience Hall, The complex of mirror places combined with Sukh Niwas and Mughal Garden, and Baradari Pavillion.
Photography
Tripods and drones are not allowed inside Amber Fort. You can carry your camera with you at no extra charge.
Dress Code
Being a touristy place, there is no strict dress code followed, but it also means wearing a bikini is a big no! Women are allowed to wear tank tops and shorts if they want to.
Rajasthan is hot, so wear comfortable cotton clothes. As the fort is painted yellow and white for the most part, wear some vibrant colored clothes that’ll look good in the pictures.
Light And Sound Show
The light and sound show explains the history, fort’s construction, and expansion in two different languages – English and Hindi. The entire fort is lit with colorful lights every evening. The tickets for the show are available at Book My Show and also at the ticket counter. It costs INR 250 per person. Scripted by Gulzar and narrated by Amitabh Bachchan, the show has mesmerizing music from lead singers Late Ustad Sultan Khan & Shubha Mudgal.
The show timings are as follows.
| Months | English | Hindi |
| October – February | 6:30 | 7:30 |
| March – April | 7:00 | 8:00 |
| May – September | 7:30 | 8:30 |
*During the Navarathri festival, the show happens only in English at 8:30 PM.
Amber Palace Water Walk
The Heritage Water Walk is a two-hour tour designed to understand the water management system inside the Amber Palace and Fort complex. The highlight of the walk is that it provides access to parts of the palace that are otherwise not accessible to regular tourists. The tour is available upon request every day from 8 AM to 5:30 PM. You can make your bookings at +91 99103 50600.
Restaurants & Shops
There are a couple of restaurants located inside the Amber Fort premises.
1135 AD
With brilliant decor and a captivating interior, the ambiance in the restaurant will make you feel like royalty. Although the food is expensive, the taste and service make it worth it.
Cafe Coffee Day
The CCD inside Amber Fort is decorated in an aesthetic matching the fort. The outdoor seating offers a view of Jaigarh and Nahagarh forts. The food standards are well-maintained, standing true to the CCDs’ quality, and taste good.
Shops
Numerous shops are located at the entrances and exits of the Amber Fort. The most popular and commonly found products include bangles, Rajasthani turban, jhumkas, dresses, footwear, bags, shawls, and sweets, to name a few.
Important Things To Note
- Touring the Amber Fort takes a minimum of 3 hours. So carry at least 1 L of water bottle per person.
- Wear a hat and lots of sunscreen to protect you from the scorching heat.
- There are no locker or baggage counter facilities to keep your luggage safe. It is better to leave them at your accommodation.
- The paid toilets available at the exit gates were neat and clean.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Amber Palace and Fort different?
The Amber Palace and Fort refer to the same monument. It is the same place where the kings and queens resided, and the fort complex was built around it.
Why is Amber Fort so famous?
The majestic Amber Fort is known for its architectural beauty and prime location, protected naturally in all four directions by hills. The Sheesh Mahal, or the Mirror Palace, has intricate convex mirrors decorated on the white marble walls and ceilings that create a gleaming effect.
What are other attractions near Amber Fort?
You can also visit Nahargarh Fort, Jaigarh Fort, and Panna Meena Ka Kund, which are located nearby.
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