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Amber Palace aka Amber Fort was constructed in 1592 AD by Raja Man Singh, the Rajput commander of Akbar's army. Later it was expanded and renovated by Raja Jai Sigh I. Situated at a distance of 11 km from the city, it carries the pride of Jaipur.
Set amidst the hills and overlooking the Maota Lake, Amer Palace is the finest example of Indo-Islamic architecture. Within the vicinity of the Amber fort there are 4 courtyards. There are various other buildings within these courtyards i.e., Palace of Man Singh I, Garden, Tripolia gate, Lion gate, Diwan-I-Aam, Sheesh Mahal, Sukh Mahal, etc. Jaipur trip is incomplete without visiting the light show at this grand fort.
Since the Amer Palace is located on hills it is advisable to take a jeep or elephant ride to reach there.
History of Amber Fort
The construction of the Amer fort first began with Raja Bharmal and Raja Man Singh I in 1558. The fort was completed over a period of two centuries after the consistent efforts of three kings, finally ending in 1727 by Raja Sawai Jai Singh II. Amer fort was designated as the new residence for the royal family as opposed to the older establishment of Jaigarh Fort.
However, both the Amer and Jaigarh forts are often considered to be a single establishment due to the common passageway that runs between them. The Jaigarh fort was a retreat for the royal family as well as their attendants in times of war. The Jaigarh fort was also known as the Kadimi Mahal or the “old palace”.
Amber was earlier known as Dhundar and had been the capital of the Meena clan. The Kachhwaha rulers seized it from the Meenas and began the construction of the Amer fort in the 1600s. There are multiple etymologies provided so far for the name “Amber”.
Multiple stories include it being named after Ambikeshwar, the title of Lord Shiva, whose symbolic representation, the linga, was placed in a lake in the center of the Amber. The Jain inscriptions of the 16th and 17th centuries talk about the derivation of the name from the name of Goddess Ambavati. Another tale claims that the name was derived from Amba, the universal mother.
Although there exists no inscription validating the fact that a war was fought by the Kachwaha and the Meena's during which the settlement came under the Kachhwaha rule, however, according to a popular folklore, Dhola Rae, the adopted nephew of Raja Alan Singh, the then ruler of Amber, slaughtered the Meena clan on the day of Diwali.
The Kachhwaha clan is believed to be the descendants of Kush, the second son of Lord Ram. One of his descendants was Raja Nal, whose son, Raja Sora Singh was killed in a war. His widow was found plucking wild berries by a Brahmin who, after looking at the baby, predicted a bright future. She then sought refuge in the kingdom of Khogong, presently known as Amber, which was led by Raja Alan Singh.
He adopted her as his sister and the child, Dhola Rae as his nephew. At the age of 14, Dhola Rae was sent to Delhi to learn about politics. Upon his return, he brought his own army of Kachhwahas to claim the throne of Amber. According to a ritual called Pitra Tarpan, the Meenas had to set their weapons aside and taking advantage of this opportunity, they were attacked and the settlement of Amber came under the Kachhwaha rulers.
Architecture of Amer Fort
The construction of the fort first began in 967 AD with Raja Man Singh I of the Meena dynasty, however, almost all the structures built by the Meenas were demolished before new construction began in the 16th century. The fort was constructed out of red sandstone and white marble which represents a blend of the Hindu elements along with a Mughal influence.
Another seeming example of this amalgamation can be seen on the wall engravings which include Mughal flower motifs along with images of Lord Krishna’s life and the depiction from Ramayana. The fort is divided into four levels, each with its own courtyard. The core layout of the fort
Forts in Rajasthan reminds tourists of royalty and bravery, of epic battles and valiant heroes & when battles were fought, sacrifice and brutality came along, and sorrow and death were not far behind. All these battles were fought to capture the hill forts of Rajasthan. If you paint a mental picture of what Rajasthan stands for, the hill forts will immediately flash before your eyes as powerful remnants of these long fought wars and battles. The hill forts were the first structures that were built by powerful Rajput kings, for protecting their kingdoms from enemy attacks was their first priority. Their elevated positions above rugged hills gave them an edge over enemies, & allowed them to monitor their surroundings. These were not small forts by any means, but massive structures, powerful enough to withstand cannonballs & fireballs & large enough to accommodate large armies. They were not only meant for defence, but their strategic location allowed them to control trade activities, & also served as royal residences, where kings & his families lived, along with ministers. You will find these hill forts at innumerable places in Rajasthan, & some of them are so magnificent that they have earned them a place in the prestigious list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
