- Type
- Fortress
- Origins
- 1592 · 16th century per Wikidata: founding, first mention or construction
- Heritage
- part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site (an old town or a valley, for example)
- Coordinates
- 26.9859°, 75.8507°
History
Amber was the capital of the Kachwaha Rajputs for centuries, and the present complex was begun in the late 16th century by Raja Man Singh I, one of Emperor Akbar's leading generals. His successors, notably Jai Singh I and Sawai Jai Singh II, added further courtyards, audience halls and palaces, blending Rajput and Mughal styles. When Sawai Jai Singh II founded the new city of Jaipur on the plain in 1727, the court gradually moved there. The fort is linked by walls to Jaigarh Fort on the ridge above, and in 2013 it was inscribed by UNESCO as one of the Hill Forts of Rajasthan.
What to see
Through the Suraj Pol gate you reach the vast Jaleb Chowk courtyard, from which stairs lead up to the pillared Hall of Public Audience. The most ornate spot is the painted Ganesh Pol gate, behind which lie the Sheesh Mahal, a hall lined with thousands of tiny mirrors, and the water-cooled Sukh Niwas pavilion. At the far end is Man Singh's original palace, a warren of rooms for the queens and ladies of the court.
Wikipedia article Official website Wikidata Q456817
Popularity: articles about this site in 44 Wikimedia projects (Wikipedia language editions and others).