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Photo by Vyacheslav Argenberg – Wikimedia

Top 9 Unbelievable Facts about Amber Fort, India

Amber fort is an ancient palace found in Amer town, Rajasthan, India. The town is located 1.5 miles from the capital city of Jaipur in Rajasthan state.

This fort is strategically located at the top of a hill and is one of the most visited landmarks in Jaipur.

Its architecture features Hindu design elements and it dates back to 967 AD. It was commissioned by Raja Alan Singh Chanda.

The palace has massive ramparts and several gates. Inside the compound of the palace are cobbled paths and a fort overlooking Maota Lake. This lake was the main source of water for Amber Fort.

The local tale has it that when the partially submerged rock in the lake gets fully submerged, the state of Amber will be destroyed.

Both the tow and the fort were named after Amba Mata the fertility and earth goddess of the Minas.

Despite the ruins, the interior of the fort is worth visiting. As you prepare for that, here are the top 9 unbelievable facts about Amber fort to get you started.

1. Amber Fort is the most romantic palace in Rajput

Photo by Firoze Edassery – Wikimedia

The Amber Fort displays a gorgeous example of Rajput and Mughal architecture. This palace dates back to the 17^th century and was commissioned by Raja Man Singh.

It was completed by Raja Jai Singh I and Sawai Jai Singh II. The latter was the founder of the city of Jaipur, more than a hundred years later.

Of all the Rajput palaces, the Amber Fort is considered to be the most romantic. Not only does it have magnificent exteriors and interiors but its surrounding is picturesque too.

At one of the forts, one can see the lake and its surroundings. The terraces of the fort are reflected on this glassy lake.

2. Amber Fort was the residence of the Rajput Maharajas as well as their families

This majestic fort was once the home of the Rajput Maharajas who lived here with their families.

After its completion in the 17^th century, it served as the home of the kings. It was one of the biggest and oldest royal palaces.

The queen and the Raja’s lived in the Zanani Deorhi. They also lived with their female attendants. The queen mothers actively participated in building temples in Amber town.

There is a secret passage in the palace that was an escape path in times of war. The royal family used it to get to safer grounds.

3. Elephant ride is a popular attraction at the Amber Fort

Photo by Vyacheslav Argenberg – Wikimedia

To get to the top of the hill ad access the fort, one can use one of two methods available.

One of them is by riding the elephant or walking up the hill while taking breaks and enjoying the vistas.

Most tourists enjoy riding the elephants uphill which offers a view of the horizon and sighting of the Maotha Lake. While enjoying the ride, the tourists get entertained by musicians playing traditional musical instruments.  

The elephants take the tourists through several gates to the outer courtyard of the Fort.  

4. There are two ways to get to Amber Fort

As mentioned above, one popular method of getting to the top is by riding on the back of an elephant.  Other tourists who are up for the challenge opt to walk up the hill. There are concrete stairs that lead up to the fort.

These elephants are richly adorned with colourful silk overcoats. Other elephants have their faces painted with beautiful Indian floral designs in vibrant colours.

While most tourists choose to experience an elephant ride, most of these animals are not always well taken care of.

5. There are concerns over the commercialization of Amber Fort

Photo by Vyacheslav Argenberg – Wikimedia

While tourism is highly welcomed in Jaipur city, there are concerns that the Amber Fort has been over-commercialized.

With this has come some unforgivable damages of the Fort. An incident happened when a film company damaged a 500-year-old shade.

This was not all, they also drilled holes on the walls ruining century-old monuments. No penalty was charged for the damage. 

Another concern at the fort is the health of the elephants that carry tourists. Some of these animals are made to carry tourists even with open wounds.

The government has started conservation works to preserve this national monument.

6. The entrance to the second courtyard at Amber Fort is hidden

Photo by Vyacheslav Argenberg – Wikimedia

Access to the second court of the Fort is not direct and this was done intentionally.

When designing the layout of the palace, the access route was designed to have countless corners. This was a tactic to confuse their enemies in case of an attack.

The passage led to the back of the court exposing the invaders to the guardroom.  

This section of the fort was where the king and his officials met as well as listened to his subjects.

It was at this court that special festivities were held such as the victory over battles, the king’s birthdays and several other celebrations.

7. Another main attraction at Amber Fort is the Magic Flower

One of the main attractions in the fort is the fresco called Magic Flower. It features seven unique designs of fishtail, a lotus, a hooded cobra, an elephant trunk, a lion’s tail, a cob of corn and a scorpion.

This flower is carved at the bottom of one of the pillars around the mirror palace. To get a good view of the unique designs, one would need to hide some sections with the hands.

8. There are several Palaces within Amber Fort

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The Amber Fort is made up of several palaces. One of the most beautiful ones is the Sheesh Mahal.

This palace is also known as the Palace of the Mirrors. It has mirrors that reflect every ray of sunlight that gets illuminated and fill the entire hall with light.

The huge architecture of the palace is surrounded by beautiful gardens, a showcase of the flamboyant lifestyle of the Maharajas.

9. Amber Fort has secret passages

Photo by Harshit Pareek – Wikimedia

The palace and Jaigarh Fort are connected by an underground passage. This passage was used as an escape route in times of war.

During such times, the royal family members and others would safely get to Jaigarh Fort undetected.

The underground passage is 2 km long and had several stairs and ramps. Today, the tunnel is levelled.

In 2013, Amber Fort has declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the group Hill Forts of Rajasthan.