The Amer Fort, one of India’s most majestic palaces, lies in the Pink City of Jaipur, cradled on top of the Aravali Hill. This magnificent fort with its maze-like passages and serpentine staircases is also widely known as the Amber Fort and is an architectural masterpiece of considerable significance in Indian history. Amer Fort is clad in pink and yellow sandstone just 11 kilometers away from the capital city of Jaipur and is part of an extensive complex. Constructed in 1592 by one of Akbar’s most respected Generals, Maharaja Man Singh I, Amer Fort served as the Rajput Rulers’ main residence.
The Amer Fort overlooks the Maotha Lake in the city of Amer, which used to serve as the capital of the former princely state of Jaipur, through its wide ramparts, many gateways and paved paths. The fort is large enough to take you at least two to three hours to explore it in depth, and you can also opt to take advantage of the audio guides direct you around this fascinating building while describing the place’s history. Having an elephant ride up the stairs to Amber Fort is also a common activity for tourists. The fort sees more than five thousand visitors daily, and rightly so, as part of the “Hill Forts of Rajasthan” along with five other forts, the Amer Fort was inducted into the UNESCO World Heritage Site list.
