The Ultimate Guide to Amer Fort

Amer Fort is the prominent attraction of Jaipur, India. Amer Fort was constructed in the 16th century over the remains of the older fort by then Jaipur ruler, Raja Man Singh I. It was declared as UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2013 as part of a group of 6 hill forts in Rajasthan. The palace is located on the Cheel ka Teela (Hill of Eagles) of the Aravalli hills range. Amer Fort along with Jaigarh Fort is considered as single complex and is connected through the underground tunnel.

ALSO READ: Jaipur Travel Guide

Here is my Amer Fort guide to help you plan your visit.

How to reach Amer Fort

Amer Fort is located in Amer, a town located just 11 kilometres from Jaipur.

• Bus – If you are on a budget, buses run frequently in the interval of 10 minutes from Hawa Mahal. It will cost you Rs 15 (non-AC) or Rs 25 (AC).
• Auto Rickshaw – It will cost you around Rs 200.
• Cab – Both cab aggregator companies including Ola and Uber are very common and will cost you around Rs 200 – Rs 250.

Travel Tip – The autorickshaw drivers will literally plead with you to buy souvenirs from the shops near to the Amer Fort. Don’t fall into the trap and refuse to stop there as these shops fleece tourists and drivers earn the commission.

Once you reach the car parking area, you have to go to the entrance of the fort located uphill. You can either hike, go for an elephant ride, jeep or take your own vehicle.

• Elephant Ride – Elephant ride is the most popular way of reaching to the entrance of the fort, Suraj Pol. It costs Rs 1100 per elephant which can carry at most 2 people at a time. The price includes a one-way trip to the fort only. For the return trip, you will have to either walk or take a jeep. The elephant ride takes place from 7 AM to 11:30 AM only.
• Jeep – Jeep costs around Rs 500 for the round-trip.

Travel Tip – If you want to take the jeep for the return-trip only, you would be told that cost is the same for both round-trip and one-way trip. But the drivers will gradually agree to a lower price after some hard bargaining.

Fort Layout

Amer Palace is constructed of red sandstone and marble. It is built on four levels, each with its own courtyard. The main entry is through Suraj Pol (Sun Gate) which leads to the first courtyard, Jaleb Chowk.

First courtyard

A staircase from Jaleb Chowk leads into the main palace grounds. To the right of the staircase, lies the Shila Devi temple. Legend has it that human head was used as offering to goddess Kali before switching to buffalo and goat sacrifice. This practice was stopped altogether in the 1980s.

Second Courtyard

The staircase from the first courtyard leads to the second courtyard which houses the Diwan-i-Aam (Public Audience Hall). The king held the public meetings there to hear the grievance and request from the public.

Third Courtyard

The third courtyard is entered through Ganesh Pol (Ganesh Gate), where private quarters of the king were located. It has two buildings separated by the garden. To the left of the entrance, lies the Jai Mandir or Sheesh Mahal (mirror palace). Its mirror work used the glass imported from Belgium. The mirrors are of the convex shape and used such a way that the whole palace would shimmer under candlelight at the time of use.

On top of the Jai Mandir, lies the Jas Mandir or Diwan-e-Khas (Hall of Private Audiences) with floral glass design work.

The other building, on the opposite of Sheesh Mahal, is Sukh Niwas or Sukh Mahal (Hall of Pleasure). The cooler temperature was maintained by using the open water channels which would control the flow of cold water and keep the place during summers.

Fourth Courtyard

The fourth courtyard has the Zenana (women’s quarter). It has lots of rooms where the queens lived. The king would visit the queen of his choice without being found by others, as all the rooms open into a common corridor. At its centre, lies a pavilion which was the meeting hall for the queens.

Travel Tip – Take a guide to avoid wandering aimlessly. Amer Fort is very big and has lots of history associated with it. The guide will help you understand the history and purpose of the different section of the palace. The guide can be booked both at the car parking area and ticket counter at Jaleb Chowk courtyard and will cost you Rs 300.

Timings

Amer Fort remains open daily from 8 AM to 5:30 PM. The fort reopens again at 7 PM and remains open till 10 PM. At night, the Amer Fort is illuminated with light effects.

Light and Sound show is played every evening at the Maota Lake, located at the bottom of the fort. The 50-minute show narrates the story of Amer Fort and Jaipur. Two shows, in English and Hindi, are played at the interval of 1 hour.
Show timings are as follows:

October to February: 6:30 PM (English), 7:30 PM (Hindi)
March to April: 7 PM (English), 8 PM (Hindi)
May to September: 7:30 PM (English), 8:30 PM (Hindi)

Ticket Cost

The ticket counter is located in Jaleb Chowk courtyard. Audio guide and tourist guide can also be booked from there.

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After going to Amer Fort, you will get to know why Amer Fort is the topmost attraction in Jaipur. The fort is aesthetically beautiful especially the Sheesh Mahal courtyard. And the views of Aravalli hills and Jaipur from the Amer Fort are simply breathtaking.