Amber Fort - one of the seven wonders of India By www.travel-memories.

com

Amber Fort is one of the biggest tourist attractions of Rajastan, situated in Amer city, 11 kilometers from Jaipur. The area was ruled by Kachwaha Rajputs from 11th to 18th century. The beautiful palace located on the hill at the Moatha Lake was built by Raja Man Singh in 1592.

Man Sigh ordered twelve suites of rooms for each of his twelve wives on four sides of the open court with a pavilion in the middle. His living rooms were elaborately decorated with paintings on the walls and blue tilework on the rooftops. Much of the art and crafts in Amber is the result of Man Singhs deep knowledge of performing and decorative arts he acquired while serving as Akbars governor in Kabul, Bengal, Lahore and Burhanpur.

Due to this experience and acquaintances he made, it was possible for him to bring great craftsmen and artists to work for him in Amber Fort. In the later centuries, each ruler of Amber added his own buildings and elements to the existing structure. Most of what is visible now in Amber can be traced to Mirza Raja Singh, who became the ruler at the age of 12 in 1621.

Amber palace is the complex of spacious courtyards, beautiful gardens, public audience hall, and residential buildings.

Adding to this, there are special houses such as House of Pleasures, House of Glory, and House of Victory, especially designed for rulers for each of the seasons of the year. For example the House of Pleasure with its system of fountains and cascades was used in hot weather to keep them cool, while the House of Glory (decorated with mirrors, arabesques, paintings and colored glass) was used in the winter.

It is worth mentioning that Amber is visited throughout the year not only but tourists but also by religious devotees from throughout India who come here to worship Shila Mata, a manifestation of Hindu goddess Kali.

Amber Fort is one of the best tourist attractions in Jaipur for one gets to the hill on one of the 150 beautifully decorated elephants. The experience is unique.

Prepared by www.travel-memories.com