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Amber Fort (Amer),
located in Amber 11 km from Jaipur, Rajasthan state,
India, the Meenas were the original builders of Amber, which
town they sacred to Amba, the Mother Goddess, whom they knew as
`Gatta Rani' or `Queen of the Pass'. Built over the
leftovers of a previous structure, the palace complex which
stands to this date was commenced under the reign of Raja Man
Singh, Commander in head of Akbar's army and a member
of the Emperor's inside circle of nine courtiers in 1592. Amber
was modified by consecutive rulers over the next 150 years,
until the Kachwahas shifted their capital to Jaipur through the
time of Sawai Jai Singh II. It was once the fortress of the
ruling Kachhawa clan of Amber, before the capital was
shifted in the plains to present day Jaipur. The Amber Fort set
in charming and rugged hills is a attractive blend of Hindu and
Mughal architecture. The rugged forbidding exterior belies an
inner glory with a beautiful fusion of art and architecture.
Amber is the classic and romantic fort palace with a wonderful
feeling. The interior wall of the palace depicts significant
painting scenes with carvings, precious stones and mirror
settings.
The structure which is nowadays known as Amber Fort was
initially a palace complex within the original fort of Amber
which is nowadays known as Jaigarh Fort. Connected with Amber
through fortified passages, Jaigarh Fort is
situated on a hill above the Amber complex, and is constructed
of red sandstone and white marble.
Nowadays, tourists can travel up to the fort from the base of
the hill on elephants. On the ride, one can see the skyline of
Jaipur, Maotha lake, and the original city walls. The fort can
be toured with a guide or on one's possessed. One of the most
arresting parts of the fort is the Hall of Mirrors. Tour guides
tell visitors that when the palace was engaged by royalty, the
hall could be lit at night by a single candle because of all the
little, complex mirrors.
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