Amber Fort , Jaipur
Amber
palace is situated in Amber, the former capital of the
Kachhwaha Rajputs on a hillside overlooking Maotha lake,
11 km from Jaipur on the Delhi - Jaipur road. Its
construction was started by Raja Man Singh I, army
commander of Mughal Emperor Akbar in 1592 and was
completed by Mirza Raja Jai Singh and Sawai Jai Singh,
over a period of about two centuries. It is a classic
fusion of Mughal and Hindu architecture, built in red
sandstone and white marble.
The palace
or the royal apartments lies inside the massive Amber fort
complex with gateways, gardens, halls, stairways, pillared
pavilions, temples and palaces. Some of the noteworthy
architectural marvels in the complex are the 'Diwan-E-Khas',
the 'Sheesh Mahal' and the 'Jai Mandir' with exquisite
mirror work, the 'Diwan-E-Aam', the 'Sukh Niwas', the
Shila Mata Temple and Kali temple and the well laid out
garden the 'Kesar Kyari'.
The fort is entered through the 'Dil-e-Aaram' Garden, laid
out in the traditional Mughal style. An imposing flight of
stairs leads to the 'Diwan-E-Am' (hall of public audience)
which has latticed galleries and double row of columns
each having a capital in the shape of elephants on the
top. To the right are steps that lead to the small Kali
Temple. Maharaja Man Singh was a great devotee of Goddess
Kali and prayed to the goddess for victory during battles.
The temple has huge doors made of silver. The larger white
marble Shila Mata temple, has the image of Goddess Kali,
brought by Raja Man Singh from Jessore in East Bengal (now
Bangladesh).
The
emperors apartments lies on a higher terrace beyond a two
tiered decorative gateway, 'Ganesh Pol, covered with
elegant frescoes and pavilions having fascinating jali
(Lattice worked) screens. The 'Jai Mandir' (hall of
victory) has a glittering ceiling with mirror pieces on
stucco and elegant inlaid panels. The 'Diwan- E- Khas',
hall of private audience is similar in ornamentation to
Jai Mandir and the 'Seesh Mahal', hall of Mirrors known
for its craftsmanship in mirrors, is the most spectacular
of the lot. Thousands of mirror pieces adorn the walls and
the ceiling that, any streak of light makes them sparkle
and illuminates the entire room. In front of the Jai
Mandir is the 'Sukh Niwas' (hall of pleasure) with a door
made of sandalwood, inlaid with ivory with a channel
running through, which formerly carried cool water acting
as an air cooler.
The zenana
or the women's apartments and frescoes depicting Krishna
Leela scenes surround a spectacular courtyard. There are
private chambers from where the royal women could watch
the proceedings of the royal court in privacy. The
well-proportioned garden, Kesar Kyari in the center of
Maotha lake and the Dilaram Bagh at its north end provide
a spectacular view of the palaces.
Amber was once, the capital of
the Mina tribes, believed to be the original inhabitants
of this region. Located up on the hills that surround
Jaipur, the fort, sprawled along the Maotha Lake, boasts
of a massive complex gateways, courts, stairways and
pillared pavilions, and palaces that recall the glory and
wealth, of Amber's association with the Mughals. This
complex was built by Raja Man Singh, Mirza Raja Jai Singh
and Sawai Jai Singh, over a period of about two centuries.
The front courtyard of the
complex, is adorned with the magnificent, pillared hall of
the Diwan - i - Am, and the two - tiered painted gateway
Ganesh Pol. The palace of mirrors, Sheesh Mahal, is of
special interest. It has walls inlaid with exquisite
mirrors. The Jas Mandir, perched on the upper floor, is a
superb amalgam of Mughal and Rajput style of architecture,
as is evident from the exquisitely carved Jali screens,
and fine mirror and stucco work.
