Amber
is located at a distance of 11

kilometers from Jaipur and was the old fort of the Kachhwaha clan of
Amber, which used to be the capital, till it was moved to Jaipur. The
walls and the ceiling of the Mahal are covered with a beautiful array of
mirrors, which reflect any streak of light, so as to illuminate the
entire room. Located 9 Kms north west of Jaipur, the Amber Fort was once
the Capital of the Minas.
The construction of the Amber Fort
began in the year 1592 and was started by Man Singh I, but it was
finished by his descendant Jai Singh I. The exterior of the Fort is not
in the least like its interiors. The outside is very imposing and rugged
looking whereas the inside is a comforting and warm interior which is
influenced by both Hindu and Muslim style of ornamentation. On the
walls, are paintings depicting various hunting scenes, and there is also
a lot of work on walls, which are covered with intricate carving,
mosaic and minute mirror work that make the halls look very majestic and
imperial.
The fort is built with white marble and red sandstone
and look even more attractive because of the Maota Lake in the
foreground. The fort in itself is a beautiful sight to behold but as one
looks on the fort with its clear reflection on the lake in the front,
one cannot help but wonder if it is a dream or a beautiful illusion.
Amber
Fort also called the Amer Fort is a must-see if you are visiting
Rajasthan. The tourists to this fort can either approach the fort by
road or take an elephant ride, which though is quite slow yet is a lot
of fun.