Jaipur - Amer Fort Palace
March 7th 2015
Our guide arranged for Sandy to get henna tattoo on her hand. This temporary tattoo symbolizes good fortune, love, and prosperity.
Waiting for the henna to dry to leave behind the “tattoo”
Today we will be going on a tour of Fort Amber. On our way, we passed Hawa Mahal. The Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds) is an iconic five-story palace in the heart of Jaipur, India, famous for its unique pink sandstone facade and 953 small windows designed to allow royal women to observe street life unseen. We did not have time to stop in to see it.
Hawa Mahal
We arrived at the bottom the hill where Fort Amber is located. It is a long hike to t he top, so we rode elephants to the top. I was not a fan as the ride was not comfortable and I did not like the way they treated the elephants. I would not recommend it.
Our elephant ride.
At the top of the hill was Ganesh Pol, the Gateway to Amber Fort. Named after the Hindu deity Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles, the gate served as the royal and symbolic entrance to the private palaces and inner chambers of the Maharajas.
Ganesh Pol - Gateway to Amber Fort.
Once in side the fort, we explored the Sheesh Mahal (Mirror Palace). This part of the fort had tiny pieces of mirror embedded in the walls and ceilings. This allowed the light to reflect with minimum lighting (even a candle).
Sheesh Mahal
After touring Amer Fort, we drove to the Vrihat Samrat Yantra (meaning "great king of instruments"). This is the world's largest stone sundial. It was built in the 18th century by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II to measure local time, the sun's declination, and other celestial coordinates with remarkable precision. The structure is a monumental triangular gnomon (the part that casts the shadow) over 27 meters (88 feet) high. Its hypotenuse is angled at 27 degrees, parallel to the Earth's axis and the latitude of Jaipur, pointing towards the North Pole. The gnomon casts a shadow that moves across two large, calibrated quadrants (quarter circles) on either side. The sheer size minimizes error, allowing for highly accurate readings. It can measure the local time to an impressive accuracy of about two seconds, with its shadow visibly moving at 1 millimeter every second.
Vrihat Samrat Yantra
Next we went to the Grand Palace of Jaipur. This is a museum and a residence for the Jaipur Royal family. Here we went to the Diwan-i-Khas inside the palace where the world's largest sterling silver vessels, known as "Gangajelis". These immense urns were created for a specific historical journey and are a major attraction.
The Pritam Niwas Chowk gates are four intricately decorated doors within the Palace. Famous for representing the four seasons and dedicated to specific Hindu deities. The Peacock Gate for autumn, The Lotus gate for Summer, The Green gate for Spring and the Rose Gate for Winter.
Grand Palace of Jaipur entrance.
Snake Charmer
And our journey would not be complete without a snake charmer. We found one outside the Palace.
, B post - Touring Amber Fort and Grand Palace of Jaipur.
Fatehpur Sikri: We would indeed endorse and recommend the tour of Fateh Pur Sikri. The place is a beautifully preserved over centuries and reflects the great architectural heights reached by the Mughal craftsmen of that period. There is also a reflection of the religious tolerance that was uniquely prevalent in India at the height of the Muslim rule. The liberal thoughts of that era found expression in the architecture of Fatehpur Sikri where motifs and beliefs of Hindus as well as Christians were incorporated. There is a religious and a secular section and both have a charismatic appeal. There would be no extra cost for touring this World Heritage Site - as rated by UNESCO.
Amer Fort (or Amber Fort) is a majestic hilltop fortress in Amer, near Jaipur, India, known for its stunning blend of Hindu-Mughal architecture, intricate carvings, mirror work (Sheesh Mahal), and red sandstone/marble construction, serving as a significant UNESCO World Heritage site and major tourist attraction showcasing Rajput history and artistry. Built by Raja Man Singh I in the late 16th century, it features four courtyards, palaces, temples, and connects via tunnels to Jaigarh Fort, offering panoramic views and insights into royal life.
