-by Shuchita Shukla
India is a nation known for its rich diversity and beautiful architecture, ever since time immemorable. People from all over the world come and visit India to learn about its history and monuments.
Growing up, we have watched so many shows and movies based on the lives of the Rajputs and Mughals. It is such an intriguing thing to learn about them and what better than actually having the opportunity to go visit the actual places the rulers lived in!
My family and I had the pleasure of visiting one such historical monument, a few months back. Yes, we visited the residence of Jodha Bai: The Amer Fort.
Amer Fort is situated in a town called Amber in Rajasthan. It is approximately 11 kilometres from Jaipur, the capital city of Rajasthan. It is built on “Cheel ka Teela” (Hill of Eagles) that juts into Maota Lake.
Amer Fort is so artistically constructed that it leaves its spectators stunned. We were suggested by a family friend to go to this fort whenever we visit Jaipur and we are so glad we visited it. The fort emits such royal vibes that one cannot help but wonder how regal the lives of the people who lived here must have been.
We took a car ride from the place we stayed in Jaipur. We were at Amer Fort at around 10.30 a.m. It took us less than 30 minutes to reach the fort. The parking facilities are not at all troublesome. It was such a smooth ride. People say we can also go via elephant rides there, but we couldn’t find any elephants at the time we visited.
After parking the car, it was all a walking path and it was so peaceful. Outside the fort, people were selling different Rajasthani sculptures and art. There were handcrafted notebooks, pens, bags, small elephant shaped sculptures, beautiful umbrellas and what not! It is a feast for all the shopping lovers.
It is often recommended to always have a tourist guide with you while visiting a monument or fort. Our guide was friendly and he also told us interesting facts about the Amer Fort and its history.
As we walked forward, an old man was playing a musical instrument called Sarangi. It was so inspiring to see him work so hard even at this age. Women were also selling hand-made face masks. The people of Rajasthan are so talented and hard-working.
Then there’s an upward slope that leads to the entrance gateway of Amer Fort.
There are various entrances to the fort. We entered through the Singh Pol, which is also called the Lion Gate.
Singh Pol is the gateway to the palace proper. The lion symbolizes strength. Therefore, this premier gate is often called by Sawai Jai Singh’s name. It was built on his orders.
Singh Pol’s passageway does not lead in a straight line directly into the palace, because of security reasons. Thus, when we entered through the Lion Gate there was a security-check system. All protocols for the prevention of Covid-19 were taken care of. No entry was allowed without a mask. Our body temperatures were checked and we were sanitised as well. We were also asked to fill in our details in a register before entering.
Near the temple, there was an upward slope that led us to a big courtyard. In the middle of the courtyard, we had the opportunity to see the Diwan-e-Aam. It was the hall of public audience. Beautiful hills around the fort added to its beauty. It was a famous spot of photography. Everyone was taking pictures there. Such was its beauty!
On the right of the courtyard was the entrance called Ganesh Pol.
The gate was so magnificent and artistic. It is adorned with beautiful carvings and paintings done in natural colour. It is literally impossible to define the beauty of Ganesh Pol in words. One cannot stop admiring it, ever.
When we entered through the Ganesh Pol, there was another huge courtyard. It had a beautiful garden in the centre. It was a Mughal style garden with pretty flowers and full of greenery. One wouldn’t deny spending their whole day there. However, the entry into the garden was restricted. It was called Diwan-e-Khaas.
On one side of the garden, was Sukh Niwas and on the other side was Sheesh Mahal.
As the name suggests, Sheesh Mahal is the palace of mirrors. It was one of the most unique works of architecture, built with precious stones and glass. Sukh Niwas was the hall of happiness.
The whole tour of Amer Fort was so pleasant. I consider myself so fortunate to be an Indian. The experience of going through the glorious and majestic history of our country is indescribable. I cannot wait to go back to Jaipur and experience this beauty all over again.
