Amer Fort Jaipur Guide: History, Sheesh Mahal, How to Reach and Tips

Amer Fort (also spelt Amber Fort) is the hill palace of the Kachhwaha rulers, 11 km north of Jaipur, built from the late 16th century by Raja Man Singh I in honey-coloured sandstone and white marble above Maota Lake. It is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Hill Forts of Rajasthan" and the most visited monument in Jaipur. This guide covers its history, how to reach it, the best route through its four courtyards, the Sheesh Mahal, the light-and-sound show, tickets and timings (and why to check them), Jaigarh and the Panna Meena ka Kund stepwell next door, and tips for avoiding the crowds.

Amer Fort at a glance

History of Amer Fort

Amer was the capital of the Kachhwaha Rajputs from the 11th century until Sawai Jai Singh II moved the court to the new city of Jaipur in 1727. The palace you see today was begun in 1592 by Raja Man Singh I, a general in Emperor Akbar's army, and much of it was expanded by Mirza Raja Jai Singh I in the 17th century. Rajput and Mughal styles mix throughout: Hindu motifs on the Ganesh Pol, Mughal gardens and arches in the inner courts. The fort was never meant to stand alone: it is linked by walls and passages to Jaigarh Fort on the ridge above, which guarded it and held its treasury and arsenal. In 2013 Amer was inscribed with five other forts as the Hill Forts of Rajasthan World Heritage Site.

How to reach Amer Fort

• By cab or car: 25 to 40 minutes from the Old City via the Amer road past Jal Mahal. Cars park below the fort or at the upper parking; from there, walk up the ramp or take a jeep.
• By bus: city buses run along the Amer road from Ajmeri Gate and the Old City; they are cheap but crowded.
• Walking up: from the road below, a paved ramp winds up to the Suraj Pol in 15 to 20 minutes. It is steady, not steep, and the views open up as you climb.
• By jeep: shared and private jeeps run from the town to the upper gate; agree the fare first.
• Elephant rides: elephant rides up the ramp have been offered in the mornings and have been criticised on welfare grounds. We suggest walking or taking a jeep.

What to see at Amer Fort, in order

1. Suraj Pol and Jaleb Chowk

The Sun Gate, facing east, opens into Jaleb Chowk, the first and largest courtyard, where soldiers paraded and returning armies were received. The guards' quarters lined its sides. Steps from here lead up to the palace proper; to the right is the small Shila Devi temple.

2. Shila Devi Temple

The family deity of the Kachhwahas, an image of Kali that Man Singh brought from Bengal. The silver doors are finely worked. Photography is usually not allowed inside.

3. Diwan-i-Aam

The Hall of Public Audience, an open pavilion on a raised platform with a double row of columns, red sandstone below and marble above, where the ruler heard petitions. The capitals are carved with elephants.

4. Ganesh Pol

The painted three-storey gateway into the private palace, covered in frescoes and mosaics, with a small image of Ganesh above the arch. Above it is the Suhag Mandir, from whose latticed windows the royal women watched events below.

5. Jai Mandir and the Sheesh Mahal

The most famous part of the fort. The walls and ceiling of the Sheesh Mahal are covered in thousands of tiny convex mirror pieces set in plaster; when a single candle is lit, it is said, the whole hall glitters like a starry sky. Today you look in from the doorway, as the hall is roped off. Look also at the marble panels with carved flowers, including the famous "magic flower" that shows several different creatures depending on how you cover it with your hands.

6. Sukh Niwas

Opposite the Sheesh Mahal across a formal Mughal garden, the Hall of Pleasure was cooled by water channelled through the walls and over a marble cascade, an early form of air-conditioning. Its sandalwood and ivory doors are fine work.

7. Man Singh Palace and the zenana

The oldest part of the palace, at the back, with a central baradari pavilion and the apartments of the queens around it, connected so that the king could visit any queen without the others knowing. The rooms are plain now but the layout tells you a lot about court life.

8. The tunnel to Jaigarh

A passage leads from the palace towards Jaigarh Fort on the ridge above, built as an escape route. Part of it has been opened to visitors at times, with a golf-cart ride option; check whether it is open.

Amer Fort light-and-sound show and night visits

An evening light-and-sound show has been staged at the fort for many years, narrating its history in Hindi and English slots, with the fort walls lit in colour. Night visits to parts of the palace, lit up after dark, have also been offered. Show languages, timings and tickets change, and shows may be cancelled in rain, so check the official Rajasthan tourism or Amer development authority site before you go. The fort lit up at night is also lovely from the lakeside below.

Tickets and timings: what to check

Amer Fort has separate rates for Indian visitors, foreign visitors and students, and the state has offered a composite ticket that covers Amer with several other Jaipur monuments over two days. Fees, timings and inclusions are revised from time to time, so we do not quote them here. Check the current details on the official website, and buy at the counter or online. Keep your ticket: it is checked at several points.

Panna Meena ka Kund and Jaigarh

Five minutes from the fort, Panna Meena ka Kund is a 16th-century stepwell whose criss-cross flights of steps make one of the most photographed images of Jaipur; rules on climbing the steps change. Jaigarh Fort, on the ridge above, has the giant Jaivana cannon and wide views; you can drive up or walk from Amer. Together they turn Amer into a half-day.

Amer town

Most visitors never walk the old town below the fort, which is a pity. Jagat Shiromani Temple, with fine 17th-century carving; the Anokhi Museum of Hand Printing in a restored haveli; small stepwells, temples and the old havelis of court officials are all within walking distance. Mornings are best.

Best time to visit Amer Fort

October to March for weather, and at opening time for light and crowds; the inner palaces get very busy from about 10:30 am, when tour groups arrive from Jaipur and Delhi. Late afternoon is the second-best time, with warm light on the walls and Maota Lake. In summer, go at opening time and leave by 11 am.

Photography tips

• The classic view of the whole fort above Maota Lake is from the lakeside road below, early morning or late afternoon.
• Inside, the Ganesh Pol and the Sheesh Mahal are best before the crowds.
• Tripods and drones need permission; check the rules.
• The lit-up fort at night is best from the road near the lake.

Tips for visiting Amer Fort

• Wear comfortable shoes: there are ramps, stairs and uneven stone.
• Carry water; there are cafes, but queues can be long.
• Hire an official guide at the entrance if you like stories; agree the fee and length first.
• Beware of touts offering "tickets" and "shortcuts" outside.
• Keep food away from monkeys on the ramparts.

Amer fits naturally into day 1 of our Jaipur itinerary, followed by Jaigarh and sunset at Nahargarh Fort. For the other sights, see places to visit in Jaipur.

Where to stay in Jaipur

If Amer is your main reason to come, stay close to it. The Amer farmhouse and the Jaishingpura stay to the north let you reach the fort at opening time without crossing the city, and come back to a pool after the climb.

BookMyFarm lists 19 private stays in and around Jaipur: 13 farmhouses, 5 villas and 1 resort, spread around the city from Amer and Jaishingpura in the north to Chaksu on the Tonk road, Kanota and Bassi on the Agra road, and Bhankrota, Mundota and Jobner Road to the west. 14 have a private swimming pool, 3 share a pool, and 6 also have a separate kids' pool. Each is booked whole, for a day picnic or a night, and they sleep anything from 4 to 30 guests.

At the time of writing, most Jaipur stays cost roughly ₹5,000 to ₹13,500 for a weekday booking and ₹6,000 to ₹18,500 on weekends. A small garden farmhouse for four starts below ₹3,000, and the largest farmhouse, with six bedrooms, is around ₹20,000 to ₹25,000. Diwali, Christmas, New Year and Holi cost more and fill first. Prices change, so check the live rate on each listing. Browse every farmhouse in Jaipur, every villa in Jaipur and the resort stays in Jaipur, or see all of them on the Jaipur stays page. For a closer look at the areas, read our Jaipur farmhouse and villa guide to areas and prices.

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