Amber Fort

Amber Fort, also written Amer Fort, stands on a wooded spur of the Aravalli hills above Maota Lake in the old town of Amer, roughly 11 km north of central Jaipur. Amer was the seat of the Kachhwaha rulers for centuries before Sawai Jai Singh II moved the court to his new planned city of Jaipur in 1727. Raja Man Singh built the core of the palace, completed in 1599, and later rulers, notably Mirza Raja Jai Singh, kept adding to it. In 2013 it was inscribed by UNESCO as part of the Hill Forts of Rajasthan.

The palace climbs the hill in four levels, each arranged around its own courtyard. Visitors usually arrive through Suraj Pol, the east-facing Sun Gate, into Jaleb Chowk, the great parade ground where returning armies once assembled. Steps lead up to the Sila Devi temple and to the Diwan-i-Aam, the hall of public audience, whose columns carry carved elephant capitals.

The private apartments begin at Ganesh Pol, a gateway covered in painted and mosaic decoration, with screened windows above from which royal women could watch the courtyard below. Beyond it lies the most famous room in the fort, the Sheesh Mahal or Jai Mandir, where walls and ceilings are set with small pieces of convex mirror that catch any light. Opposite, the Sukh Niwas was cooled by water running through channels in the floor. Look also for the carved marble 'magic flower' panel and the formal garden with its star-shaped pool, and allow time for the zenana, the women's quarters around the topmost courtyard.

The fort suits almost everyone, though there are many steps, steep ramps and uneven stone floors, so it is hard going for anyone with limited mobility. Allow at least two to three hours, and more if you want to explore the outer walls. Arrive early to beat the heat and the tour coaches, carry water and wear comfortable shoes. A licensed guide adds a great deal, as the layout of courtyards and apartments is easy to get lost in.

In the evening a sound and light show at the fort tells the story of Amer and its rulers. Show times change with the season, starting earlier in winter than in summer, with English and Hindi versions; check the time on the day. Elephant rides up to the fort operate on a quota in the morning.

Amber Fort is linked by walls and a long passage to Jaigarh Fort on the ridge above, and many visitors combine the two in a single morning. The road from Jaipur passes Jal Mahal on Man Sagar Lake, so it is easy to stop there on the way back. Taxis and auto-rickshaws run from the old city, and the journey time depends heavily on traffic.