February 19, 2018. On my last day in Jaipur I proceeded to Amer (Amber) Fort a few kilometers north of the city. It is part of the three-fort complex that traverses ‘Eagle Hills’ and forms a sort of ‘great wall’ that was meant to protect the city from invaders. I visited the first of such forts (Nahargarh Fort) the day before. It is also called the Amber Palace because it served as the main residence of the Rajput Maharajas and their families for centuries. The fort overlooks a lake that, aside from serving as the main water supply of the fort, beautifully mirrors the amber colors of the palace on its surface.
One of the tourist highlights of a visit to the fort is the chance to ride elephants up the hill to the main entrance. Although this is one of the top tourist activities, I opted to just walk all the way up through beautiful stepped passages, not only because it felt like the ethical thing to do, but it also allowed me to take my time and take plenty of photos along the way. Just mind your steps as there are plenty of elephant dung as you cross the ‘elephant highway’.
Amber Fort is known for its characteristic elements of Hindu art, with its large ramparts and a whole series of gates and paved paths.
