Amber Palace

Amber Fort (Amer) sits on a ridge above a lake just outside Jaipur, a sprawling honey-and-rose sandstone palace complex that's one of the finest examples of Rajput architecture in India. Behind its martial outer walls lies a series of increasingly intimate courtyards, the standout is the Sheesh Mahal, the Hall of Mirrors, where the walls and ceiling are inlaid with thousands of tiny mirror tiles that were designed to throw candlelight into a galaxy of reflections.

You approach up a cobbled ramp (some visitors still arrive by elephant, though walking or a jeep is the more responsible choice), and once inside you can wander freely between halls, gardens, and zenana (women's) quarters. Time it for the late afternoon, when the sandstone glows, and consider staying for the evening sound-and-light show below the fort.

Don't miss

• The Sheesh Mahal (Hall of Mirrors), inlaid with thousands of mirror tiles
• Ganesh Pol, the ornate frescoed gateway into the private palaces
• The view back over Maota Lake and the ramparts climbing the hills
• The cool, latticed zenana quarters designed for the royal women
• The evening sound-and-light show staged below the fort

Tickets & tours

Ways to visit Amber Palace

Cheapest way inPrivate Jaipur Half-Day: Amber Fort, Stepwell, Jal Mahal & Gaitor4.9★ · 17 travelers~8 hoursFree cancellationFrom$4 per personSee dates →Best full dayJaipur Full-Day Private Tour By Car, Guide & Skip-the-Line Entry4.9★ · 389 travelers~8 hoursFree cancellationFrom$4 per personSee dates →Private & flexibleJaipur Private All-Inclusive City Tour: Amber Fort, Hawa Mahal.5★ · 10 travelers6–8 hoursFree cancellationFrom$5 per personSee dates →

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Know before you go

• Consider walking up or taking a jeep rather than the elephant rides, which raise animal-welfare concerns.
• Go early to avoid both the midday heat and the tour-bus crush at the famous halls.
• Hire a licensed guide or use an audio guide, the symbolism and history aren't well signposted.
• Wear comfortable shoes; the complex is large, steep, and uneven underfoot.

A bit of history

Begun in 1592 by Raja Man Singh I, a general in the Mughal emperor Akbar's court, and expanded by successive rulers, Amber was the capital of the Kachhwaha Rajputs before the court moved down to the new city of Jaipur in the 18th century. Its architecture is a deliberate blend of Hindu and Mughal styles.