In 1592, Raja Man Singh I, Commander in Chief of Akbar’s army, started the construction of a Fort at Amber (pronounced Amer), a city located 11 km far from Jaipur. Amber was the capital of the Kachhwaha clan till Jaipur was made the official capital in 1727. However, it was only during the reign of Raja Jai Singh I that the Amber Fort took its present form. Part One will show mostly the exterior of the buildings in the Fort, leaving its interiors to Part Two!
"JAIGARTH FORT - The «Victory Fort», located at the top of the hill, is considered as one of the most spectacular forts in India. The structure which is known today as «Amber Fort» was initially a palace complex within the original Jaigarh Fort"
"AMBER FORT - The rough and craggy appearance of its exterior, with mighty walls that guaranteed its protection against invasion, is entirely different from its sumptuous inside"
"ROYAL ELEPHANT RIDE - Of course, no visit to the Amber Fort would be complete without the royal elephant ride"
"AMBER CITY - And the pigeons in the air..."
"ENTRANCE - The Fort is entered through an imposing flight of stairs leading to the «Diwan-I-Am»"
"DIWAN-I-AM - The Hall of Public Audience has a double row of columns, each having a capital in the shape of elephants on the top"
"GANESH POL - The emperor's apartments, which lie on a higher terrace, are acceded by a sumptuous gateway – Ganesh Pol"
"PORTAL"
"JAIGARTH FORT - As seen from patios and windows in the Amber Fort"
"ZENANA - The Women's Apartments surround a magnificent courtyard"
"WE, THE PEOPLE..."
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56 comments:
Hi everybody! I probably won’t be around for the next ten days or so! Anyhow, I won’t let you down. So, one of the most beautiful Forts in India waits you and your comments! Enjoy, have a great time and see you in March... ;)
O.M.G. I missed a lot of your great posts, Gil!! The elephant ride would have been big pleasure also for me!
Finally I got some good connection time to visit your blog again - sorry for the long absence!
Susanne
Sue's Daily Photography
Wow !! It's a great pleasure to see India from your eyes. Never been to this place.
Thanks for sharing.
Again, your photos will certainly be the spark for me to go and see India one day. But there will never be a picture of my wife and me sitting on an elephant. Because I do such "Big" trips by myself.
Well..Amber fort is one of the beautiful forts and your pics do justice to them..off to read your other rajasthan posts
toute cette architecture est magnifique, des couleurs vraiment tres belle, mais j'aurais adore faire un tour en elephant
The architecture is amazing with all those details. Elephants are simpler.
Wow Gil, seems like u had really nice time n elephant rides n many other,
i guess u should write a special post on the experience of elephant ride bcos i know how it is, first thing is its quite tough to climb n sit over it, second is when the elephant stands up u almost get nervous, last the superb walk which makes u swing from one side to other,
Seriously the Fort is amazing n the last picture of ur's is really superb,
Waiting for ur Part2 post.
Kven.
http://kollywoodmoviereview.blogspot.com/
Oh, elephant ride! And rows of elephants! I just loved the pictures :)
Lovely photos, as usual. Sorry I've been missing in action here. Life has been keeping me busy with other things to do. Hopefully, soon, I'll be able to have more time to stop by here and enjoy all your lovely photos in comfort and stress-free.
Best,
Paz
You like like the Queen and King on the Royal Elephant ride and like the Pope on the balcony
The worldmay be be small but you are bringing it closer to us..Excellent shots and work
Instead of ducks in a row, we have elephants in a row. How sweet is that? I love the photo with your wife and you on an elephant ride. Kewel! I felt like waving back at you in the balcony. Photos are excellent! Keep on posting.
Joyce
I'll miss yo for the next 10 days, however, you have left us with stunning images of Fort Amber, so you are forgiven!
Wow very magnificient buildings. I guess it is a smooth ride on the elephant up the hill. These photos are really fantastic.
Very impressive! I would love to ride an elephant. See you in March!
Hi Gil.
What a great way to take a vacation around the world....just visit your blog! Great pics. I am very fascinated by structures like the forts. I also would love to see some old castles.
Take care.
Lisa
Wow! Brilliant pictures! To me this is a akin to visiting Amber once again! I went there in 2005!
C'est magnifique. Cette cité semble avoir été bâtie du sol et en être issue, de même qu'elle paraît surgie du passé.
J'imagine que son sous-sol recèle des merveilles et des reliques de l'Histoire.
La douceur des tons des photos accentue cette impression d'irréalité.
*waving back at you*
haha ... for the last picture.
great city. i've seen the scenery before in many hindi movies ... now i won't forget the name of the place - Jaipur.
sometimes when i watch the hindi movies, i kinda ignore the names of the places ... more focus on the sexy actresses. here, i can focus ... hehe
such grandiosities.... wow!
looks golden =)
J'ai fait voir tes belles photos à mon amie Grazi, elle m'a montrée la vidéo de son voyage , y a 20 ans, car j'aimerai le faire, elle a aussi beaucoup aimé, mais elle me disait que c'était des vautours qui survolaient la ville dans l'attente de viande fraîche!
Bon week end à vous deux.
great pics of amber fort..this is one plc i missed out on durning my trip to jaipur..will definitely check it out nxt time i go there!!!!
Very nice! Wow, those elephant rides do exist. Looks like fun. Love the picture of you waving to us:)
It is always exciting to view things with a different perspective. Today I am revisiting Amber Fort. Superb.
Thanks for the "au revoir" waving! All this is of course again fabulous to see! I can see that despite the extensive reporting about your fantastic India trip you still have a backlog of "only" one year! :-)
i know Jaipur pics would be awesome!! how do you keep in pace with all these grandieur feast for the eyes? and i agree salmon color is perfectly befitting :) hawa mahal blew me away. wonder how the internal of amber fort looks like. bet the elephant ride is quite an experience eh? trainspotting you back to those era ^_^
The elephant rides seems fun. Wish I could be trying it. And you look so cute at the last picture waving out at the balcony. hehe....
WOW!!! This is one very impressive place! The structures are imposing, but the colours and designs on the walls are simply amazing! Wish I could have seen it for real :-)
Wow!! What an incredible place. I wish I had seen these pictures before I read The Far Pavilions.
Really remarkable place, Gil. Amazing to someone from the US!
Beautiful palace... movies are shot here. :)
Amazing place, with layers of history. Great pictures.
Wonderful place, great architecture. I really enjoy this fine sequence of views!
Je reviens voir ton signe du haut du balcon et les magnifiques photos des monuments.
Je ne suis jamais montée à dos d'éléphant,j'essaierai bien un jour, mais sur un chameau je suis très malade!
Love the place... So full of exciting views and grand palaces. The colour is lovely too!
I think this post could be one of my favourites! I'd want to know your impression after this ride on the elephant' s back...Was this fort used for a film or something? I think I've seen it before...
Hi Gil I do not know where ytou are, I like your elephanttrip heeeh I would like to visit India this way and I love the great buildings....
I'm hoping that you are SAFE? Today we were having an aircrash in Holland, (
http://www.joannwalraven.blogspot.com)date 25-02-2009 scoll to the date when you're back,
Take care greetings from JoAnn
What an amazing place!The architecture is astuning.
Those elephants are lovely too!
What an amazing place!The architecture is astuning.
Those elephants are lovely too!
This city looks wonderful. I love the elephants. I wish I could have one for a pet but don't have anywhere to house him. Anyway, if you get the chance, read the book, "Water for Elephants". I loved that book. Your pictures are wonderful as usual.
P.S. Did they say why they paint the elephants faces?
HAHAH! I love your caption for the very last photo. Hail, Emperor Gil! :D Btw, how much was the elephant ride?
lovely pictures. and you two look great on the elephant!
Hier soir à la télé, j'ai vu un reportage sur cette région, Michel a émis un souhait de possible visite, je vais y penser sérieusement.!!
Dans quel coin du globe êtes vous tous les deux en ce moment?
The first photo made it look like an ancient city. Those elephants looked so behaved. How as the ride? I loved the entrance to the fort - all those lovely flowers and the pink colour on the wall.
Thanks for visiting Norwich Daily Photo and leaving your comment. Come back tomorrow!
joy
A Pinay In England
Your Love Coach
I, Woman
Oh my God - this is just amazing. I've never been there!
What a magnificent place. I think you've captured the essence of it very well. My favourite? The view through the archway...great shot, Gil.
Have a good weekend. See you next week.
Hi Folks! It’s great to be back with you and to see that you didn’t let Blogtrotter down while I was absent... ;). Hope you have enjoyed the marvels of Amber Fort and thanks for your visits and comments!
Sue,
It’s always a great pleasure to see you here. I’m glad you managed to get a good connection and I know you’re having a great time travelling around the US. Enjoy!!
Cuckoo,
So, I’ve been to places in India where you haven’t? Amazing... ;))
Pete,
Even by yourself, you may ride the elephant... ;)). Actually the first time it happened to me, it was at the age of 6 in the Lisbon Zoo... ;))
Lakshmi,
There is not much more of Rajasthan for me to show, but there will be one next time for Udaipur, Jodhpur and Jaisalmer... ;))
Olivier,
Le tour de l’éléphant est un «must», le seul problème c’est que je devrais avoir eu un turban… ;))
Hélène,
I wonder how gifted those artists and artisans must have been to produce such a beauty!
Kven,
This ride is perfect: everything is prepared to make it an easy experience. There is a platform to make you climb, and then everything is under control. Swinging isn’t a problem… ;))
You have part two already! Hope you enjoy the interiors!
Irina,
Imagine elephants in the parks in Moscow (only in summer, poor animals)… ;))
Paz,
You’re always welcome! Stress-free? If you find the way, please let me know… ;))
Baron,
Looking like the King on the elephant and the Pope at the window might be too much for a single human being… ;). Anyhow, I agree that the place is actually a superb monument!!
Joyce,
I’m glad that you liked. The elephant ride up the hill was an amazing experience; just missing the turban… ;)
Jen,
I’m back, and with the outstanding interiors of the Amber Fort. Enjoy!! Thanks!
Alice SG,
Quite smooth, not bumpy, but an amazing experience anyhow!
Rhonda,
Can imagine you painting the elephant riders; it would make a nice frame…
Lisa,
Thanks. That’s quite flattering: free world tour at Blogtrotter’s… ;))
Rakesh,
I’m sure you will enjoy a return trip to Amber; I certainly would… ;))
Lucie,
C’est vrai qu’il y a quelque chose d’irréel à Amber ; et aussi, ça doit avoir des merveilles et reliques au sous-sol. Mais ce qu’on voit est déjà suffisamment magnifique pour justifier le voyage. Trois étoiles Michelin… ;))
Azer,
Jaipur, it’s a name you shouldn’t forget; just imagine it’s the name of one of the famous actresses… ;))
Eye,
Thanks!
Mariposa,
It’s golden… ;)
Lyliane,
Cette fois je n’ai pas vu de vautours; dans la photo, je crois qu’il n’y a que des pigeons… ;)). Alors, prépare bien ton voyage, car L’Inde est très grande… Pour commencer, je prendrais quinze jours du moins pour Delhi et le Rajasthan... Et ne manques pas le tour de l’éléphant…
Nous sommes de retour comme tu peux confirmer ici…
Shooting Star,
You were in Jaipur and missed the Amber? Oh dear, you must be back soon, but leave the work aside… ;))
Ron,
Yeah, they exist and I wonder how is it that Disney hasn’t yet introduced it in their parks… ;)
Subramanian,
Thanks! It’s true that seeing what is familiar by the lens of someone else always bring something new to our own experiences; I always enjoyed showing Lisbon to tourist friends and see what draws their attention: many things I wouldn’t even notice… ;))
Peter,
I’m still on one year, just because I’ve nothing for March 2008, but things are a bit tough to keep posting, commenting and replying after dealing with all those papers fall on my desk… Days are short and nights even shorter… ;))
Leo,
Jaipur is just a small image of what you can get in India: the Forts and palaces are outstanding. I was overwhelmed with what I found there…
Cutie,
It’s not that hard to make the ride… ;)
So, let us know; when is the great event of the year?
Tinsie,
From London it’s even easier; just start packing… ;))
Louise,
Now, you have a good reason to re-read it again… ;))
True, the place is awesome; just imagine it some centuries ago during the era of its great splendour…
Paul,
It’s amazing for anyone; in the US or outside... ;)
Indrani,
Being such a magnificent place, no wonder movies are shot on the spot...
Bindu,
Thanks!
Pietro,
It’s an outstanding place!
Kyh,
It’s amazing that «yellowish» colour they managed to produce... Very impressive at the distance, when you first see the Fort...
Alice,
The ride is an experience! And the Fort seems to have been used in some movies, at least that was the information Indrani brought to this blog...
JoAnn,
Visiting India on an elephant’s back might take you some time... ;)) But if you just keep it for the ride up the hill to Amber Fort, it’s quite doable... ;)).
I learned about the Turkish Airlines crash. Weird... It seems there was a problem with the altimeter...
Dana,
That was an experience: riding the elephant up the hill... ;))
Barb,
«Water for elephants»? I’ll try to catch that... Meanwhile, José Saramago, the Portuguese Nobel Prize winner, just wrote a book on a trip made by an elephant from Lisbon, Portugal to Vienna, Austria in the sixteenth century; amazing!!
The elephants were painted because they have been to some parties: either religious festivals or simple wedding parties... ;))
Addy,
Emperor, Pope, you name it... ;))
Included in the tour; but I don’t think it would cost a lot. At local prices, it would be quite cheap; for foreign tourist it may cost ten times more... ;))
Matt,
Thanks!
Joy,
It’s quite ancient. The ride was smooth and the elephants behave, except in certain uncommon circumstances... ;))
Ash,
You’re the second blog friend from India who has never been there. Amazing... ;)
Angela,
Thanks. It’s a wonderful place! Not to be missed...
The Amber Palace is spectacular Gil! You've made me determined to visit Indai one day ..so much beauty! I want to take a royal elephant ride too ;)
Pat,
You definitely should! And the best is still to come... ;))
They sure like to cheat foreigners, don't they? LOL! ;)
Addy,
Cheating foreign tourist is an universal exercise, but why do you mention it here? ;))
I love the elephants and in fact have an elephant chair at home which I used for babies to sleep in and now as a table with a glass top.
I would like to go into the history of each of these old forts. They must really have good stories to tell. and I love stories. lol
Lady,
Elephants are a treat since I was a young boy! My first tour on an elephant was at the Lisbon Zoo, when I was 7 or 8 years old; amazing!!
Stories? Read the last book of Portugal's Nobel Prize laureate, José Saramago, «The Elephant's Journey», based on the real-life epic journey of an elephant named Solomon (brought from India by the Portuguese), who travelled from Lisbon to Vienna in the 16th century...
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