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The famous Amer Fort is one of the best things to do in Jaipur, India, and one of the most famous destinations in all of the Rajasthan state. It is widely considered one of India’s most beautiful ancient palaces and sees over 1 million visitors every single year.
Situated on top of the Hill of Eagles, Amer Fort can be seen from miles away and is a true icon of Jaipur, with stunning view over some of the Arnavalli mountains and the small town of Amer.
Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2013 as part of the “Hill Forts of Rajasthan”, the majestic fort has four levels, each with a sprawling courtyard. It pops with vibrant red sandstone tones everywhere you look and is packed with a stunning maze of gates, corridors, galleries and stairwells.
In this guide I’ll show you the best parts of the fort along with tips, information and photos from my trip.
- Country: India
- Language: Both Hindi and English are widely spoken across India.
- Population: Jaipur = 8.7 million.
- Currency: Indian rupees (INR). £1/$1 = 100/81 INR
- Visa info: Getting into India isn’t the most straight forward process, as with most things in the country. Unless you’re Indian, you’ll need to apply for an E-visa before arriving in India.
- SIM cards: Getting a SIM card for your travels in India is a no-brainer. This means you can use apps like Uber or Ola for cheaper taxi fares but it also means you’re always connected to the world, never needing to rely on WiFi. Get an E-SIM here: India: eSIM Roaming Mobile Data Plan
A brief history of Amer Fort
‘Amber Fort’, ‘Amer Fort’ or ‘Amer Palace’ was the capital of the Kuchwaha Rajputs from the 11th to the 18th century and overlooks the town of Amer from the Hill of Eagles, 11km from Jaipur.
The palace was the residence of the Rajput Maharajas and their families and was built using red sandstone and marble. It has been maintained well since it was first opened in 1592 and as a result it has been used in many Bollywood movies over the years.
Where is it
Amer Fort is located 11km from centre of Jaipur in the Rajasthan state of India near a small town called Amer which is 4km² and has a population of around just 100.
Check it out on the interactive map below.
How to get to Amer Fort
To get to the base of Amer Fort you have three main options.
- Public bus: Public buses are a crazy experience in India, but it’s the cheapest way to travel by far. A bus from the city to Amer Fort is only around 25 INR and they depart every 10 minutes from Hawa Mahal. Good luck!
- Book a tour: The most comfortable yet most expensive option is to book a small group tour. Guided tours are a great way to get around, especially somewhere as crazy as an Indian city. Travel in an air conditioned vehicle with a knowledgeable local guide and learn lots during the day. Not only will you stop at Amer Fort, but you’ll cram in many other sights along the way too. Companies like GetYourGuide and Viator offer great tours in Jaipur.
- Uber or Ola: India has two ride-share apps in Uber and Ola. This is the option I recommend and a ride to Amer Fort should cost around 250 INR. With this option you don’t need to worry about magical price changes and scams like you would in a taxi as payments are usually made automatically through the App.
- Taxi or rickshaw/tuktuk: This is also an option, and rickshaws may offer a cheaper price than Grab or Ola, but I had some problems in India where I would reach my destination and they would ask for more money, causing an issue. They also like to try and stop at their friend’s shops to encourage you to buy souvenirs and things like that. To be on the safer side and go directly to your destination, it’s better to just use Uber.
When to go
The best time to visit Jaipur is in the winter, between December and February. This will avoid the monsoon rains from June to October and the intense heat from March to June. After March the crowds will be even bigger than normal and the temperature becomes so hot that it’s close to unbearable.
- Winter is late November to February
- Summer is March to May
- Monsoon season is June to October
Expected costs
Entrance to Amber Fort is 500 INR for foreigners and 100 INR for Indian nationals. Night Entry Fee into Amber Palace is 100 INR for both foreigners and nationals.
You will probably be asked constantly if you’d like a guide to show you around the fort, but personally I’m not sure if it’s worth it. If you do choose to take someone up on their offer, expect to pay around 300 INR for the hour.
Get a skip-the-line ticket here: Jaipur: Skip-the-Line Entry Ticket to 8 Attractions
How long to stay
I recommend spending at least 2 hours exploring the mighty fort.
What to expect at Amer Fort
A visit to Amer Fort is all about admiring the architecture.
Sure, you could get a guide and learn about the history in finer detail, but I found it’s the type of place where exploring the maze of corridors, courtyards, stairwells and rooms at your own pace is best, as long as you have a rough idea of where you’re heading!
That said, there are some specific highlights not to miss.
At the bottom of the fort, near the parking area, your first stop should be at the unmissable Maota Lake. From here you get a brilliant view up the hill to the fort with stunning photo opportunities and reflections of the red sandstone palace in the background.
A lil’ note on elephants rides at Amer Fort…
There are around 100 elephants used for rides at Amer Fort to get tourists up and down the path from to the palace. I will never condone this and I urge you to not contribute to animal tourism.
These friendly giants are beaten and forced to work in barbaric circumstances. They are taken from their mothers at an early age and ‘trained’ (aka tortured) into obedience. Many of them have PTSD and, believe it or not, they do not enjoy having your fat ass on their backs.
Read this blog post from PETA if you don’t believe me: 9 Reasons Why You Should Never Ride an Elephant in India or Elsewhere
Right, let’s get back to Amer Fort!
After that, head through the second gate, called Ganesh Pol, which grants access to the parts of the palace that were off-limits to regular citizens. This is where the private residences of the royals were.
Through Ganesh Pol you’ll arrive in the ‘Pleasure Garden’ of Aram Bagh. To the right there’s Sukh Niwas (the ’Summer Palace’) and to the left is Sheesh Mahal (the ‘Palace of Mirrors’), famous for its complex glass and stone mosaic artworks. The Summer Palace is where the king came to relax and have some reflective ‘me time’.
These are two iconic sections of the palace and both should be explored in depth. Make sure to look up, down, left and right – there’s beauty and intricate designs to be found everywhere!
Apparently lighting just one candle will illuminate the entire room of Sheesh Mahal because of how many mirrors there are inside – pretty crazy!
Next, at the centre of Zenana Mahal is the oldest structure in the entire fort – the raised pavilion of Baradari. Around the perimeter of the courtyard you can see small windows and rooms where the women lived. You can enter them to gaze out of the windows which offer incredible views over the landscape.
It is said that the king had 12 wives (one for each zodiac sign) and that’s why there are 12 rooms surrounding the Baradari. Apparently the queen’s rooms were connected through a private passage to the room of the king – some guy, eh?!
After that, it’s time to explore the rest of the Fort’s interior.
Follow the mecca of staircases to various watchtowers and viewpoints to admire the breathtaking views up to Jaigarh Fort on the hill behind, or on the other side to Maota Lake. You really could get ‘lost with purpose’ here for hours.
You may be tempted to come back in the evening to see the Amer Fort Sound and Light Show. It happens every evening at Kesar Kyari on Maota Lake (location seen in the photo below) at 6:30pm and is a very popular thing to return for. It costs 300 INR to watch and lasts just under an hour.
Where to stay in Jaipur
India is the ideal place for a budget traveller. Accommodation choices in a place like Jaipur are next to infinite and you’ll find great hostels city-wide, some for as little as $1 per night!
Find somewhere you like on Booking.com or Hostelworld.
The best rated hostel in Jaipur is Gyspy Monkey.
Best tours in Jaipur
Thank you for reading this travel guide – I hope you found it helpful! Feel free to leave a comment below if you have any questions and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible 
Happy travelling!
HELPFUL RESOURCES FOR PLANNING YOUR TRIP
Accommodation: Booking.com, Hostelworld
Tours: GetYourGuide, Viator, Klook, TripAdvisor
Transport: 12Go, Omio, Trip.com, Rome2Rio
WHO IN THE WORLD IS JAMES?
Click below to learn more about my story, including 5 random facts about me, some travel FAQ’s and my entire travel history.
