Amber Fort - A Pictorial Tour #4

Across from the Mirror Palace is the Sukh Mahal or the Hall of Pleasure :)




Wall decorations.





In between the Mirror Palace and Hall of Pleasure is a garden/courtyard.


Mirror Palace as seen from the Hall of Pleasure.

Other spots that captured attention:






The Baradhari Pavillion at Man Singh Palace.













This is one place that really captured my fancy. Not only was I wowed by the architecture, as I was with the other sites we've visited prior to this, but this is the only time I was able to feel the romance of the structure. I was able to imagine myself living in 1700 India. I was enchanted by everything. I look left and right and I can feel a novel coming, but of course I cannot write. But if I could it would be a bestseller, given the overwhelming inspiration that this fortress has given me. In short I fell in love with this fortress.

~ this is a scheduled post. currently traveling. will visit your blogs upon return. ~

Amber Fort - A Pictorial Tour #3

May I show you the Mirror Palace named such because it's adorned with glass inlaid panels and multi-mirrored ceilings? It is also known as Sheesh Mahal.


Here is is from outside. Looks like nothing special. But the interior is amazing, at least what was opened for public exploration.




















The Mirror Palace as seen from above.

~ this is a scheduled post. currently traveling. will visit your blogs upon return.~

Happy Fall

Photos were taken from last year's fall colors in the Napa Valley.

This is my entry for this week's OUR WORLD TUESDAY.

Amber Fort - A Pictorial Tour #2

The elephant ride to the fort was included in the tour, but I believe it would cost R900 per elephant or R450/pp. However, the entrance to the fort is not included. In this tour package, all the spots/destinations are free with the exception of the World Heritage Site. I'm not sure this is one, yet, but we had to pay to enter.


Up the stairs we go.


Immediately you are in main palace grounds. This impressive decorated ornately facade is the Ganesh Pol or the Ganesh Gate, the entry to the private palaces of the royals.

It's the perfect background for tourist picture taking...look.






Latticed windows allow the royal women to watch functions from the square.


Upon closer inspection.


Other structure in this level.



An architecture buff can stay here for a whole day and still want to return the next day. I could and would.


I wonder where these doors lead to.


Another unidentified structure.


As we entered Ganesh Pol to explore the other areas, we saw this ceiling painting. It was eye-catching so I took a picture of it and was surprised others were also shooting at it.

.........to be continued........

Amber Fort - A Pictorial Tour

We're going to the Fort first before the Pink Palace. That was what Ashok told me when I noticed that he was driving us in the opposite direction of the Pink Palace. I vaguely recalled that I have read about it the night before as I was browsing thru the itinerary packet the tour company gave us upon arrival. I must confess not knowing about the fort I wasn't totally excited nor pleased with the prospect. I'd rather skip everything else in the itinerary today and devote all the time to touring the Pink Palace. I'm glad I didn't get my wish, because Amber Fort turned out to be one eye-opening delight and a goldmine for a photography enthusiasts and architecture fan.

This will not be an educational post. I'm not going to copy and paste any information that the internet will have on Amber Fort and make you believe they were my own, because while our assigned guide for the day was very knowledgeable and informative, the day turned out to be very harsh, weather wise. It was terribly hot and humid, our guide was literally leaking. His sweat was just rushing down from his forehead to the ground, I have never seen one sweat that much. I was not too far behind in the sweating department. Whatever he was telling us about the fort and the many different structures inside, the palaces, the apartments, the baths, etc, they stayed with me for a few minutes and poof they evaporated before I can take shelter.

Amber Fort is located about 11 km from Jaipur in the city of Amber, which I read is pronounced Amer. There are many information about Amber Fort in the net, but I thought this one is the short and sweet version for a little backgrounder.

Let's begin the tour.


Driving into Amber Fort you notice the Maota Lake in its foreground.




Roadside view of the fort on the hill.


From the main road one gets off here. No vehicles are allowed this way.


We were assigned this elephant and his driver. The elephant's name is Lucky. Here the elephant is getting ready to get us onboard.


From the platform, the view of the fortress' wall.


We ride the elephant to get to the fort - it's the tourist trap :). I wouldn't miss it for the world!!!


I personally found the experience a bit tense at first, but I managed to enjoy the rest of the ride.


I even settled enough to take photos of what we passed by on our ascent.


Entering the gate into a large square.

The elephant goes around as the platform where the tourist begins the tour is across the gate. Note there is a fence that surrounds fort and goes around the mountains, the guide joked it's the Great Wall of India.


The large square; the elephants enter thru the gate on the right.

.....to be continued....

This is my entry for this week's OUR WORLD TUESDAY.