Amber Palace

Palace and fort near Jaipur

must-see attraction

Opening hours: 8:00am-6:00pm, night entry 7:00pm-9:00pm

Address: Devisinghpura, Amer, Jaipur, Rajasthan

Ticket price: Indian/foreigner ₹100/500, night entry ₹100, guide ₹200, audio guide ₹200-250

Visit duration: People typically spend 2 to 3 hours here

About Amber Palace, Jaipur

Amber Palace, also known as Amer Fort and Amer ka Kila, stands as a gleaming example of stunning Rajput architecture. It is one of the must-see attractions when you are in Jaipur and its splendour attracts thousands of visitors every day.

Amber Palace is located in Amer, a small town of 4 square kilometres area that is at a stone's throw distance from Jaipur. The palace is built on the top of Cheel ka Teela (Hill of Eagles) and it overlooks a lake called Maota Lake which is the main water source for the palace.

The azure Jaipur sky creates the most picturesque backdrop for the yellow palace if you visit between October and mid-March.

History of Amber Palace

Jaipur's Amber Palace is the brainchild of a mighty Rajput ruler, Man Singh I. He was one of the '9 Navratans' or nine gems in Akbar’s court and also his trusted general. The construction of the palace ended in 1592. However, the palace has undergone improvements and changes for the next 150 years under different rulers.

The palace used to be the place of residence for the Rajput rulers and the royal family members. When you visit the Amber Palace, you will be astonished by the luxurious lifestyle that the royalty had back then. Every nook and corner of the palace tells the story of how wealthy the empires once were.

Architecture of Amber Palace

When you look at the Amber Palace from the outside, it has a harsh and impregnable appearance. However, as soon as you step inside the palace, the toughness gives way to a memorable experience of breathtaking spectacles.

Built with red sandstone and marble, the ostentatiously magnificent palace has four levels with a courtyard in each.

Showcasing a perfect amalgamation of Rajput and Mughal architecture, the palace houses temples and Diwan-i-Aam (Hall of Audience) together.

A journey through the palace

There are three ways in which you can reach the palace. The preferred choice for many tourists is to walk up to the entrance which takes about 10 minutes from the road. Alternatively, you can take an elephant ride though it is now being criticised by animal welfare groups. Both of these will allow you to get a view of the surroundings as you climb up.

If you want to save time you can opt for a four-wheeler that can take you up to the palace and back to the road at a cost of around ₹450. However, the wait time for the cars is around an hour so you may want to negotiate if you want to spend more than that in the palace. If you opt for cars, you will enter the palace through the Chand Pol or Moon Gate.

If you walk or take an elephant ride, you enter the palace through Suraj Pol or the Sun Gate which leads you to the main courtyard called the Jaleb Chowk. This courtyard was used by armies returning from battles to show their loots to the people. This area could be seen by the women of the palace from veiled windows.

Towards the right side of the Jaled Chowk, there is a small Siladevi Temple that is adorned with gorgeous silver gates. From the courtyard, a stairway takes you to the second courtyard, the Diwan-i-Aam where meetings with subjects were held.

The third courtyard consists of the apartments of the rulers that you enter through the Ganesh Pol. This gate is beautifully decorated with frescoed arches. This level also houses the Jai Mandir or the Hall of Victory and Sukh Niwas or Hall of Pleasure opposite each other. The Jai Mandir offers a spectacular view of Maota Lake. The Sukh Niwas is an example of engineering excellence as it was artificially cooled using channels carrying cold water.

The fourth courtyard is surrounded by Zenana which are secluded quarters of women. These rooms were independent but opened onto a common corridor. The designs of the rooms were such that the king could go to one of his wives without letting the others know.

Major Attractions at Amber Palace

1. Light and Sound Show

2. Elephant Ride

3. Museum and Garden Visit

4. Puppet Shows

5. Dance Programs

Entry fee and timings

During the daytime, the Amber Palace is open from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. At daytime entry ticket to Amber Palace is priced at ₹100 for Indian nationals and ₹500 for foreign tourists.

At night, the palace opens at 7:00 pm and remains open till 9:00 pm. The night entry ticket for all visitors is priced at ₹100. However, during the night, you can only enjoy the Light and Sound Show in the palace. The other parts of the palace remain inaccessible.

Facts and tips about Amber Palace

• To visit the palace properly, it is advisable to hire a local guide or grab an audio guide since the palace has blind alleys and not many sign boards.


• The Sheesh Mahal inside Amber Palace was completed in the year 1727. In the same year is the foundation year of Jaipur. It was in this part of the palace that scenes from the Bollywood film, Mughal-E-Azam, were shot.


• You can catch a glimpse of the Kesar Kyari Garden, a man-made island in Maota Lake from the top of the palace.

Other attractions near Amber Palace

• Hawa Mahal - 7.9 km
• Jantar Mantar - 8.1 km
• City Palace - 8.2 km
• Albert Hall Museum - 9.8 km
• Nahargarh Fort - 11 km

FAQs about Amber Palace

1. Is Amber Palace and Amer Fort the same?

Yes, the Amber Palace and Amer Fort are the same historic place. Due to language and regional differences, the palace is known by different names.

2. What are the timings of the Light and Sound Show?

The Light and Sound shows are for one hour starting from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm and from 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm. One of the shows is in Hindi and one in English.

3. Where can you have food inside the palace?

There is an outlet for Cafe Coffee Day inside the palace. You can grab a quick bite and a cup of steaming coffee in the cafe.

4. Which is the best time of the day to visit the Amber Palace?

If you want to take an elephant ride then reach early so that you don’t have to stand in long queues. Otherwise, you can visit any time of the day. However, since the climate of Jaipur is hot, carry water bottles and wear comfortable cotton clothes. At night, you can visit the palace to watch the light and sound show.