Amber Fort - Royal Dreams Come True

Amber Fort - Jaipur

You can climb up to the fort from the road in about 10 minutes, and enjoy a bottle or two of cold drinks, if the climb is a hot one. Get through the imposing stairway to reach the Diwan-i-am, or the public audience hall. It is only here that the Maharajah held audience and received the petition of his subjects. Look at the splendid double row of columns - topped by a capital in the shape of an elephant - embellishing the hall. Every door bears some mosaics and sculptures to entice you. Don't forget to see the royal cart, once used by the ambrosial maharanis to wander around, surprisingly preserved in original condition. Walk to the right on an elevated ground to reach the Sukh Niwas (Hall of Pleasures). As you cross the ivory-in-laid sandalwood door, you can easily feel a chill in the atmosphere. This is because of the ingenious early air-cooling system that had a channel running right through the room. Not a single drop of water was wasted, with the overflow passing through aqueducts, straight to the palace gardens. Remember to visit the Kali Mata Temple, inside the premises, where everyday from the 16th century until 1980, a goat was sacrificed. Enter through the gorgeous silver doors displaying a grand repouss`e work, to behold the image of Shila Devi, an image of Goddess Kali carved from one piece of stone.

However, the most enthralling alcove in the fort is the famous 'Sheesh Mahal' or the scintillating Mansion of Mirrors. It is invariably a stuff that Royal dreams were made of and inspired generations of Mughal emperors to send their artisans to imitate. Though the entry is restricted because of security reasons, you can have a fascinating view of the hall from the courtyard. All the walls and their ceilings are embellished with colourful glasses. As the morning sunlight peeps through them, a multicoloured hue radiates the ambience, portraying a real heaven of red, blue, yellow and green. Opposite the Sheesh Mahal, you will find stately pillars singing the rhymes of fine arts. With beautifully carved surfaces, they are a magic in themselves. How hard you try, you can't make more than some beautiful floral patterns on their body, but incredibly, if you cover some of the leaves and the petals with your palms, it may turn out to be a scorpion or even a butterfly, about to fly!