Travel bucket list idea:
Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
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Pre-Independence Rajasthan, or ‘Land of the Princes’, comprised an intricate patchwork of princely states. Numerous maharajas’ palaces and forts still dot the landscape and among the most famous is 16th-century Amber (also known as Amer), a huge fortress-palace cresting a stark ridge above Amer village near Jaipur.
Enclosed by kilometres of walls snaking across the surrounding hills, at its heart the huge complex comprises audience halls, pavilions, royal ‘apartments’ and courtyards that collectively blend Hindu and Mughal motifs and architecture. Part-marble interiors boast decorative paintings, mirrored-glass mosaics and coloured glass. It’s a great place to wander and explore.
Every evening by the small lake at the foot of Amber Fort there’s a 50-minute sound and light show (in English and Hindi, times vary according to season) dramatising its history and folklore.
For an offbeat walk from Amber Fort and great views, continue up to Jaigarh Fort on the hill above Amber, then follow the level ridge-top path or road to Nahargarh Fort before descending to Jaipur’s outskirts.
If you’re fit and agile consider walking the Great Wall-like walls in the surrounding hills. They are accessible either from Amber village or by the clutch of stalls beside the main road from Jaipur.
Visitors usually come direct from Jaipur (about 15 minutes’ taxi or rickshaw drive outside town) and will either be dropped off by Amer village at the foot of the fort, or driven up to a small car park up near the main entrance.
Elephant rides to the fort from Amber village provide an alternative to approaching on foot, but they are of increasing concern to animal welfare groups, and the government is planning to withdraw them over time.
Local guides – useful but not really necessary – often tout for custom near the entrance; agree a price beforehand.
It’s open all year round, seven days a week. Early mornings and late afternoons are generally the most pleasant. May and June can be ferociously hot and uncomfortable.
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Destination guides including or relevant to this experience
Rajasthan, India
Rajasthan’s state capital is a compelling blend of huge hillside forts, extravagant palaces, bustling bazaars, memorable heritage hotels and almost comically thronged streets.
India’s cultural essence combined with its most iconic sights and greatest bucket list experiences, all distilled into one compact, diverse and vibrant region.
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The great civilisations of the past have left a legacy of constructions that still stand out and inspire. Built without the wonders of 20th-century technology, many are also monumental feats of engineering; others offer such grace and beauty, that they’ll literally take your breath away.
