Amer Amer | |
---|---|
city | |
Coordinates: 26°59′N75°52′E / 26.983°N 75.867°E | |
Country | India |
State | Rajasthan |
District(s) | Jaipur |
Time zone | UTC+05:30 (IST) |
Amber or Amer, is a city near Jaipur in Jaipur district in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It is now a part of the Jaipur Municipal Corporation.
The picturesque situation of Amber at the mouth of a rocky mountain gorge, in which nestles a lake, has attracted the admiration of travellers, including Victor Jacquemont and Reginald Heber. [1] It is seen to be a remarkable example for its combined Rajput-Mughal architecture. The Amber Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the top tourist attraction in the Jaipur area.
Amer was a part of the Matsya Kingdom Ruled by Meenas, one of the 16 ancient Mahājanapadas
Amber region also known as Amer or Dhundhar and was controlled by Meena chiefs of five different tribes who were under suzerainty of the Bargurjar Rajput Raja of Deoti. Later a Kachhwaha prince Dulha Rai destroyed the sovereignty of Meenas and also defeated Bargurjars of Deoli and took Dhundhar fully under Kachwaha rule. [2]
It replaced Khoh as the capital of Dhundhar after Kakil Deo, the son of Dulha Rai, defeated the Meenas here. [3] [4] Kachhwaha capital was later shifted to Jaipur, a new city built by Sawai Jai Singh. [5] [6]
Amber Fort was built by Maharaja of Parmar Rajputs, appreciated by Raja Man Singh I. Amber was ruled from 1590 to 1614 AD by Mughal Emperor Akbar's Navaratnas Raja Man Singh I, which included the built palace. The palace includes several spectacular buildings, such as the Diwan-i-Khas, and the elaborately painted Ganesh Pole built by the renowned warlord Mirza Raja Jai Singh I (Man Singh I's grandson). The old and original fort of Amber, dating from earlier Rajas or the Mair or Maidh period, is what is known in the present day as Jaigarh Fort, which was actually the main defensive structure rather than the palace itself. The two structures are interconnected by a series of encompassing fortifications. [7]
Amber was capital of the Kachwaha until 1727 when the ruler of Amber, Sawai Jai Singh II founded a capital Jainagara (Jaipur), named after him, about nine kilometers south of Amber. After the founding of this new town, the royal palace and houses of prominent persons were shifted to Jaipur. The priests of Shila Devi temple, who were Bengali Brahmins, continued to live in the fort (to this date), while the Jaigarh fort above the palace also remained heavily garrisoned. The capital of Kachwaha was supplanted by the modern city of Jaipur, which is the capital of the Rajasthan state in India.[ citation needed ]
Poor site management and development pressures have dramatically altered the historical integrity of Amber. The building that rings around the Jaleb Chwok courtyard "has been converted to a market place with shops selling showpieces and dresses. They have cafeterias, cyber cafés, etc.", according to the Times of India. [8] In the summer of 2009, the Rajasthan High Court launched a three-member panel charged with investigating the controversial renovations and determining to what extent the cultural heritage of the site was compromised. [9]
This park is home to species whose numbers have declined over the years, such as the Indian leopard. The flora is representative of the Khathiar-Gir dry deciduous forests ecoregion. [10] [11]
Various scenes were produced for the 2011 British film The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel in and around Amber. [12] [13]
Jaipur is the capital and the largest city of the north-western Indian state of Rajasthan. As of 2011, the city has a population of 3.1 million, making it the tenth most populous city in the country. Located 268 km from the national capital New Delhi, Jaipur is also known as the Pink City due to the dominant color scheme of its buildings in old city.
Sawai Jai Singh II, was the 29th Kachwaha Rajput ruler of the Kingdom of Amber, who later founded the fortified city of Jaipur and made it his capital. He became the ruler of Amber at the age of 11, after the death of his father, Mirza Raja Bishan Singh, on 31 December 1699.
The Kachhwaha, or Kachhawa is a Rajput clan found primarily in India.
Dhundhar, also known as Jaipur region, is a historical region of Rajasthan state in western India. It includes the districts of Jaipur, Neem ka Thana, Dantaramgarh part of Sikar District lying to the east of the Aravalli Range, Dausa, Sawai Madhopur, Tonk, southern part of Kotputli and the northern part of Karauli District.
Amer Fort or Amber Fort is a fort located in Amer, Rajasthan, India. Amer is a town with an area of 4 square kilometres (1.5 sq mi) located 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) from Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan. Located high on a hill, it is the principal tourist attraction in Jaipur. Amer Fort is known for its artistic style elements. With its large ramparts and series of gates and cobbled paths, the fort overlooks Maota Lake, which is the main source of water for the Amer Palace.
Sawai Madho Singh I was the Kachwaha Rajput ruler of the Kingdom of Jaipur. He was the younger son of Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II and younger half brother of Sawai Ishvari Singh. He became ruler of Jaipur after his brother Sawai Ishvari Singh died in 1750.
Jaigarh Fort is situated on the promontory called the Cheel ka Teela of the Aravalli range; it overlooks the Amer Fort and the Maota Lake, near Amer in Jaipur, Rajasthan, India. The fort was built by Mirza Raja Jai Singh in 1726 to protect the Amer Fort and its palace complex and was named after him.
Nahargarh Fort stands on the edge of the Aravalli Hills, overlooking the city of Jaipur in the Indian state of Rajasthan. Along with Amer Fort and Jaigarh Fort, Nahargarh once formed a strong defence ring for the city. The fort was originally named Sudershangarh, but it became known as Nahargarh, which means 'abode of tigers'. The popular belief is that Nahar here stands for Nahar Singh Bhomia, whose spirit haunted the place and obstructed construction of the fort. Nahar's spirit was pacified by building a temple in his memory within the fort, which thus became known by his name.
The Kingdom of Amber, also known as Kingdom of Dhundhar, and Jaipur State, was located in the north-eastern historic Dhundhar region of Rajputana and was ruled by the Kachwaha Rajput clan. It was established by Dulha Rai, possibly the last ruler of the Kachchhapaghata dynasty of Gwalior who migrated to Dausa and started his kingdom there with the support of Chahamanas of Shakambhari in the 12th century. Mostly through 12th to 15th century, the kingdom faced stagnation, sources were scarce. Under its ruler, Raja Chandrasen of Amber became a Sisodia vassal and fought in the Battle of Khanwa under Raja Prithviraj Kachhwaha.
The culture of Rajasthan includes many artistic traditions that reflect the ancient Indian way of life. Rajasthan is also called the "Land of Kings". It has many tourist attractions and facilities for tourists. This historical state of India attracts tourists and vacationers with its rich culture, tradition, heritage and monuments. It also has some wildlife sanctuaries and national parks.
The City Palace, Jaipur is a royal residence and former administrative headquarters of the rulers of the Jaipur State in Jaipur, Rajasthan. Construction started soon after the establishment of the city of Jaipur under the reign of Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, who moved his court to Jaipur from Amber, in 1727. Jaipur remained the capital of the kingdom until 1949—when it became the capital of the present-day Indian state of Rajasthan—with the City Palace functioning as the ceremonial and administrative seat of the Maharaja of Jaipur. The construction of the Palace was completed in 1732 and it was also the location of religious and cultural events, as well as a patron of arts, commerce, and industry. It was constructed according to the rules of vastushastra, combining elements of Mughal and Rajput architectural styles. It now houses the Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II Museum, and continues to be the home of the Jaipur royal family. The royal family has around 500 personal servants. The palace complex has several buildings, various courtyards, galleries, restaurants, and offices of the Museum Trust.The MSMS II Museum Trust is headed by chairperson Rajamata Padmini Devi of Jaipur. Princess Diya Kumari runs the Museum Trust, as its secretary and trustee. She also manages The Palace School and Maharaja Sawai Bhawani Singh School in Jaipur. She founded and runs the Princess Diya Kumari Foundation to empower underprivileged and underemployed women of Rajasthan. She is also an entrepreneur. In 2013, she was elected as Member of the Legislative Assembly of Rajasthan from the constituency of Sawai Madhopur.
Hill Forts of Rajasthan are six forts, spread across Rajasthan state in northern India. They have been clustered as a series and designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2013. The hill forts series include—Chittor Fort at Chittorgarh, Kumbhalgarh Fort at Rajsamand, Ranthambore Fort at Sawai Madhopur, Gagron Fort at Jhalawar, Amer Fort at Jaipur and Jaisalmer Fort at Jaisalmer.
Kanak Vrindavan is a garden in Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan. It is built in a valley surrounded by Aravali hills and is located on the way to the Amer Fort at the bottom of the Nahargarh hill. The place is approx 8 km north of the Jaipur city. The garden has many nearby tourist attractions as the Amer fort Palace, Jaigarh fort and Nahargarh Fort along with much lush greenery.
Kakil or Kankil was a king of the Kachhwaha dynasty and successor of Dulha Rai, who ruled the Dhundhar region with their capital at Khoh in present-day Rajasthan.
The history of human settlement in the west Indian state of Rajasthan dates back to about 5,000 years ago.
Raja Prithviraj Singh I, also known as Prithvi Singh I, was the 16th-century Kachwaha Rajput ruler of Kingdom of Amber. He was a monarch of strong religious inclinations and during his reign, the Kingdom of Amber became increasingly politically active. He took part in the Rajput alliance against Mughal Emperor Babur, fighting against the latter in the Battle of Khanwa alongside Rana Sanga of Mewar in the year 1527. Three of Raja Prithviraj's sons successively followed him as ruler of Amber, with many of his descendants also populating the kingdom's highest aristocracy in subsequent centuries.
Khoh, also known as Khogong, was the capital of the kingdom of Amber which was located in the Dhundhar region of Rajputana. Which was located just five miles to the east of Jaipur city and was ruled by the Chanda clan. Rao Chandrasen Chanda abandoned Mahishmati city and established a kingdom here. It was the capital of the Chandas till the 11th century and of the Kachhawahas from the 11th to the 13th century.
Dulha Rai was the founder of the Kachhwaha dynasty and also the 1st king from this dynasty who ruled the territory of Dhundhar, with his capital at Khoh in present-day Rajasthan. He started his rule from Dausa which he obtained as a dowry from the Chahamanas of Shakambhari. Making Dausa as his base, he started conquering the region of Dhundhar and soon was recognised as the ruler of this region by the Chahamanas after he successfully suppressed the rebellious Bargujar Rajputs.
Amber predates the Kachhawa rulers — Kakil Dev captured Amber from Mina tribesmen in 1037 CE, laid the foundation of the fortification system and built the Ambikeshwar Mahadev Temple. When his great grandson Rajdev shifted the capital from Khoh to Amber, the settlement began to grow. Amber Palace was substantially enlarged by Man Singh in 1600 CE with additions by Jai Singh I and Sawai Jai Singh II until the first quarter of the eighteenth century.
Media related to Amber, India at Wikimedia Commons