fort palaces tour
Amber Fort
At a distance of around 11 kms from the city of Jaipur, on the 
Aravalli hills is located the famous Amber Fort. The construction of the fort was initiated by Raja Man Singh I, however, additions and modification were made later by Mirza Raja Jai Singh and Sawai Raja Jai Singh as well. The Rajput rulers operated from this very fort till the time the capital was shifted to Jaipur.
The fort is an ideal example of Rajput passion for grandeur and their patriotism. For visiting tourists, the Amber fort holds forth numerous attractions in form of palaces, temples and gardens. Infact, reaching Amber Fort itself is a wonderful experience. Sitting on the back of an elephant, tourists feel themselves like a king or queen of the Rajput clan.
It is because of this reason that though walking up the fort is also an option, yet tourists prefer to take a ride on the back of an elephant.
City Palace Jaipur
In the heart of the old city of Jaipur, the City Palace occupies a large area, divided into a series of courtyards, gardens, and buildings. The outer wall was built by Maharaja Jai Singh II, but other additions are much more recent, some dating back to the beginning of this century. The palace is a wonderful blend of Rajasthani and Mughal architecture.
The centre of the palace, is the Chandra Mahal, or the Moon Palace, which provides a fine view of the gardens and the city. The ground and first floor of the Chandra Mahal, form the Maharaja Sawai Man Singh Museum. The museum has an extensive collection of art, carpets, enamelware and old weapons. The paintings include miniatures of Rajasthani, Persian and Mughal schools. The Mubarak Mahal, or the Auspicious Palace, contains the textile section of the museum.
Hawa Mahal Jaipur
Built in 1799, the Hawa Mahal, or Palace of the Winds, is one of the major landmarks of Jaipur. This five storey building, which looks out over the main street of the old city, is a stunning example of Rajput artistry, 
with its pink semioctagonal and delicately honeycombed sandstone windows.
It was originally built to enable ladies of the royal household, to watch the everyday life and processions of the city. The palace was built by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh, and is part of the City Palace complex. There is, also, a small archaeological museum on the same site.
Jantar Mantar Jaipur
Emperor Sawai Jai Singh II, the builder of the city has to his credit five observatories in different parts of the country. The one he raised at Jaipur is the largest and the best preserved. Huge instruments in intricate masonry offer an accurate measurement of time,
the declination of the sun, the altitude and the azimuth, the position of constellations in the sky for the day, the eclipses and the allied astronomical phenomena.
Jantar Mantar was conceptualised with the primary aim of unraveling the mystery of outer space. In the days of yore, Jantar Mantar served the purpose of carrying out astronomical observations and also inspired and motivated many to become interested in the science of astronomy, at a time when the society at large had become entangled in silly superstition and religious bigotry.
Mehrangarh Fort Jodhpur
Mehrangarh Fort, located in Jodhpur city in Rajasthan state is one of the largest forts in India. The fort is situated on a lofty height, 400 feet (122 m) above the city, and is enclosed by imposing thick walls. Inside its territorial boundaries, there are several palaces, which are known for their intricate carvings and sprawling courtyards.
Jaisalmer Fort
Jaisalmer has been dubbed the `Golden City` because of the honey colour imparted to its stone ramparts by the setting sun. No one who makes the effort to get to this remote sandy outpost leaves disappointed. Centuries ago, Jaisalmer`s strategic position on the camel train routes between India and central Asia brought it great wealth. However the rise of shipping trade and the port of Bombay saw the decline of Jaisalmer.
Chittorgarh Fort
The Chittor fort seated on a 180 metre hill, covers an expanse of 700 acres. It was constructed by the Mauryans in the 7th century AD. There is also a belief that it was constructed by Bhima of the Pancha Pandavas. This fort was the citadel of many great Rajput warriors such as Rana Kumbha, Maharana Pratap, Jaimal, Patta, etc.
There are seven gates before reaching the fort. They are the Padan Pol, Bhairon Pol, Hanuman Pol, Ganesh Pol, Jodla Pol, Laxman Pol and Ram Pol. Padal Pol is a gate where prince Bagh Singh died during the second attack. The Chattris of the young prince Jaimal of Badnore and his clansman Kalla are located between the Bhairon Pol and Hanuman Pol, marking the spots where they were killed by Akbar in 1567. Near the Ram Pol which is the final gate, is the Chattri of 15 year old Patta of Kelwa who fought bravely to the end.
Junagarh Fort Bikaner
The fort was built by Raja Rai Singh, the sixth ruler of Bikaner who reigned from 1571 to 1612. Rai Singh had conquered part of Marwar and had been granted territory in Gujurat and Burhanpur by the Mughal emperor Akbar as a reward for his services as military commander. 
This, as well as funding from Jodhpur, enabled him to build the fort. Rai Singh held high rank in the imperial courts of both Akbar and his successor, Jehangir. During his imperial service he travelled extensively, giving him an appreciation of art and architecture. These ideas have been incorporated meticulously into the architectural style of Junagarh Fort.
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Bani Park, Jaipur-16(Raj.)
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