Tour Guide, Jaipur, India
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Amer Palace is a great example of Rajput architecture. Some of its buildings and work have the influence of Mughal architecture. Constructed of red sandstone and marble, the attractive, opulent palace is laid out on four levels, each with a courtyard. It consists of the Diwan-e-Aam, or "Hall of Public Audience", the Diwan-e-Khas, or "Hall of Private Audience", the Sheesh Mahal (mirror palace), or Jai Mandir, and the Sukh Niwas, where a cool climate is artificially created by winds that blow over a water cascade within the palace. Hence, the Amer Fort is also popularly known as the Amber Palace. The palace was the residence of the Rajput Maharajas and their families. At the entrance to the palace near the fort's Ganesh Gate, there is a temple dedicated to Shila Devi, a Goddess of the Chaitanya cult, which was given to Raja Man Singh when he defeated the Raja of Jessore, Bengal, in 1604. (Jessore is now in Bangladesh). Raja Man Singh had 12 queens, so he made 12 rooms, one for each Queen. Each room had a staircase connected to the King’s room, but the Queens were not to go upstairs. Raja Jai Singh had only one queen, so he built one room equal to three old queen’s rooms.
