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Amber Fort's hilltop palace was joined to a second fort by a secret escape tunnel

the gist

Amer Fort, near Jaipur in Rajasthan, is a hilltop complex of red sandstone and marble built in the Rajput style, with some features influenced by Mughal architecture. It is laid out on four levels, each with a courtyard, and includes halls for public and private audiences, the Sheesh Mahal mirror palace, and Sukh Niwas, where winds blowing over a water cascade cool the rooms naturally. A subterranean passage linked the palace to Jaigarh Fort on the same ridge, so the royal household could retreat to the stronger fort in wartime. The palace was the residence of the Rajput maharajas and their families, and in 2013 it was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the Hill Forts of Rajasthan group.

so what

Amer shows how Rajput rulers combined defence and comfort, with a built-in escape route and cooling systems that worked without electricity. Its UNESCO listing places it among the protected forts that tell the story of the region's rulers.

fun fact

Raja Man Singh is said to have built twelve rooms for his twelve queens, each with a staircase leading up to his own room.

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Image: Wikimedia Commons