History of the Amer / Amber Fort Jaipur - Who was Raja Maan Singh?
Discover the rich history of Amer Fort Jaipur, a stunning blend of Rajput and Mughal architecture. Uncover the story of Raja Maan Singh with Mughals
The Amer / Amber Fort in Jaipur was built by Raja Man Singh in the 16th century. This fort is a good example of the architectural style of Rajasthani Meenas and Mughal emperors. Known for its intricate carvings and amazing structures, the Amer / Amber Fort reflects the rich history and cultural heritage of Rajasthan, offering a glimpse of the luxurious lifestyle of the royals.
Amer / Amber Fort History
This fort was built by Raja Man Singh in 1592. Raja Man Singh was a descendant of Lord Rama. In 1592, Raja Man Singh built the Amber Fort on the relics of the Meenas. Subsequently, the palace expanded with the changing of kings. In the last, the fort was completed by King Sawai Jai Singh. In 1700, King Sawai Jai Singh lived with his family in this palace.
In fact, the city of Amer / Amber was settled by Meenas. Later Raja Man Singh built a palace here for his royal residence which is today known as Amer / Amber Fort. The capital of Rajasthan used to be Kachhwaha. But ever since this fort was built, Jaipur became the capital of Rajasthan. This Amer / Amber Fort is one of the largest forts in India.
The construction of this fort took about 200 years. Raja Man Singh started building this fort. But then this fort was not much bigger. Finally, King Sawai Jai Singh who came to live in this fort expanded this fort. Jaipur is named after this king.
In Amer / Amber Fort, you can see some small old rooms. Which used to be the houses of the servants of the kings of that time. Jodha Bai was also the queen of the same princely state. In 2007, the Amer / Amber Fort was included in the 37 World Heritage Site.
Who was Raja Maan Singh?
Raja Man Singh was one of the nine jewels of Akbar. Raja Man Singh fought many battles for Akbar. And was instrumental in spreading the Mughal Empire. To rule over Hindu kings, Akbar married Jodha Bai, the sister of Raja Man Singh's father. You must have heard the stories of your Jodha Akbar.
Man Singh's army was the most powerful in India. But that army worked only for the Mughals. The great emperor Ashoka did not attack the Mughals due to Man Singh being a Hindu. However, due to the flattery of the Mughals, Maharana Pratap attacked Man Singh at Haldighati. Along with this, Man Singh was also used to protect Hindus.
During Akbar's reign, Man Singh became a very powerful general, and also took control of some of Akbar's kingdoms. Raja Man Singh also conquered Bihar and Orissa. It was Raja Man Singh who avenged the death of King Birbal. The temple of Vrindavan was also built by Raja Man Singh.
Raja Man Singh expanded the Mughal Empire by conquering almost half of India. And the plundered treasures made the city of Amer / Amber strong.