Below the superb Amer fort, lies the Maota lake which swathes the pink city in its allure in the monsoons giving the residents and tourists a chance to stand near it and sip tea, while the photographers can find their right moment to capture this absolute visual delight!
The Maota Lake is located in Amber, in the Indian state of Rajasthan. The ancient name of the lake is “Mahavata”, but it is commonly known as Maota due to the large trees located near the lake from the huge banyan trees which grew on its edges, once upon a time. Maota Lake is located in the south of the city of Amber, about 11 kilometres from the centre of Jaipur, at the base of Amber Fort. The lake contains an island in the centre, named Kesar Kyari Bagh. The lake collects rainwater flowing down from the nearby hills. The Dil-Aram Bagh is situated on its northern end, the Kesar Kyari (Saffron Flowerbeds) garden is in its middle.
The lake was the main source of water for the palace. The island has a saffron garden, whose plants are said to have been planted by a Maharaja in the 15th century. It was drawn up by draught animals through the water lifting system located in the southeastern portion of the palace. Kesar Kyari (Saffron Flowerbeds) Amber has three planned gardens. Kesar Kyari or “Saffron Flowerbeds” is of them. Situated on a small rocky land in the Maota Lake, the three-level garden has geometrically patterned star-shaped flowerbeds. It is clearly inspired by the Persian and Mughal gardens laid in Agra and Delhi. The Flowerbeds were once filled with the rarest of flowering species of plants, thus the name Kesar Kyari. Fountains, watercourses and cascades make the ambience of the garden a soothing one. The Security Posts Of Amber Palace At Hathi Stand This building, situated in the middle of the hill was used by sentinels/ soldiers of Amber to guard the palace & the rowan and to keep an eye on the movements of visitors or foes. The Dil-Aaram Bagh is situated on the northern end of the lake. There is no fee to visit the lake, but there is a fee to traverse upward (or ride an elephant) to enter the Amber Fort above.
