Sattais Kacheri at Amer Fort in Jaipur, India

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Sattais Kacheri in Amer Fort

You are looking at the columns of Sattais Kacheri, a complex of 27 offices, inside the Amber Fort in Jaipur, India. As hard as it is to believe, these were the administrative offices of the palace where ordinary people and tradesmen could come and talk to the officers for business purposes. These predated the ‘open offices’ now common in many countries by several hundred years. The side of the Sattais Kacheri is open to the outside of the fort. You can see the hills surrounding the fort, topped by a wall and watchtowers.

Amer Fort is a famous historical monument and a reflection of Rajputana-style architecture. Rajput ruler Raja Man Singh built the fort in 1592. It is most famous for its elephant rides and the sound and light show that draws the tourists in thousands every day. The fort is a fine example of the creativity and craftsmanship of the Rajput artists and architects. Amer Fort is one of the oldest forts of Rajasthan and says a lot about the state’s glorious past.