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Jantar Mantar Jaipur



Jantar Mantar - Jaipur, an astronomical observatory designed by the astronomer - King Sawai Jai Singh II of Jaipur, in 1724. It was believed to have been built with masonry instruments for observing the movements of the stars and the planets. The various abstract structures within the Jantar Mantar are, in fact, instruments that were used for keeping track of celestial bodies. It is the largest and best preserved of five observatories built by Jai Singh throughout northern India. It contains 13 different instruments for calculating such things as the time of day, the altitudes of heavenly bodies, and the positions of constellations. Although the instruments look like modern sculpture, they are able to make calculations accurate to one second.


Yet, Jantar Mantar is not only a timekeeper of celestial bodies, it also tells a lot about the technological achievements under the Rajput kings and their attempt to resolve the mysteries regarding astronomy. The Jantar Mantar of Delhi is only one of the five observatories built by Sawai Jai Singh II, the other four being located at Jaipur, Varanasi, Ujjain and Mathura.


Jai Singh himself designed this yantra. Other yantras were also meant for the study of heavenly bodies, plotting their course and predicting eclipses. The two pillars on the southwest of Mishra Yantra are meant to determine the shortest and longest days of the year. Interestingly, in December one pillar completely covers the other with its shadow while in June it does not cast any such shadow at all. After the completion of the first Jantar Mantar and with a view to verifying astronomical observations made at Delhi, Jai Singh built similar, even if smaller observatories, at other important Indian cities-Jaipur, Varanasi, Ujjain, and Mathura.


The Jantar Mantars may have fallen into disuse but they remain an integral part of India's scientific heritage. It presents that the spirit of scientific enquiry was not dead in India and would have yielded rich results if only an opportunity of research and development had been given to it. This monument situated just a stroll away on the Parliament Street, still remains one of the most intriguing structures of the capital, one that burst in a flood of questions inside the curious mind of the tourist. Timing : Daily 9.00am - 7.00pm.


Some of the instruments pictured on this page are:
  • The Samrat Yantra: a 89 foot high and 148 foot wide sundial. When the sun moves across the sky, it casts a shadow on finely calibrated arms extending on either side. It measures local time, zenith distances, meridian pass times, and the declination of the stars. It is used to forecast the crop prospects for the year.
  • The smaller Laghu Samrat Yantra is not as accurate as the Samrat Yantra. However, it calculates Jaipur's local time to an accuracy of 20 seconds.
  • The Jaiprakash Yantra: the last instrument installed in the observatory, it consists of two marble bowls. This instrument aids in celestial observations and verifies calculations of other instruments in the observatory.
  • The Rashi Yantras: a collection of twelve instruments, each representing one of the twelve zodiac signs. Therefore, each instrument faces a different angle and constellation. It is used by astrologers to make accurate horoscopes.


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