Jantar Mantar in Jaipur

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Jantar Mantar in Jaipur is a timeless creation of Jai Singh to unearth the mysteries of the sky. Human race has always been fascinated by the mysteries of the Universe. The blinking stars at the sky in the night have always attracted man to its unsolved mysteries. From the ancient time several men have tried to unearth the mysteries behind the universe, Maharaja Jai Singh, who built Jaipur, was one such enthusiast. He had keen interest in astronomy and had wide knowledge of the subject. During his reign he built five astronomical observatories around the country. One of those five observatories is at Jaipur and it is famous as the Jantar Mantar. The name Jantar Mantar came from the combination of two words - yantra that means instrument and mantra that means formula. So, Jantar Mantar translates to a calculating instrument.

Location of Jantar Mantar in Jaipur

Observatory located at the gate of the City Palace of Jaipur. Jantar Mantar is the replica of the stone observatory that was also built by Maharaja Jai Singh at Delhi, the then capital of Mughal Empire. Jantar Mantar that was built during the period of 1727 and 1733 is the biggest stone observatory in the world. The observatory is still in running condition and can be used to tell time and predict eclipses. The observatory was built with local stones and marble and astronomical scales were inscribed at the inner lining of the marbles that are used on the instruments. Bronze tablets were also used on the instruments to help the astronomers to plot time.

Jantar Mantar at Jaipur

The observatory has fourteen major geometric instruments built of stone that are used for measurement of time, prediction of future eclipses, tracking the stars in their orbit and to measure the declination of the planets. The instruments were also used to determine the celestials altitude. Most of the instruments of Jantar Mantar are huge constructions made with stones. In fact the massive structure enhanced the accuracy of the instruments.

The largest instrument at Jantar Mantar is the Samrat Jantar that is a large observation deck and is the largest sundial in the world. The instrument is 90 feet high and its face is angled at 27 degrees to the latitude of Jaipur. The shadow of the sundial that is carefully plotted moves one mm every second and it is used to tell the time to an accuracy of about two seconds to the local time of Jaipur. A small domed cupola or the Hindu Chhatri was used at the top of the instrument to predict eclipses and to announce the arrival of monsoon.

Jantar Mantar was thoroughly restored in 1901 and it was declared as a national monument in the year 1948. This creation of Maharaja Jai Singh is a fine example of the wisdom and knowledge of India in that period. Though Jantar Mantar is presently a prime tourist attraction and a must see for all those who visit Jaipur it is still used by the local astronomers to determine time. The instruments are still used to predict the weather for the farmers. Jantar Mantar is also attracts the students of astronomy and Vedic astrology.