Jantar Mantar

Jantar Mantar in Jaipur city was built by Maharaja Jai Singh II between 1728 and 1734. This is one of the most culturally independent works of architecture in the world. The name Jantar Mantar comes from the Sanskrit expression 'Yantara Mantara' that means instruments and formula.

There are the famous Jaiprakash Yantra and the Samrat Yantra in this observatory. On a visit to Jantar Mantar you can also see Ram Yantra and a composite instrument that has the sundial and a huge hemisphere. This place is famous for being the biggest stone observatory in the world.

Jantar Mantar is located in the center of the Jaipur city very close to the gate of the City Palace. This is also a place famous for the solid geometrical sculptures. There are fourteen major solid and fixed geometric instruments in Jantar Mantar of Jaipur. They are used for measuring time, tracing the stars and their orbits, determining the altitudes of the celestial bodies and also for predicting the time of the eclipses.

Maharaja Jai Singh II was a learned astronomer and was interested in the working and movements of the celestial bodies. He was commissioned by Emperor Muhammad Shah to correct the astronomical tables that were already in existence. History says that it took seven years for Maharaja Jai Singh II to complete this task.

Jantar Mantar of Jaipur is the most famous among the five observatories built by Maharaja Jai Singh II. This is a well preserved place and was thoroughly repaired in the year 1901. Jantar Mantar of Jaipur was declared to be a national monument in the year 1948.

Jantar Mantar of Jaipur still stands as the witness to the wisdom of the bygone days.



Last Updated on 13 December 2011