Jantar Mantar – Jaipur

Jantar Mantar is Rajasthan is considered to be the world’s largest astronomical stone observatory. It was built by the then Maharaja of the Jaipur Jai Singh II from 1727 to 1734. He had great interest in astrology, architecture, philosophy and religion, and therefore though of the concept of building 5 observatories including one in Delhi, the capital of India.

The name of the heritage site too has been thoughtfully kept. While Jantar refers to instruments, Mantar refer to formula or calculation. Therefore, we can say that Jantar Mantar means the Instrument for calculation.

The observatory consists of a total of 14 major geometric devices. These devices performed a wide variety of calculations, from measuring time, and tracking constellations, to observing the orbit and the sun. Among them the most popular is the Samrat Yantra, also the world’s largest sun dial; and the Hindu Chhatri and the Jaiprakash Yantra.

The observatory is a reflection of the heights of science and technology that ancient India had achieved back so many centuries ago. Even today various research scholars come here to study the geometrical devices. These instruments still work like the old times, telling accurate time and also determining the real time of any eclipse.

Tourists visiting the town of Jaipur must plan a visit to the Jantar Mantar as well. Simple in its construction and exemplary of the Mughal architecture, the Jantar Mantar also clearly displays how science and religion can be combined together for studying the universe and its various elements.

And, even when people would argue that the observatory was functional only for 7 years and produced no concrete studies, the mere construction and thought behind the idea of having an observatory was more than fascinating. Maybe it was the country that lacked knowledgeable scientists and astrologers who could make value addition to the instruments in the observatories.