Jantar Mantar

Stone Astronomical Observatory

Jaipur

Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II

Born in 1688 A.D.Crowned in 1699 Sawai Jai Singh Ji founded Jaipur in 1727. A learned man his love of sciences saw him build observatories at Delhi, Jaipur, Ujjain, Mathura, and Benaras.He reigned for 45 years.He died in 1744.

Jantar Mantar

Jaipur Jantar Mantar was the second and more sophisticated observatory Jai singh built.The instruments were so big and accurate ,as they were built of stone,masonry and marble, that he found errors in the astronomical tables then in use.There are 18 instruments in the Jaipur observatory.Thru his Portuguese friend he procured latest astronomical books and instruments from Europe.Some he had translated in Sanskrit.Some of these translated texts are on display in the City Palace Museum.

Chakra Yantra

Samrat Yantra

Samrat Yantra

By far the biggest yantra in Jantar Mantar it is a huge Sun Dial.It is 89 feet high and 148 feet wide.It can measure local time correctly up to 2 seconds.It is in use till date to find out if the monsoons will be plentiful.

Rashivalaya Yantra

Narivalaya Yantra

Yantra Raj

Krantiwrita Yantra

Unnatasha Yantra

Dakshinodak Bhittiyantra

Jai Prakash Yantra

Kapali Yantra

Ram Yantra

If the efforts of UNESCO and Archaeological Survey of India, bear fruit,Jaipur Jantar Mantar may soon be the second World Heritage Site from Rajassthan.In 1985 Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur,had joined the World Heritage Sites list.

Some Links

www.karans.info

A guesthouse in Jaipur

http://karansguesthouse.wordpress.com

A Blog About Jaipur