Jantar Mantar – Jaipur

Overview

Jantar Mantar is an astronomical observatory with a set of 20 main fixed instruments. It is one of the four most preserved and historic observatories in India. The word “Jantar Mantar” stands for “Vedhshala” or instruments for measuring the harmony of the heavens.

The Jantar Mantar was ahead of its time and showcased the old ways of observing celestial bodies and time.

Masonry of instruments have specific characteristics, and these instruments were designed to observe astronomical positions with the naked eyes. Several instrumental and architectural innovations were involved in the observatory evolution as a rare and timeless attraction in Jaipur.

The court of a scholarly prince had fostered astronomical skills and cosmological concepts at the end of the Mughal period. This open-air astronomical observatory is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Even today, the observatory pulls scientific fraternity from every corner of the globe to study celestial objects. This development also inspired other widespread scientific deductions like cosmology in the 18^th century.

It has earned immense popularity over the years in educating people with the fascinations of space and time. Massive structures and fixed stones were aggregated for specific usage. All the 19 large instruments have distinct purposes.

Vrihat Samrat Yantra

Samrat Yantra is the most outstanding instrument, which is the largest sundial in the country. It calculates time up to the precision of two seconds.

Laghu Samrat Yantra

This small Samrat Yantra measures time up to the accuracy of twenty seconds.

Ram Yantra

Ram Yantra measures the azimuth and elevation of planets and Sun with a pair of tube-shaped structures.

Jaya Prakash Yantra

This yantra detects the elevation, azimuth, hour angles, and exact position of celestial bodies using the inverted image in the sky and the movement of the inverted shadows on the slabs. It comprises two hemispherical bowls like graded marble slabs and sundials. 

Chakra Yantra

It is a ring instrument to measure the hour angle and the coordinates of the Sun.

Digamsa
Digamsa predicts the sunrise and sunset timings in a day.

Nadivalaya

Nadivalaya represents two hemispheres of the Earth.

Kranti Vritta

It is used to measure the solar sign of the Sun in the daytime.

History

With an illuminating history that predates modern civilization, this observatory was far ahead of its time. It showcased the ancient ways of reading stars and skies.

Its scintillating history predates modern civilization. Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II built the observatory in the early 18^th century. Maharaja’s fascination with celestial bodies and their movement in the sky was the driving force for founding this wonderful observatory.

The monument was completed in 1734. With the instruments, you can view celestial objects with the naked eyes. Ptolemaic positional astronomy is at the base with shared similarities for civilizations.

Architecture

The magnificence of Jantar Mantar came alive through the hands of the artisans. The observatory came to fruition after the king applied the finesse and knowledge of 23 astronomers of Jaipur. Today, after a lot of obstacles, it stands out as an architectural masterpiece of the country.

The Jantar Mantar is a colossal structure spread over 18000 square meters, and instruments carry an astronomical scale and involve detailed planning. The monument was made using marble and stone.

Mortar, bronze tablets, and tablets were used to construct the structure and make it sturdy.

The Archaeological Sites and Monuments, Rajasthan has been maintaining the Jantar Mantar in Jaipur since 1961.

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