Travel News Desk, Jantar Mantar is a historical monument located in Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan. It is an astronomical observatory built between 1724 and 1734. It is also included in UNESCO’s ‘World Heritage List’. It has 14 major instruments which are helpful in measuring time, predicting eclipse, knowing about the movement and position of a star, planets of the solar system etc. These also include the world’s largest stone sundial or sundial, named Brihad Samrat Yantra. This astronomical instrument has been designed in such a way that its structure is approximately 27 meters high. Seeing these instruments shows that since ancient times, Indians had such a deep knowledge of complex concepts of mathematics and astronomy that they could make them an ‘educational observatory’ so that anyone can learn and enjoy them
History
Jantar Mantar, located near the City Palace, was built by the founder of Jaipur and astronomer Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh with the aim of obtaining accurate information about space and time. Before its establishment, Sawai Jai Singh had collected and studied the manuscripts of major and important texts of astronomy from different countries of the world. After which the Maharaja, with the help of famous and famous astronomers of that period, built 5 observatories based on Hindu astronomy in Delhi, Banaras, Ujjain and Mathura apart from Jaipur. Jaipur Observatory was built in 1724 AD. It was started in 1734 AD and was completed after 10 years. Of the 5 observatories built by him, only Jantar Mantar in Delhi and Jaipur survive today, the rest have turned into old ruins.
It is still used today
It is a wonderful collection of vastu astronomical instruments, which are still used for calculations and teaching even today. Apart from this, this astronomical observatory is also used to observe and study the orbits of planets around the Sun. The observatory is spread over an area of approximately 18,700 square metres. Very good quality marble stones have been used in its construction. It is also famous for its amazing structure. The Ram Yantra placed here is the main instrument for measuring celestial altitude, while the Samrat Yantra can measure the local time with an accuracy of 2 seconds. Apart from this, Unnatham Yantra, Disha Yantra, Nadivalay Yantra, Jai Prakash Yantra, Laghusamrat Yantra, Pashansh Yantra, Shashi Valaya Yantra, Chakra Yantra, Digansh Yantra, Dhruvdarshak Patika, Dakshinodak Yantra, Jai Prakash Yantra are also present here.
special things
Its name Jantar-Mantar is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Jantra Mantra’, which means ‘instrument’ and ‘calculation’, hence Jantar-Mantar means ‘calculating device’. Jantar Mantar of Jaipur is the largest ancient astronomical observatory of India. It has been constructed on the basis of Delhi Observatory.
