Jantar Mantar, Jaipur

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The Jantar Mantar in Jaipur is one of 5 observatories which Sawai Jai Singh II built around India. This one is the largest and is also in the best condition of them all. Sawai Jai Singh was a leading astronomer as well as the found of Jaipur. Jantar-Mantar can be translated as ‘Magical Device’. It was built between 1728 and 1734. Giant stone and marble instruments are strategically laid out to accurately measure time, the altitude and the azimuth, the declination of the sun and the position of the constellations in the sky for the day, the eclipses and the related astronomical phenomena.

Open : 0930-1630 Hrs

This is an amazing place, it looks like a painting by Dali but is in fact an observatory.

It was built by Jai Singh almost 300 years ago, he actually built five in different parts of India but this is the biggest. The sun dials are very accurate and I loved this place, not only was it very peaceful but the surreal structures are strangely beautiful

it is open from 9am to 4.30pm each day
entrance costs 100 rupees
still cameras 50 rupees, camcorders 100 rupees

Of the five observatories built by Sawai Jai Singh II, that in Jaipur (1728-34) is said to be the finest.

No more accurate or advanced astronomical observatory existed anywhere else on earth at the time. And at that time it was thought also to be the world's best astrological guide.

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Maharaja Jai Singh II (founder of Jaipur) was (as well as a warrior) an astronomer. Jai Singh II built a total of 5 observatories with this one, the Jaipur Jantar Mantar, being erected in 1728.
There are a total of 15 geometric (time) measuring devices here which can predict eclipses, track the stars etc... Each devices is made from the local stone and the tallest one, the Samrat Jantar, stands at a massive 90 ft.

Jantar Mantar was restored in 1901 and declared a national monument in 1948.

It is a popular place to visit yet remains peaceful. Remarkable and worth visiting.

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Of the five observatories built by Sawai Jai Singh ll, this one is the most realistic and logical.
Some of the instruments are still used to forecast how hot the summer mouths will be, the
uxpected date of the arrival, duration and intensity of the monsoon, and the possibility of floods and famine.
JAI PRAKASH YANTRA
Two sunken bemispheres map out the heavens.

This is the largest and best of the 5 observatories in India. It was built by Sawai Jai Singh II (1699-1744) around 1728-34. At the time, it was the most accurate and advanced observatory, and the best astrological guide. He himself had a 'deep and perfect ' knowledge of astronomy.
This observatory has 18 different instruments for measuring such things as: Polar Star, Celestial latitude and longitude, position of planets, solar and lunar eclipses, altitude of heavenly bodies, zenith, distance and declination to name but a few,.

The site is open from 9am- 4.30 pm. The entry fee is 100 rupees.

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I've never been to an astrological observatory before and I'm not really into stars and all that, but this was pretty interesting. The Maharajah Jai Sigh II was, however, and its a good thing.
I went for a brief tour of the observatory in Jaipur, one of 5 he built around the country.
It was interesteing to see the stages it went through. There was a small sun dial that they built first which had about a 12 minute accuracy... then there's an enormous one with 2 second accuracy which is pretty impressive.
The part I liked most was the horoscope predictor, pictured here. Never even knew they existed.. hm.

Another Sundial of Jantra Mantra but this one is an equatorial sundial although it performs the same function. It can measure the local solar time at the latitude of Jaipur. Narivalaya Yantra actually has two dials. There is a winter dial (pointing to the south pole) for when the sun is in the southern hemisphere and a summer dial (pointing to the north pole) for when the sun is in the northern hemisphere. At noon the sun falls on the north-south line enabling the reading of time in a normal way.

This instrument is actually two sunken bowls and measures the rotation, longitude and latitude of the sun. A map of the visible heavens is inscribed on the inner surface of the bowls. There are additional scales which include the zodiac divisions around the rim of the bowls. There is a small ring which is suspended from cross wires. From this the shadow obtained projects the position of the sun onto the inscribed celestial map.

The Raj Yantra is said to be the King of all Instruments. It is used only once in a year to calculate the Hindu calendar. This instrument is a map of planetary positions which is depicted on a 7ft wide metal disc.