The Jantar Mantar is a set of 14 colossal astronomical observatory instruments situated in the heart of Jaipur. These incredibly accurate devices were constructed by Maharaja Jai Singh II, who considered date, star alignment and other celestial movements critical to predicting his fate and fortunes in wars and scheming.

The Jantar Mantar, once completed in 1734, were the most advanced observatory instruments with the ability to predict eclipses, track the location of stars and determine the exact orbit of the earth around the sun. The Jantar Mantar was one of five astronomical complexes built by Maharaja Jai Singh II but the Jaipur facility was the largest and is the best preserved.

Samrat Yantra, Jantar Mantar

The centrepiece of the strange array of instruments is the Samrat Yantra (the Giant Sundial) which is the world’s tallest sundial at 27 meters and has a shadow movement speed of 6cm per minute. The whole bizarre complex has a surreal atmosphere, with giant orange structures jutting out of the ground for unknown proposes but the area is a tranquil break from the confusion of central Jaipur.

The Jantar Mantar is situated in the heart of historic Jaipur, located opposite the City Palace. The ancient astronomical facility is open every day between 9:30 and 16:30 and the entrance fee is Rs200 plus an additional fee of Rs50 for cameras. Typical visits last between 30 minutes to 1 hour.

The India name Jantar Mantar is derived from the two words yantra (instrument) and mandir (temple) which gives the enigmatic name of temple of instruments. During the British rule of India the name was mistranslated and became Jantar Mantra on all official documentation and this name has stuck ever since. The observatory was built for the guru of Jai Sing II, Pandit Jaganath, in order to establish the birth charts and determine the best time for major events (wars, weddings, parties).

The Jantar Mantar is based on his previous instruments that he created at another observation station in Delhi which was the, the capital of the Mughal Empire. He also made three other building in Varanasi, Mathura and Ujjain, but the Jantar Mantar of Jaipur is the largest. Many of astronomical measurements were influenced by the Islamic school of astronomy which was regarded as the most advance of the era.

Jaipur India Holiday Travel Guide