jantar mantar jaipur
jantar mantar jaipur

Jantar Mantar Jaipur

Here are some unknown facts about the world’s largest sundial Jantar Mantar Jaipur. Built by Rajput King Sawai Jai Singh II in 1734, Jantar Mantar, Jaipur is an astronomical observatory, which boasts the largest stone sundial in the world. India has five of them, and the biggest is in Jaipur. This Mantar Jantar Observatory is also a UNESCO World Heritage site that must be added to every tourist into their travel plans. This is everything you will need to know about the observatory before visiting it.

Jantar Mantar Jaipur History

Mantar Jantar in Jaipur is an exciting astronomical observation, located in the heart of the city. This is one of the main observatories in the world. And composed of interesting stone architectural designs that help to interpret the position of the celestial bodies and calculate the local time. Filed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Jantar Mantar in Jaipur attracted architects, mathematicians, geographers, and historians.

Who Build Jantar Mantar?

Jantar Mantar, Jaipur was built by Emperor Sawai Jai Singh II, and he developed 5 observators in various parts of the country: Jaipur, Mathura, Delhi, Ujjain, and Varanasi. The one in Jaipur is the largest of all, while the one in Mathura is almost in ruins, now; Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II is the founder of the city of Jaipur and potential ruler of the Amber region. Along with his political experience, he is also a scholar in physics, mathematics, and astronomy. During his reign, Emperor Muhammad Shah commissioned him to rectify astronomical calculations in Islamic zij tables. To accomplish this task, he collected astronomical data from European and Persian nations and studied and interpreted them.

After extensive research and study of the collected data, Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II built stone instruments to determine the position of planetary bodies and measure time. Jaipur Jantar Mantar was built between 1728-1734 and its rock instruments were considered more accurate than others.

When To Visit Jantar Mantar, Jaipur

The best time to visit Jantar Mantar: The best time of the day to visit Jantar Mantar in Jaipur is in the middle of the day. During noon, the Sun is vertically up and it is easy to understand the process of interpreting the readings from each instrument.

Jantar Mantar pink city Opening and closing Timing: Jantar Mantar in Jaipur is opening time is 9:00 am to 4:30 pm, all days in a week. Generally, all of Jantar Mantar can be seen in just 35 to 45 minutes of time.

Entrance fee to Jantar Mantar pink city: Jantar Mantar, the entrance fee to Jaipur is INR 50 per person for Indians and INR 200 per person for foreigners. The entrance fee for Indian students is INR 15 per person and for international students is INR 25 per person. Students get this discount by showing valid proof of ID.

Jantar Mantar Jaipur- Amazing light and sound show timings:

  • Oct–Feb: 6:30 pm onwards
  • Mar-Apr: 7:00 pm onwards
  • May-Sep: 7:30 pm onwards

Main attractions within Jantar Mantar

Jantar Mantar Observatory in Jaipur consists of 19 instruments for measuring the situation and distances of celestial bodies. These instruments are basically stone structures, which represent interesting geometric shapes. It is advisable to bring a local guide from Jantar Mantar, Jaipur, or an audio guide to clearly understand the instruments and how they work.

Vrihat Smarat Yantra: The Huge Sundial

Vrihat Smarat Yantra is a gigantic sundial, located in the center of the Jantar Mantar observatory. It is 27 m long and is known as the tallest sundial in the world. The Samrat Yantra, which translates to “supreme instrument,” is an equinoctial sundial and measures time with an accuracy of two seconds.

The shadow of the triangular wall of the yantra, which is positioned in a north-south direction at an angle identical to the latitude of this location, travels equal distances at equal time intervals, in the east and west quadrants. This movement is standardized to calculate and interpret local time.

Laghu Smarat Yantra

Popular like the little Smarat Yantra, it is smaller and calculates time with an accuracy of twenty seconds. The ramp of this sundial points towards the Northern part. So the Pink city time can be easily calculated from the location of the ramp’s shadow in the fine partitions of the carved scale. The shadow on the triangular wall of the yantra indicates the local time.

Ram Yantra

Ram Yantra considers the altitude and azimuth of the Sun and the planets. The instrument consists of a pair of tube-shaped architectural designs, open to the sky. Each architectural design and structure has a pole of equal height in the center. The scales that designate the angles of altitude and azimuth of extraterrestrial bodies are inscribed within the walls of these architectural designs. Ram Yantra is just seen in Jantar Mantar of Jaipur and New Delhi only.

Jaya Prakash Yantra

This is another major attraction in Jaipur’s Jantar Mantar. This yantra consists of two hemispherical sundial bowls with graduated marble slabs. The inverted image of the sky falls on the slab and the movement of the reverse shadow helps detect the height, azimuth, clock angle, and the right position of celestial bodies.

Yantra chakra

The yantra chakra, Jantar Mantar, Jaipur is a ring instrument that calculates the coordinates and the hour angle of the Sun. It consists of four semicircular arcs, on which the gnomon casts a shadow, thus reducing the declination of the Sun four times a day.

Digamsa

Another must-see instrument from Jantar Mantar is Digamsa. It is a pillar in the middle of two concentric outer circles, which helps to predict sunrise and sunset times in a day.

Nadivalaya

With a pair of circular plates, oriented north and south, Nadivalaya represents the two hemispheres of the Earth. The wall of the plates is inclined to such a gradient that the instrument is always parallel to the equatorial plane of the Earth.

Karnti Vritya

Jantar Mantar tour in Jaipur is not complete if you skip Karnti Vritya. This is a special instrument, which is used to measure the Sun’s Sun sign during the day.

Places to visit around Jantar Mantar, Jaipur

Here are some other places that you can visit on your trip to Jaipur. Read on to find out more about these places.

City palace

Endowed with gorgeous Rajasthani and Mughal structural and architectural designs, Jaipur’s City Palace is positioned just a stone’s throw from Jantar Mantar. The courtyard, the museum, the art galleries, and the well-decorated garden attract visitors here. The City palace complex is gorgeous and one must positively explore it on their trip to Jaipur sightseeing tour packages.

Hawa mahal

The city has so many gorgeous places to visit in Jaipur like palaces made of red and pink sandstone. Hawa Mahal is located at a distance of 7 kilometers from Jantar Mantar and can be reached in 3 minutes by a four-wheeler or any vehicle. Hawa Mahal, also known as the “Palace of the Wind”, offers stunning views of the city from the upper floors. The view of Jantar Mantar from the top floor of this palace is sure to leave you in awe.

Tripolia Gate

Tripolia Gate, built-in 1734, marks the entrance to the “pink city”. Designed in European, Mughal, and Rajput themes, this grand entrance was also the gateway to the city palace in earlier days. It is a historical landmark in Jaipur and the bustling bazaar surrounds this Jaipur gate today.

Goverdhan Temple

Located in the Hawa Mahal complex, this ancient temple dates back to 1790. Built by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh, this place of worship is dedicated to Lord Krishna and Radha. The structure and architectural design of the temple resemble a haveli. It is one of the major tourist attractions and best places to visit in Jaipur.

Meaning of Jantar Mantar

Jantar Mantar is an observatory created by Jai Singh II and was the culmination of the observational astronomy of various cultures. The observatory studies:

  • Maragheh
  • Ulugh Beg Observatory in Samarkand
  • European literature on instrumental astrology
  • Ancient Sanskrit scriptures.

The observation made on this observatory contributed to Zij-i Muhammad Shahi. Jantar Mantar in Jaipur and instruments in Jantar Mantar in Jaipur were used to act as Mecca for fortune-tellers and astronomers who had come here and discussed their findings.

If you haven’t visited Jantar Mantar, Jaipur does not include this on your next Rajasthan trip and has an amazing vacation. The “Pink City” is an incredible family and honeymoon destination! Travel soon and don’t forget to share your experience with us!

What’s so special about Jantar Mantar Jaipur?

Jantar Mantar Jaipur is the largest in India of the 5 Jantar Mantar present in the country. It is a huge observatory built to predict the time and movement of planets and other bodies. It is also the biggest sundial in the world.

Why was Jantar Mantar built in Jaipur?

Jantar Mantar Jaipur is a stone sundial that was constructed to collect astronomical data. The structure uses the position of the sun and the direction of the shadows to tell the time in ancient times. It has been cleverly designed to also predict the movement and position of other celestial bodies in space.

How many Jantar Mantars are there?

There are a total of 5 Jantar Mantar located in different cities in India, namely Jaipur, Delhi, Varanasi, Ujjain, and Mathura. The one in Jaipur is the major sundial in the world. Jantar Mantar in Delhi is also admired and renowned among tourists.

How many instruments are there in the Jantar Mantar of Pink city?

There is an overall of 19 instruments in Jantar Mantar Jaipur. Some of the main instruments of Jantar Mantar are Samrat Yantra, Disha Yantra, Chakra Yantra, Jai Prakash Yantra, Rama Yantra, Rashiwalay Yantra, Utaansh Yantra, and Dingash Yantra.

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