Jantar Mantar in Jaipur

Sawai Jai Singh II built the Jantar Mantar, or Observatory in 1728. He was an enthusiastic astronomer and spent much time and money on building this observatory, which is still one of Jaipur's main attractions. Jai Singh had it built just outside the City Palace - close enough for him to spend hours indulging in the study of the skies. He used it daily, often with his astronomy gurus Pandit Jagannath and Kewal Ram. In all, there are seventeen instruments in this complex. The function of each instrument is rather complex but serves a particular function where time plays the main theme.

Jai singh was aware that astronomical instruments being used in other parts of the world were smaller in size but his careful study led him to believe that the small, metal instruments were not accurate enough. After studying all available works on astronomy, he successfully designed these gigantic stone and masonry instruments and made efforts to improve upon them. Emissaries were sent to meet other astronomers and obtain the latest and the most advanced astronomical instruments. This is amazing when you realise that all this was happening in the eighteenth century. Those were times when wars were being fought; maharajas were more interested in expanding their kingdoms or living in regal splendour than in studying the planets. But Jai Singh II was an extraordinary man.

These fascinating architectural innovations were designed and built to measure astronomical quantities such as declinations, altitudes, eclipses, time, etc. of the sun, moon, and other planets at different times of the year. Amazingly, this astounding collection of complex instruments is still in use today even after almost three hundred years. Every year, astrologers gather here just before the rains, make their readings and predict the kind of monsoon Jaipur can expect. It does seem to work!

He built five of these in other parts of the country - Delhi, Ujjain, Mathura and Varanasi. This observatory is the largest and the best preserved - and a fitting tribute to the great astronomer king.

Do not be in a hurry to rush through the Jantar Mantar complex. Take your time and let the guide give you a detailed tour. The complex also has a newly built museum where miniature models of all the large instruments are displayed. The City Palace Museum is also a good place to see old plans and manuscripts pertaining to the Observatory.