Jantar Mantar,Jaipur

An observatory constructed in mid way between the years 1728 and 1734, Jantar Mantar is placed adjacent to the city palace. Literally this term means instruments and formula. Maharaja Jai Singh II was the progressive spirit behind this observatory, which has the accolade of being the largest stone observatory in the world. Historians are of the opinion that, Maharaja Jai Singh took long seven years to complete the construction of this observatory.

Renowned for the solid geometrical statuette, this observatory house fourteen major solid and fixed geometric instruments, which are used for tracing the stars and their orbits. Besides this, Jantar Mantar observatory helps to determine the time of eclipses, find out the altitudes along with computing time. A well-preserved monument, Jantar Mantar has been declared as a national monument in the year 1948.

Jantar mantar is one of Jai Singh's five remarkable observatories. Constructed with stone and marble its complex instruments whose settings and shapes are precisely and scientifically designed represent the high points of Medieval Indian astronomy. The Ram Yantras used for gauging altitudes are unique in their isolation. this is the largest of the five observatories founded by Sawai Jai Singh-II in various parts of the country. It has been listed in UNESCO world heritage sites

Major Yantras or instruments that you can watch moving clockwise are: Small 'Samrat', 'Dhruva', 'Narivalya', The Observer's Seat, Small 'Kranti', 'Raj' 'Unnathamsa', 'Disha', 'Dakshina', Large 'Samrat', 'Rashivalayas', 'Jai Prakash', Small 'Ram', Large 'Ram Yantra', 'Diganta', Large 'Kranti'