Jantar Mantar, Jaipur

Rajasthan Tour Travel > Rajasthan Fort Monuments

One of the most enlightened Maharajas was Maharaja Sawai Singh II who built five observatories in India, the largest and best preserved being at Jaipur in the city palace complex. While this was built in 1728 the one at Ujjain in 1734, Varanasi in 1737, Mathura in 1738 and the earliest in Delhi in 1724.

These curious collection of sculptures are, in fact structures with specific purpose to enable the calculation of many an astronomical and astrological event. Each was built after relentless study of books, manuscripts and discussions with scholars from all over the world. Even today they are put to good work.These instruments are named according to the use they are put to like: Samrat Yantra (The small equatorial Sun dial), Vrahat Samrat Yantra, Dhruv Yantra , Narivalaya Yantra, Prabha Yantra, Yantra Raj, Krautivritta Yantra, Unntansh Yantra, Bhitti Yantra, Shastansh Yantra, Rashivalaya Yantra, Jaiprakesh Yantra, Chakra Yantra, Kapil Yantra, Ram Yantra, Digamsha Yantra.