An Astronomical Wonder

Since time immemorial, the Universe has remained a mystery for all. As human beings are superior creature of the nature, so they couldn’t stop themselves from knowing the facts about the Universe. Scientists have been working incessantly for several decades to unveil various mysteries related to the Universe. But, one after another, several new facts related to Universe coming before us and we just try to uncover the truth beyond the curtain. Even today only scientists and researchers have some knowledge about the Universe, common people are still unaware about the mysteries of the Universe.

However, several Planetarium have been built across the world to provide a glimpse of vast Universe. In fact, much before the existence of Planetarium people across the world built Solar Observatories to observe the movements of Sun, Stars, Moon and other solar objects. Way back in the 18th century there was king named Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II who had vast knowledge in Astronomical Science.

Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II had intense propensity to work with celestial bodies, therefore, he built five observatories in Delhi, Jaipur and other cities of India. Amongst those five observatories of Sawai Jai Singh II, the Jantar Mantar, Jaipur is biggest and it houses a number of instruments related to solar observations. A wondrous observatory, Jantar Mantar was built by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II between 1727-1733 AD. If you have a desire to see amazing instruments related to Solar Observation, then Jantar Mantar, Jaipur is waiting for you.

Renowned all over the world, the Jantar Mantar boasts of a number of geometric instruments related to solar observation. Jantar Mantar has 14 major geometric instruments to measure time, to predict eclipses, to track stars in their orbits, to ascertain the declination of planets, to determine the celestial attitudes and related ephemerids. Each of them is fixed and has a focus tool. Among of them, the largest ‘Yantra’ is known as the ‘Samrat Jantar’, which is 90 feet high and positioned in an angle of 27 degrees, that is the latitude of Jaipur. Actually, Samrat Jantar is a sun-dial and still used to know the proper time of the day. Other notable instruments are Jaiprakash Yantra, Ram Yantra and the Composite instrument. On its top, a small domed cupola or the Hindu Chhatri is placed to predict the eclipses and the arrival of monsoons.

Most of the astronomical instruments are of huge shapes and built on a large scale just to get the accurate observations. Entirely built of locally available sand stone and marbles, each instrument has astronomical scales. Due to its unique characteristics, Jantar Mantar got the label of national monument in 1948.

On the whole, Jantar Mantar is a famous tourist spot of Rajasthan and draws thousands of tourists from worldwide. Hence, whenever you will be at Jaipur, don’t forget to pay a visit to magical Jantar Mantar.

Legend behind the name of Jantar Mantar

The name, ‘Jantar Mantar’ was given as such because the observatory has many architectural astronomical instruments or ‘Yantra’(Jantra) and the formulas (Mantra) were used with chanting tune. The ‘Y’ letter of the word ‘Yantra’ is pronounced as 'J' in Jaipur’s colloquial language, so the term finally appears as ‘Jantar Mantar’.