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Jantar Mantar |
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| Located about 250 meters south of Connaught Place,
Jantar Mantar is one of the world's oldest astronomical observatories.
Maharaja Jai Singh II of Jaipur (1699-1743) built this collection
of salmon-colored structures after studying Hindu, and Muslim
astronomical works. The observatory gives a good insight into
the technological innovations of the time and is an integral
part of India's scientific heritage. According to Sayyid Ahmad
Khan, the author of Athar-us-Sanadid, the construction was completed
in 1724. Since Jai Singh himself mentioned that he built the
instruments by the order of the emperor Muhammad Shah, who ascended
the throne only in 1719, the date of Sayyid Ahmad Khan appears
to be authentic. |
| The Jantar Mantar Observatory contains six instruments.
The most important or the 'Supreme Instrument' in Jantar Mantar
is the Samrat-Yantra, the huge sundial. It is an 'equinoctial
dial' or 'equal hour' sundial, consisting of a triangular gnomon
with the hypotenuse parallel to the earth's axis. On the either
side of the gnomon is a quadrant of a circle parallel to the
plane of the equator. |
| South of this is the Jai Prakash yantra, an instrument
which consists of two concave hemispherical structures, used
to ascertain the position of the Sun and other heavenly bodies.
Jai Singh himself designed this instrument and hence the name,
which means 'Invention of Jai'. The Ram-Yantra is south of the
Jai Prakash and was used for reading azimuth (horizontal) and
altitude (vertical) angles. It consists of two circular buildings
with a pillar at its center. |
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| Northwest of this is Misra Yantra, which combines
five instruments in one and hence its name. It looks like a
stylized 'namaste', the Indian form of greeting, folded hands
and palms pressed together. The Niyta-Chakra indicates the meridians
of Greenwich, Zurich, Notkey (Japan), and Serichew (Pacific
Ocean). |
| Dakshinottarabhitti-Yantra was used for obtaining
meridian altitudes and Karka-rasi-valaya indicated the entry
of the Sun in the constellation Cancer. The Agra Yantra (or
amplitude instrument) is the second quadrant on the west side
of the building and the exact purpose of this structure is not
definitely known. The Samrat Yantra, based on the same principles
as the large Samrat Yantra, was used to give time and declination
before and after noon. Built with brick rubble and plastered
with lime, similar observatories were also made at Jaipur, Ujjain,
Varanasi and Mathura. |
| To the east of these instruments, there is a
Temple of Lord Bhairava, which was also probably built by Maharaja
Jai Singh. The observatory is well maintained by the Archeological
Survey of India and is a protected monument under the ASI Act.
The gardens that surround the instruments have seasonal flowers
and lush grass, where visitors can sit at ease. Jantar Mantar
was the logo of the 1982 Asian Games, and the road leading to
it is also famous as a favorite site for political protest rallies.
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| Though these instruments are not functional,
as the markings and the floor measurements have blurred with
time, there is a proposal to make them operational in the near
future. Jantar Mantar is an interesting place to visit, as the
geometric structures are fascinating to look at. Jantar Mantar
also provides a calm and soothing environment, in the midst
of the regular hullabaloo of the city. Spread in a good open
area, the protected monument has all basic facilities such as
drinking water and toilet facilities. For eatables it is advisable
to eat the packed food available outside the main entrance.
There is no parking facility at the monument but tourists can
park their vehicles in the nearby parking area, which is 200
meters away. |
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