| Friends
Travel Services » Tourist
Attractions in India
Jantar Mantar Delhi
Jantar Mantar is one of the unique structures raised in
1724 by the Maharaja of Jaipur, Jai Singh II. Jantar Mantar
lies in the heart of Delhi's commercial centre near Connaught
Place.
This Jantar Mantar is one of several astronomical observatories
erected by Maharaja Jai Singh. There are various abstract
structures within the Jantar Mantar keeping track of celestial
bodies in our solar system. In fact, the structures are
instruments, used in finding the planetary positions.
Jantar Mantar is not only a sundial of celestial bodies,
but it also symbolizes the technological achievements
under the Rajput kings and their endeavor to resolve the
astronomical mysteries. The Jantar Mantar of Delhi is
only one of the five observatories built by Maharaja Jai
Singh II. The other four Jantar Mantar are located at
Jaipur, Varanasi, Ujjain and Mathura. All of these were
built as far back as AD 1724-1730. The period marked as
the dark age of Indian history, pertaining to the downfall
of the Mughal Empire.
Delhi's Jantar Mantar is the first of the five observatories
that Maharaja Jai Singh built with huge masonry instruments.
Jantar Mantar has :
Samrat
Yantra - An equinoctial Sun dial - the largest and
the most imposing structure at the Observatory.
Misra
Yantra - A mixed instrument which incorporates many
interesting functions.
Jayaprakash
- The 'Crest Jewel' of instruments consisting of two
complimentary concave hemispheres, reflecting the dome
of the sky.
Ram Yantra - Two imposing
circular complementary buildings, designed for very easy
determination of local celestial co-ordinates.
History :
This is an open air observatory, built in 1724 by astronomer
Maharaja Jai Singh II. It consists of large scale masonry
instruments for accurate measuring of various astronomical
data. Sawai Jia Singh II of Jaipur (1699-1743), a passionate
astronomer and a noble in the Mughal court, was displeased
by the inaccuracy of brass and metal astronomical instruments,
used by the then Mughals. Taking the patronage from the
Emperor, he updated the existing astronomical tables with
more reliable instruments.
Jai Singh had a passion for astronomy. Once, at the court
of Muhammad Shah, he found the Hindu and Muslim astrologers
involved in a heated argument over certain planetary positions.
In order to determine an auspicious hour for the Emperor
to set out on an expedition, the astrologers were desperate
to know the accurate planetary positions. Seeing all this
Maharaja Jai Singh offered to rectify the available astronomical
tables, which was readily accepted by the Mughal emperor.
And this move resulted in the erection of an onsite Jantar
Mantar in Delhi, an astronomical observatory where the
movements of sun, moon and planets could be observed.
Other places of interest, close to Jantar
Mantar :
» Parliament House
» Janpath
Market for Shopping
» Hanuman Mandir
»
Central Cottage Emporium
Timings :
It is open daily from dawn to dusk.
How to
Reach There :
New Delhi is excellently connected by rail, air and road
with various parts of the country. Jantar Mantar being
situated at Connaught Place, the heart of Delhi is accessible
from all the part of the Delhi by any public or private
vehicle.
Shopping and Eating Out :
Connaught Place and Janpath Market are the closest shopping
and refreshment places near to Jantar Mantar. There are
many restaurant available in & around CP and Janpath
offering wide range of Indian and continental dishes.
Connaught Place is the best shopping place in Delhi. One
can find anything of ones choice from here.
 |
Hotels in Delhi |
 |
|
|
|
|
