Search
» »Interesting Facts About Jantar Mantar in Jaipur!

Interesting Facts About Jantar Mantar in Jaipur!

By Siji Ram

Jantar Mantar is one of the major attractions of Jaipur, and among the top tourist attractions of India. Located close to other popular attractions like the City Palace and Hawa Mahal, Jantar Mantar is among the must visit attractions of the city.

Let us get to know about some of the interesting facts about Jantar Mantar in Jaipur!

jantar mantar

Jantar Mantar
Photo Courtesy: Arian Zwegers

1. A UNESCO Site
Jantar Mantar is one of the world heritage sites listed by UNESCO.

2. One of the 5 Observatories
Jantar Mantar in Jaipur is one of the five observatories built by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh, who was the founder of Jaipur and a brilliant astronomer too. During the beginning of 18th century, he has built 5 Jantar Mantars in India at New Delhi, Mathura, Jaipur, Varanasi and Ujjain.

jantar mantar

An image of Jantar Mantar
Photo Courtesy: vsvinaykumar

3. Largest of the Observatories
Though 5 observatories were constructed in various parts of India, the one in Jaipur is the lasrgest of them all.

4. Purpose of Jantar Mantar
Jantar Mantar was built to study time and space. The structure in Jaipur is a complex of nineteen architectural astronomical instruments, and is still running and being used for calculations and teaching. It is used to observe and study the orbits around the Sun. Some of the structures here were built in stone and marble, and some in bronze.

The nineteen Yantras here are Chakra Yantra, Dakshin Bhitti Yantra, Digamsha Yantra, Disha Yantra, Kanali Yantra and Misra Yantra among the rest.

jantar mantar

Jantar Mantar, an astronomical wonder!
Photo Courtesy: Andrew Hyde

5. World's Biggest Stone Sundial
Jantar Mantar in Jaipur has the world's biggest stone sundial called as Brihat Samrat Yantra. This instrument gives the local time at the accuracy of two seconds. The structure is over 27m high. The reason behind the enormous Samrat Yantra is the accuracy. A smaller device failed to give accurate time, thus increasing the size of the device was the only option left.

6. Meaning of Jantar Mantar
The words Jantar and Mantar derive from Sanskrit words Jantra and Mantra that mean 'instrument' and 'calculate' respectively, which makes the meaning of Jantar Mantar as "a calculating instrument".

Please leave your suggestions/feedback below.

Get Instant News Updates
Enable
x
Notification Settings X
Time Settings
Done
Clear Notification X
Do you want to clear all the notifications from your inbox?
Settings X