Jantar Mantar - Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
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N 26° 55.509 E 075° 49.421
43R E 581777 N 2978411
The Jantar Mantar monument of Jaipur is a collection of nineteen architectural astronomical instruments, built by the Rajput king Sawai Jai Singh. It features the world's largest stone sundial, and is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Waymark Code: WMQ5BP
Location: India
Date Posted: 12/23/2015
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Located near City Palace and Hawa Mahal of Jaipur, the monument features masonry, stone and brass instruments that were built using astronomy and instrument design principles of ancient Hindu Sanskrit texts. The instruments allow the observation of astronomical positions with the naked eye. The monument expresses architectural innovations, as well as the coming together of ideas from different religious and social beliefs in 18th century India. The observatory is an example of the Ptolemaic positional astronomy which was shared by many civilizations.
The monument features instruments operating in each of the three main classical celestial coordinate systems: the horizon-zenith local system, the equatorial system and the ecliptic system. The Kapala Yantraprakara is one that works in two systems and allows transformation of the coordinates directly from one system to the other. Vrihat Samrat Yantra (world's largest gnomon sundial) measures time in intervals of 2 seconds using shadow cast from the sunlight. Laghu Samrat Yantra (the smaller sundial at the monument) is inclined at 27 degrees, to measure time. It is less accurate than Vrihat Samrat Yantra.
The monument was damaged in the 19th century. Early restoration work was undertaken under the supervision of Major Arthur Garrett, a keen amateur astronomer, during his appointment as Assistant State Engineer for the Jaipur District.
Architectural instruments, including the 90' Samrat Jantar inclined to the latitude of 27 degrees. Scientific sculpture in solid geometry.
See our gallery of 10 photos.
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