Jantar Mantar(Jaipur)- Rajasthan's astronomical architectural structure.
In this article I have provided information on the famous Jantar Mantar situated in the capital city of Rajasthan. Also I have provided information on how to reach Jaipur and travel in the city.
Jantar Mantar(Jaipur)
Rajasthan is known for it's architecture world over. The grand palaces of Rajasthan, the delicately scluptured temples etc. have already made a mark in the world of architecture and tourists from all over the world flock into Rajasthan to see and marvel these structures.
One such structure situated in the capital city of Rajasthan- Jaipur, is Jantar Mantar. Let us know more about this world famous structure in detail.History of Jantar Mantar
The Jantar Mantar was built by Maharaja Jai Singh II in his then capital Jaipur in the year 1727-37. It is one of the five Jantar Mantars constructed by the Maharaja in India. The other Jantar Mantars were constructed in Delhi, Ujjain, Mathura and Varanasi. Among these Jantar Mantars the Jaipur and Delhi Jantar Mantar are the ones still surviving and the Jaipur Jantar Mantar is in the best of the condition.Jantar Mantar
The word Jantar(yantra) in hindi means instument while mantar(mantra) means calculation. Hence the name Jantar Mantar can be literally translated as an instrument for calculation.
The Jantar Mantar observatory has 14 yantras or equipments constructed to read and predict astronomical events. It is said that one can predict the time of the day, eclipses and information on the revolution of various planets around the sun using the Jantar Mantar. Some of the yantras(equipments) in Jaipur's Jantar Mantar are-
The Samrat yantra(the supreme instrument)- It is a giant sundial 27 metres high. It can be used for telling the time and has a great accuracy of 2 seconds.
The Dakshina Yantra- It is a wall in the north-south meridian. It can help in location of the celestial bodies.
The disha yantra- This instrument tells the direction of north.
The Unnathamsa Yantra- It is utilized to know the elevation of celestial bodies.
The Raj yantra- It is used for charting out the hindu calendar.
The Dhruva yantra- It tells the direction of the dhruv star(pole star).
The Chakra yantra- It is used for the angular measurement of objects.
The Kranti yantra- It is used for measuring latitude and longitude of celestial instruments.
The Ram yantra- It is used for measuring the elevation and arc of the celestial vast circle from Zenith to horizon of the celestial bodies.
The Diganta yantra- It is used for measuring the arc of the celestial vast circle from Zenith to horizon of planetary bodies.Construction of Jantar Mantar
The Jantar Mantar at Jaipur is the biggest and the only Jantar Mantar made of stone. The various yantras are made of stone and the measuring surface is made of white marbel. Also bronze and other alloys are used in making other instruments.How to reach Jaipur?
Jaipur is the capital city of Rajasthan. Hence it is not a problem at al to reach Jaipur. One can reach Jaipur by bus, train or plane. Jaipur is well connected to all the major cities in India. Travelling in Jaipur
One can use buses, taxis, auto rickshaws and cycle rickshaws to travel around Jaipur. It is however economical to travel the city by buses as compared to taxis and autos.
