Jantar Mantar

Jantar Mantar of Jaipur in Rajasthan is the biggest stone observatory in the world, which is still in a running condition and stands witness to the wisdom of the former age.

Jantar Mantar of Jaipur in Rajasthan is one of the five astronomical observatories built by Maharaja Jai Singh, the founder of Jaipur of Rajasthan and is located close to the gate of the famous City Palace of Jaipur of Rajasthan. 

The Jantar Mantar at Jaipur of Rajasthan was conceived as a quest for discovering the mysteries of the Cosmos. It was built not only to verify astronomical observations made at Jaipur of Rajasthan, but also to stimulate interest in astronomy, which had become enmeshed in theory, superstition and religious jargon.

Jantar Mantar, built by King Jai Singh II between 1727 and 1734, literally means "calculation instrument". More than just a curious collection of sculptures, each structure at the intriguing Jantar Mantar observatory has a specialized astronomical function.

There are 14 structures in total, which measure time, predict eclipses, and track stars. The most impressive one is the huge Samrat Yantra sundial. At a height of 90 feet (27 meters), it has a shadow that moves roughly the width of a person's hand every minute. It's a profound display of how quickly time does in fact go!

Highlights: Largest Stone Astronomical Observatory in the World

Location: Next to the City Palace, Jaipur.

Entry Cost: 100 rupees for foreigners. 20 rupees for Indians.

Opening Hours: 9 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. daily.