In the decade between 1724 and 1734, Sawai Raja Jai Singh of Amber (in Rajasthan) built a series of huge observatories across the North Indian plains. A keen astronomer, Jai Singh had studied astronomy from the point of view of Islamic, Hindu and European methods, and his construction of these observatories (all of them called ‘Jantar Mantar’, a corruption of ‘yantra-mantra’, referring to instruments and formulae) was another step in celebrating his passion for astronomy.
Jai Singh built his Jantar Mantar observatories in Jaipur, Ujjain, Varanasi, Delhi and Mathura; the first of these was this one, built in Delhi. It consists of several huge astronomical instruments, in the form of a large masonry structures placed around a park. From the main gate, the first is the Misra Yantra (‘composite instruments’, several instruments in one), a heart-shaped structure which was the emblem of the 1982 Asian Games; the Samrat Yantra (an equinoctial dial, a soaring staircase with two arcs rising on either side of it); the Ram Yantra (shaped rather like the Coliseum in Rome, and used to measure the altitude of the stars); and the Jaiprakash Yantra (a bowl-shaped structure that shows the sun’s position at the time of the spring and autumn equinoxes).
While the structures are well-maintained, given that this is actually a highly specialized technological site, better explanations are needed than the fairly basic text on the plaques beside each instrument. These, right now, have the sort of explanations that would not make much sense to the average lay person.
Still, an interesting place to visit, and the structures are very impressive.
Children below 15 can enter Jantar Mantar free. Adults pay Rs 25 (if Indian) or Rs 200 (if foreign).