Jantar Mantar In Delhi

By Author: Ashima Banerjee
Total Articles: 95
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Delhi, the capital city of India, boasts of numerous historic and modern monuments that are prime attractions for the tourists coming to visit the city. There are several heritage sites also in Delhi that are of historical importance. One such structure is the Yantra Mantra, which is better known today as the Jantar Mantar.
The structure undoubtedly is another great masterpiece of Indian architecture which shows the scientific acumen of ancient India. It is also called Delhi Observatory and is situated at Parliament Street, very close to Connaught Place. Though in Delhi, it is maintained by the Jaipur government because it was built by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II of Jaipur in 1710 A.D.
The earlier name, Yantra Mantra means instrument and formula respectively. Built in the year 1724 AD, the Jantar Mantar was the inspiration and work of the great Maharaja Jai Singh. The structure consists of 14 geometric designs used to measure time, predict the behavior of weather changes and planets and to find extra-terrestrial altitude. All of these remarkable structures are stationed in one place but point to different directions.

The ...
... shape of Jantar Mantar is very unique. The structure lies in the center of the capital city and in order to store its beauty and uniqueness, various polishing and glow exercises have been done without touching upon the main structure. Within the observatory, there are 4 instruments. The four instruments are Ram Yantra, Samrat Yantra, Jayaprakash, and Mishra Yantra.

Jantar Mantar is a very complex structure that has been built in a very unique shape. The Jantar Mantar in New Delhi has four distinct instruments within the jurisdiction of the observatory. They are namely the Samrat Yantra, Ram Yantra, Mishra Yantra and Jayaprakash.

The Samrat Yantra meaning the Supreme Instrument stands to be the largest monument. Measured to be the largest sundial in the world, the Samrat Yantra, meaning is poised at a height of 90 feet with an inclination of 27 degrees and the same angle as that of the latitude of Jaipur in which it stands. The shadow of this dial is plotted in such a way that the exact time of the day can be read. With the help of the Chhatri near the dial, weather predictions can also be ascertained. The Jai Prakash is also an instrument that shows the position of the Sun and has an interesting hole that experiences sunlight only on the 21st of March each year. The Ram Yantra is the third attraction and is made up of two circular buildings which are open to the sky.

These imposing structures were constructed from the locally available stone and marble with bronze tablets to increase the accuracy of their readings. The marble stones have an inner lining of astronomical scale for measurement. Though constructed in the eighteenth century, the Sundials and other astronomical instruments were fully restored only in the year 1901 and later declared a national monument in the year 1948. Though local astronomers use it till date to predict the weather for farmers, the accuracy of the readings and their authority is becoming questionable. Jantar Mantar was not only a place for gigantic astrological measuring instruments but also contained within it a few smaller instruments which, till date, prove to be one of the most remarkable innovative designs in architecture.

The Jantar Mantar attracts thousands of historians, architects and astrologers apart from hordes of tourists. In the year 1948 the architectural site was declared as the national monument. The main beauty of this structure lies in the fact that for the construction of this monument, no mechanics was involved. Rather, the amazing thing about it is, the instrument are 100 % efficient and accurate in their working. The Jantar Mantar stands as a true architectural marvel where stone and marble combine to make spectacular monuments with an engraved astronomical scale.

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