Jantar Mantar Observatory

A collection of architectural astronomical equipment is found at the Jantar Mantar Observatory in Jaipur. Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, who served as the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb's commander, constructed the Jantar Mantar. With regard to architecture, the Jantar Mantar in Jaipur is similar to the one in New Delhi. The two were constructed by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, who also built five other similar monuments in other locations, including Delhi, Ujjain, and Mathura. The Jantar Mantar in Jaipur is the best preserved among all these structures and has been included in the list of World Heritage Sites by UNESCO.

The Jantar Mantar attracts a number of astronomers, students of Vedic astronomy, and tourists from all over the world. Local astronomers still use it to predict the weather for local farmers. The Jantar Mantar can be called the single most representative work of Vedic astronomy. The Jantar Mantar houses a giant sundial called the Samrat Yantra and other astronomical instruments such as the Nadivalya Yantra, the Jai Prakash Yantra, and the Laghu Samrat Yantra.

Location: Gangori Bazaar, J.D.A. Market, Pink City, Jaipur, Rajasthan