About
Jantar Mantar in Jaipur is an open-air astronomical observatory, also known as the Jaipur Observatory, the Royal Observatory or the Astronomical Observatory. It sits in the Pink City, on Gangori Bazaar in the J.D.A. Market area, in the Indian state of Rajasthan.
The site holds a collection of 19 architectural astronomical instruments, built in 1734. Rather than being housed in enclosed rooms, the instruments are large stone structures set out in the open, and visitors walk among them to see how each one was used to read the sky and the time. The most striking of them is the world's largest stone sundial, whose great triangular gnomon casts a shadow that moves across its curved scales over the day.
Planning a visit
- The observatory is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, so it suits visitors interested in historic science and architecture.
- Its setting in the old walled city means it pairs easily with other sights nearby, including the streets, markets and palaces of the Pink City.
- Because the instruments are outdoors, plan for the weather and wear comfortable shoes, as the site involves a fair amount of walking and climbing between structures.
- For current information, the observatory can be reached by telephone at +91-141-261-0494.
For anyone curious about how people measured time and the heavens before modern instruments, Jantar Mantar offers a focused and rewarding stop in Jaipur.
