Jantar Mantar
जंतर मंतर
An observatory built in 1734 with 19 giant stone instruments. Its 27-meter sundial, the world's largest, is accurate to 2 seconds. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Jantar Mantar is the largest and best-preserved of five observatories built in India by the astronomer king Sawai Jai Singh II. Built between 1728 and 1734, its 19 giant instruments of brick and marble can still measure time, track stars and predict eclipses accurately. It was inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 2010. The most striking piece is the 27-meter Samrat Yantra, the great sundial, whose sloping shadow moves about 6 centimeters per minute and can be read to within 2 seconds. The Jai Prakash Yantra consists of two complementary hemispherical concave surfaces used to locate celestial bodies. Twelve Rashivalaya instruments correspond to the twelve signs of the zodiac. There is also the Ram Yantra for measuring the altitude of celestial objects and the Dhruva Yantra for observing the pole star. Foreign visitors pay 200 rupees (included in the combined ticket). Open 09:00 to 16:30. The best time to visit is around midday on a clear day, when the sundial's shadow is sharp and you can check the time on site. Hire an official guide (about 300 rupees) or rent an audio guide, because otherwise it is hard to understand the purpose of these geometric structures. The site is next to the main gate of City Palace and five minutes on foot from Hawa Mahal. A full visit takes about 45 to 60 minutes. The grounds have no shade, so wear a hat. In season, there is a sound-and-light show themed on astronomy in the evenings.
Opening hours
09:00–16:30
Nearby sights
- City Palace
- Hawa Mahal
- Isarlat (Swargasuli Tower)
- Govind Dev Ji Temple
- Johari Bazaar & Bapu Bazaar
- Albert Hall Museum
- Nahargarh Fort
- Raj Mandir Cinema