Jantar Mantar

Historical

Photo Credit: Flickr

Distance (From New Delhi Railway Station): 3 Kms

Trip Duration (Including Travel): 1 Hour

Transportation Options: Bus / Cab / Auto / Metro

Travel Tips: None

At a distance of 3 km from Delhi Junction Railway Station, Jantar Mantar is one of the best historical places in Delhi situated in Parliament Street near Connaught Place. Jantar Mantar was declared a national monument in 1948. The Jantar Mantar is among the best places to visit in Delhi and is a great place for astronomy lovers.

Jantar Mantar, also known as the Delhi Observatory was built in 1724 AD. It is one of five astronomical observatories in India that was designed by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II of Jaipur. The other four observatories are situated at Jaipur, Varanasi, Ujjain and Mathura. The essential purpose of the Jantar Mantar was to accumulate astronomical tables which in turn would help predict the time and movement of the celestial bodies such as the sun, moon and other planets. The task was given to Raja Jai Singh by the Mughal emperor Muhammad Shah.

It houses 13 astrological instruments, including the Samrat Yantra, Ram Yantra, Jaya Prakash and Mishra Yantra. The entire structure is made of stone and marble. The instruments have been repaired and restored repeatedly, but without any large scale alteration.

The Samrat Yantra reflects the accurate time within a variation of four minutes. Any change in the weather or the onset of the monsoon can be prepared by the Indian Chhatri, which is a small dome-shaped structure. The Jai Prakash Yantra consists of two concave hemispherical structures to ascertain the position of the sun and other planets.

Two circular buildings near Jai Prakash constitute the Ram Yantra which is used for reading horizontal and vertical (altitude) angles. The Mishra Yantra to its north west combines four instruments in one, and hence its name. This was designed as a tool to determine the shortest and longest days of the year. To the east of the instruments, the small temple of Bhairava also appears to have been built by Maharaja Jai Singh.

Timings: 6 AM to 6 PM

Entry Fee: Rs.5 for Indians, Rs.100 for Foreigners.