When you first look at the Jantar Mantar, you may think it is a work of modern sculpture. Angular structures stick up out of the ground, staircases appear to lead nowhere and odd spirals and curves appear throughout the grounds. However, the Jantar Mantar is neither modern nor a work of art: it is an astronomical observatory from the 18th century with a highly unique design. Tour the grounds to unlock its secrets.
The Jantar Mantar was established in order to map the motions of the planets and stars. Upon its completion in 1724, it was one of the grandest observatories in the world. Unfortunately, the tall buildings around the Jantar Mantar make the observatory unusable for astronomical observations today. Still, it is a historical marvel worth exploring.
Tour the grounds of the Jantar Mantar and inspect all of its strangely shaped parts. One massive triangular structure, the 20-metre (70-foot) tall Samrat Yantra, towers over the rest. It originally functioned as a sundial. Another somewhat circular structure, called the Misra Yantra, is a complex calculator used for figuring out a year’s longest and shortest days. Walk around and on these huge devices and inspect their complex inner workings.
Surrounding the Jantar Mantar is a pleasant garden complex that serves as a local meeting place. Enjoy a stroll across the palm-lined lawns and cool off in the shade of a tree after spending time in the hot sun of the open observatory complex.
Visit the Jantar Mantar from sunrise to sunset on any day of the week. You will need to pay a small entry charge, plus an extra fee if you want to take film while on the grounds.
Reach the Jantar Mantar by walking from the Patel Chowk metro station. There is also a bus stop next to the observatory. Since it is located right in the heart of New Delhi, many other main city attractions lie nearby, including Central Park and Gole Market.
