Jantar Mantar

The Jantar Mantar in Delhi is an 18th-century astronomical observatory built by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II of Jaipur in 1724. It is one of the five observatories he constructed across India, with others in Jaipur, Ujjain, Varanasi, and Mathura. The Jantar Mantar in Delhi was designed to observe celestial bodies, predict astronomical movements, and track time with remarkable accuracy. Today, it stands as a UNESCO Tentative Site and an ASI Protected Monument, attracting astronomy enthusiasts, history buffs, and tourists alike.

The observatory features 13 massive masonry instruments, including:

• Samrat Yantra – A gigantic sundial that measures time with an accuracy of up to 2 seconds.
• Jayaprakash Yantra – Used to track the position of celestial objects.
• Misra Yantra – Determines the longest and shortest days of the year.
• Ram Yantra – Measures the altitude of celestial bodies.

Despite being surrounded by modern skyscrapers, Jantar Mantar remains an architectural wonder that highlights India's scientific advancements in the early 18th century.