Jaipur is best known for its countless pink buildings and extravagant forts, but one of its top tourist attractions doesn’t fall under these categories. Jantar Mantar is one of the must-see attractions of India’s Pink City, especially if you have a passion for astronomy.
Jantar Mantar can best be described as a home to a collection of antiquated astronomical instruments. It’s the brainchild of Jaipur’s founder Jai Singh II, who ordered its constructions because he harbored an interest in mathematics, architecture, and astronomy. The monument was completed in 1734 and went through many renovations over the centuries.
Jantar Mantar was built with one mission in mind: getting the most accurate astronomical data available at the time of its building. 19 astronomical instruments on its premises, including the world’s largest sundial, were supposed to determine the position of celestial objects.
Many more precise and technologically advanced instruments were introduced since Jantar Mantar’s building, but that doesn’t take away from its beauty. If you’re an architecture or astronomy lover visiting Jaipur, it should definitely be one of the spots on your travel itinerary. Its doors are open between 9:00 am – 4:30 pm every day, and it’s located only a few minutes away from Jaipur’s City Palace.