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Jantar Mantar

The world's largest sundial

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Category Inspired Inventions, Astounding Timepieces, Retro-Tech, Architectural Oddities, Long Now Locations

Image of Jantar Mantar located in Jaipur, India

Source www.flickr.com

In 1728, Sawai Jai Singh II, rajah of Jaipur, dispatched his emissaries across the globe to gather the most accurate astronomical data possible. When they returned, Jai Singh ordered the construction of the Jantar Mantar complex in New Delhi, a monumental astronomical observatory constructed entirely out of stone and based on the astronomical tables of the French mathematician Phillipe de la Hire. In all Sawai Jai Singh built a total of five observatories, with the largest in his hometown of Jaipur.

Among the stone instruments Jai Singh constructed was the Samrat Yantra, a 73-foot tall sundial which remains the largest ever built. Though indistinguishable in design from other dials of the day, it was far and away the most accurate. Its two-second interval markings are more precise than even la Hire's table. The smaller but older (and pink) version of the Jantar Mantar can be seen in New Delhi.

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Website http://www.tourismtravelindia.com/rajasthanportal/touristattractions/jantarmantar.html
Address Pink City, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India

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Comments

Dylan June 10, 2011

Pictures have been fixed and now only show the Jantar Mantar in Jaipur.
Patna May 15, 2010

This is a beautiful place in Delhi. It does reflect the medival India and its geatness.
bob_d December 14, 2009

July 6 comment is probably correct. Delhi version is pink; Jaipur is sand. I have seen both personally. There are supposedly a few other constructions besides Delhi and Jaipur but these two resemble Delhi and Jaipur respectively. Also the demarcations on the sundial in Jaipur are at 1 minute intervals...I suppose you might interpolate less but I doubt to 2 seconds. Have the pix to prove but bigger than upload limit.
Anonymous July 6, 2009

I believe the first picture is of the Jantar Mantar in Delhi. The second is the one in Jaipur.
Anonymous June 30, 2009

Delhi has another Jantar Mantar built by the same King. Jantar Mantar has more equipments related to astronomy.
joncamfield June 19, 2009

More photos of Jantar Mantar: http://www.flickr.com/photos/griffjon/tags/jantarmantar/