Jantar Mantar
The world's largest sundial
Category Inspired Inventions, Astounding Timepieces, Retro-Tech, Architectural Oddities, Long Now Locations
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, a monumental astronomical observatory constructed entirely out of stone and based on the astronomical tables of the French mathematician Phillipe de la Hire. 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.
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- Website http://www.tourismtravelindia.com/rajasthanportal/touristattractions/jantarmantar.html
- Address Pink City, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
Comments
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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.
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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.
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More photos of Jantar Mantar: http://www.flickr.com/photos/griffjon/tags/jantarmantar/
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