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If you arrive here in Rajasthan one thing which you just
cannot miss is the Jantar Mantar Jaipur. This is an important
Rajasthan Monument and is one of the five observatories built
by Maharaj Jai Singh in the period 1727-1733.
The Jantar Mantar Jaipur is the largest observatory and its
name is derived from the Sanskrit word Yantra Mantra meaning
Chanting Instruments.
The observatory has an array of astronomical instruments
which are believed to give correct information now also.There
are fourteen major geometric devices for measuring time, predicting
eclipses, tracking stars in their orbits, determining the
declinations of planets, and also measuring the celestial
altitudes and related ephemeredes.
Out of these instruments the Samrat Jantar is the largest
instrument. It is 90 feet high and when its shadow falls on
the ground you can tell the time of day. Its face is angled
at 27 degrees, which shows the latitude of Jaipur.The announcement
of eclipses and the arrival of monsoons is done from the small
dome shaped cupola on its top.
At Jantar Mantar in Jaipur each instrument built by stone
and marble with an astronomical scale on the inner lining
of each device.
At Jantar Mantar you find instruments like
- The Dhruva Yantra used to pinpoint the position of
12 Zodiac signs as well as the Pole Star at night.
- The Narivalya Yantra is a unique sundial with two
dials - the first dial facing south reads time when the sun
is inclined towards the Equator (0 Degree Latitude) and Tropic
of Capricorn (22.5 Degrees South latitude) in the southern
hemisphere, between the time period 21 September to 21 March
and the other one facing north reads time for the rest of
the year when the sun is in the northern hemisphere that is
inclined on Equator (0 Degree Latitude) and Tropic of Cancer
(22.5 Degrees North latitude), i.e., from 21 March to 21 September.
- The seat of the Observer, Jai Singh's seat
- Kranti Yantra used for direct measurement of the longitude
and latitude of other heavenly bodies apart from earth.
- Raj Yantra or the King of Instruments used only once
a year to calculate the Hindu calenda
- Unnsyhsmsa yantra for determining the altitudes of
the heavenly bodies
- Chakra yantra that helps you find an angle of an object
from the equator
- Disha yantra or the compass pointing always to the
north.
- Dakshina yantra observes the position of heavenly
bodies when passing over the meridian
- Large Samrat Yantra, is ten times larger and accurate
than the Samrat Yanta is also used to predict the length and
heaviness of the monsoon for the particular region.
- The Rashivalayas Yantra has 12 sundials for the signs
of the zodiac
- Jai Prakash Yantra act as a cross check on all the
other instruments.
Jantar Mantar in Jaipur is the biggest stone observatory in
the world, and it still gives correct information .
Come and witness the wisdom of bygone era,contact Tourist Places Rajasthan
fro more information.
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