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Jaipur Photo Story

Yantra at Jantar Mantar, Jaipur

This picture captures numbers etched on one of the solar instruments at Jantar Mantar, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Jaipur. Marble stone surface has numeric markings etched over it. The number etched in is in Hindi script reading 13.

The reading on Rasivalaya Yantra is taken with the help of a shadow created by the Sun. There are twelve such instruments, each representing the signs of the zodiac and measures current latitude and longitude of the celestial body.

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number marked on Rasivalaya Yantra at Jantar Mantar Jaipur. WPC-Numbers

Jantar Mantar Jaipur History

Between 1724 and 1727 AD, Maharajah Sawai Jai Singh II, founder of Jaipur city, built solar observatories in five north Indian cities. Out of all these five, the solar observatory in Jaipur is the most elaborate one. It’s been claimed that Jantar Mantar in Jaipur was completed in 1734 AD. All instruments at Jantar Mantar are in working condition. They still work with the same precision.

What is Jantar Mantar? 

Jantar means instrument and Mantar means calculation, so it implies an instrument of calculation.  Maharajah Jai Singh II was a great mathematician and had a keen interest in astronomy, which led to the building of Jantar Mantar. Drawing from knowledge of Persian, Arabic and Portuguese astronomy, these were one of a kind solar instruments built anywhere else. Here is the complete Jantar Mantar travel guide – Sawai Jai Singh’s Celestial Marvel

If you are visiting Jaipur anytime, Jantar Mantar is a must-visit. Check it out here in my previous post on Jaipur guide. Click here to check out our previous write up on Jantar Mantar

This post is part of the Weekly Photo Challenge–Numbers. Check out previous posts on Weekly Photo Challenge

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31 thoughts on “Yantra at Jantar Mantar, Jaipur”

  2. We visited the Jantar Mantar in 2012. It was fascinating. Basil and I actually managed to calculate the time with one of the sun dials. 🙂

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  3. I have seen Jantar Mantar and most of the exotic places of Rajasthan…having visited it twice. It is a state of historical pride, there is everything in one state…lakes and desert, palaces and forts, hills and temples…a true example of ‘incredible India!’

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    1. This number is one of many marked as a reading, there is nothing special about 13. There is a scale – you can see marking on the surface. I’m happy that it brought back your memories. when did you visit jantar mantar?

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  8. Looks like a marvelous place to visit for its history and for the technology that it is. Amazing to hear that it still works today, and I suppose it is constantly uncovering new discoveries of our solar system today. Brilliant 🙂

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    1. Mabel, Surely it’s a marvel for the time when it was built and the fact that it’s accuracy has stood the test of time. While we can’t say that it’s uncovering new discoveries because it was merely used for calculations of planets, earth’s axis, time etc.
      Thanks for checking it out and for leaving a comment here. 🙂

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    1. Yes, Somali! Jantar Mantar in Jaipur is much bigger and it’s maintained very well. In fact, all instruments still work…even after close to 300 years with same accuracy!

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