Imagine if someone told you:

“I’ve built a clock. But like... it’s 27 metres tall and it tells time by shadows.”

You’d laugh.

But Sawai Jai Singh II? He built five of these across India — and the one in Jaipur is the largest, most accurate, and most epic of them all.

And just like that, Jantar Mantar proves that science wasn’t born in labs — sometimes, it was chiselled into walls under the desert sun.

Who Built It and Why?

The brain behind this brilliance?

Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, ruler of Jaipur, astronomy nerd, and full-time visionary.

Around 1724–1734, Jai Singh noticed that the European and Islamic astronomical tables weren’t matching up with the Indian ones.

His solution?

“I’ll build my own instruments. And they’ll be so big, even the stars will behave.”

So he built five observatories — in Delhi, Ujjain, Varanasi, Mathura, and the grandest one right here in Jaipur.

What Is Jantar Mantar, Really?

“Jantar” comes from “Yantra” (instrument).

“Mantar” comes from “Mantra” (formula).

Together = “Calculating Instrument”.

But this is not a museum. It’s a working observatory, packed with 19 fixed architectural instruments that measure:

• Time

• Position of celestial bodies

• Azimuths and altitudes

• Eclipses

• Star charts

• And possibly your patience if you're not into math

All built with marble, sandstone, and science.

The Instruments – Big, Bold, and Brilliant

1. Samrat Yantra (Supreme Instrument)

• The world’s largest sundial

• 27 meters tall, accurate to 2 seconds

• Tells local time by the shadow it casts

• Think of it as a giant, lazy clock with swag

2. Jai Prakash Yantra

• A bowl-shaped instrument with marked marble slabs

• You stand inside the bowl and read time and coordinates

• Meant for observing celestial altitudes and declinations

3. Rama Yantra

• Two circular structures with open roofs

• Measures altitude and azimuth of the sun and planets

• Basically, Jai Singh’s personal sky scanner

4. Chakra Yantra

• Used to predict eclipses and planetary positions

• Still works, if you know how to read it (we... don’t, but the ASI guide does)

5. Nadi Valaya Yantra

• Two hemispheres — one facing north, one south

• Tracks celestial equators in both hemispheres

And that’s just the beginning — there’s the Kranti Yantra, Rashivalaya, Dakshin Bhitti, and more.

Each one was hand-calculated, hand-carved, and placed with mathematical precision using nothing but geometry and sky observation.

Why Did He Make Them So Big Though?

Because the bigger the instrument, the lesser the margin for error.

And also... why not?

If you're building an entire pink city, might as well throw in a solar calculator the size of a 3- storey building.

UNESCO World Heritage Status

• Inscribed: 2010

• Why?

“An outstanding example of the coming together of architecture, science, and art in the pursuit

of astronomical knowledge.”

Basically: it's science, but make it pretty.

Best Photo Spots

• Standing at the base of Samrat Yantra, looking up

• Inside the Jai Prakash bowl with sun streaming in

• Shadows playing on Ram Yantra grids

• Symmetrical lines + sky = perfect Instagram content

Where to Eat After Feeling Like an Astronomer?

You’re in Jaipur, so eat like royalty (and then nap like a tired astronomer).

Where to Eat After Feeling Like an Astronomer?

You’re in Jaipur, so eat like royalty (and then nap like a tired astronomer).

LMB (Laxmi Mishtan Bhandar)

Johari Bazaar

Legendary thali, kachoris, and ghewar

Rawat Misthan Bhandar

Sindhi Camp

Onion kachori = full marks

Tapri Central

C-Scheme

Rooftop café vibes + masala chai + bun maska + city view

How to Reach Jantar Mantar

Right next to City Palace, Jaipur

By Air:

• Nearest airport: Jaipur International (JAI) – 13 km

• Cabs, autos easily available

By Train:

• Jaipur Junction – major railway hub

By Road:

• Connected via NH8, buses from Delhi, Agra, Udaipur

Entry & Timings

• Indians: ₹50

• Foreigners: ₹200

• Students: Discounts available

• Open: 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM, all days

• Guides highly recommended (unless you have a degree in astrophysics)

Final Thoughts – A Stone Garden That Measures the Sky

The Jantar Mantar isn’t just a place to tick off your list.

It’s a place that reminds you:

• Our ancestors didn’t just pray to the stars — they studied them

• India wasn’t behind — we were just doing science in Sanskrit

• And sometimes, the biggest clocks don’t tick — they cast shadows

With Nadodigal, we don’t just pose next to sundials — we honour the men who dared to measure the infinite with nothing but math and marble.