Jaipur - part II - Jantar Mantar

Our first stop was to Jantar Mantar, a giant complex of various sundials, and astrological devices. It was built by Maharaja Jai Singh in the early 1700s. The name literally means "calculation instrument" (or "magical device" in Sanskrit, depending on who you ask!). These are not your backyard sundials - these babies are HUGE and measure time to within 2 seconds. Here is the official overview...
"The observatory consists of fourteen major geometric devices for measuring time, predicting eclipses, tracking stars in their orbits, ascertaining the declinations of planets, and determining the celestial altitudes and related ephemerides. Each is a fixed and 'focused' tool. The Samrat Jantar, the largest instrument, is 90 feet high, its shadow carefully plotted to tell the time of day. Its face is angled at 27 degrees, the latitude of Jaipur. The Hindu chhatri (small domed cupola) on top is used as a platform for announcing eclipses and the arrival of monsoons."
Cool, eh? Again, the best part about India is you can climb all over this stuff! Altho, later the guards blew their whistles at the kids when they were on their own sign of the Zodiac.

Our guide explained everything and showed us how the sundials worked. It was so interesting but of course I have forgotten most of it!



I did enjoy watching them mow those massive lawns with an electric mower. This requires a cord guy, so you don't run over it.

This is the 90 footer. We wanted to go up but some guys were working on the stairs. Well, they were sitting in the shade on the stairs avoiding work, maybe that is more accurate.

These big dishes in the ground are cut like this to make a full half globe if they were put together - (imagine the puzzle pieces fitting together) They represent one half of the year each, and are positioned to be accurate during that one half. They have markings on the marble that line up very precisely with where the shadows fall. The whole thing seemed unbeleivably advanced for 1730, ya know?
The guide is showing us (with a business card) how to read this different style timepiece.

Look at where the shadow falls on this sundial, then see the markings on this photo - each of these sections is 30 seconds - down to 2 seconds for the tiniest markings. Amazing. You could stand and watch the shadow move, and time pass. Pretty cool!

There are 13 to 17 devices here, again, depending on who you ask.


It was hot, and all that stone radiates the heat back.