Another important attraction to include in your Jaipur itinerary is the Jantar Mantar - an astronomical observatory situated in Jaipur’s Palace Complex. Translated as the ‘Magical Device’ or ‘Instrument for Calculation’, Jantar Mantar was built in the early 18th century by Maharajah Jai Singh II, a leading astronomer of his times and the founder of Jaipur. The observatory is a collection of many astronomical instruments built of stone and marble in a gigantic scale. Each device is in a unique and different geometric form with a specialized function for astronomical measurement. Because of their huge sizes and the way that they are permanently fixed to the ground, these astronomical instruments continue to give very accurate readings even today comparable to the modern technologically advanced devices. There are 14 major devices for measuring time, predicting eclipses, ascertaining the exact position of the stellar and planetary bodies, calculating the lunar calendar, predicting the start of the monsoons, etc. However, the observatory's main purpose seems to have been casting horoscopes, which according to the principles of Vedic Astrology requires a precise knowledge of the positions of the sun, moon, planets, and stars at the moment of birth. Till today, Hindus still have their horoscopes or natal charts cast on the basis of the positions of the cosmic bodies at birth. These are used for making life predictions as well as ascertaining compatibility for arranged marriages.
Pictured above is the Samrat Yantra as viewed from Hawa Mahal. The triangular-shaped building is the main and largest instrument at 90 feet high; with its chief role that of a sundial plotted to tell the local time of day, as its shadow moves up to 4 m in an hour.