Jantar Mantar

Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, India is a historic astronomical observatory built for naked-eye observation, one of five such sites constructed across India by Maharaja Jai Singh II.

About Jantar Mantar

The name "Jantar Mantar" means "instruments for measuring the harmony of the heavens." The New Delhi site consists of 13 architectural astronomy instruments and sits at an elevation of 723 feet (220 metres) above sea level. Its primary purpose was to compile astronomical tables and predict the movements of the Sun, Moon, and planets.

History

Construction began in 1723 under Maharaja Jai Singh II, born in 1688 into a Rajput royal family with a deep interest in astronomy, with the observatory completed in 1724. A plaque later placed on one of its structures in 1910 mistakenly dated its construction to 1710, though subsequent research confirmed 1724 as the true completion year. The site had decayed considerably by the time of the 1857 uprising.

Telescopes & research

Among the observatory's distinct instruments are the Ram Yantra, the Samrat Yantra, the Jai Prakash Yantra, and the Misra Yantra, each designed to measure different aspects of celestial position and movement using shadow and alignment rather than lenses or mirrors.

Location & getting there

Jantar Mantar stands in the heart of New Delhi, India, easily reached as part of the city's central historic district.

Visiting Jantar Mantar

The site is open to visitors as one of Delhi's landmark historic monuments. Check the official Jantar Mantar website or current tourism sources for opening hours and ticket details before visiting.

See your named star from here

Centuries before telescopes, Jantar Mantar's instruments tracked the same sky your named star sits in. After you name a star with Star Register, you'll have its precise coordinates to find it above Delhi tonight. Browse the star catalogue to get started.