16 June – The Observatory, Jaipur (India)

The Observatory (Jantar Mantar) was one of five observatories built by Sawai Jai Singh with the one in Jaipur being the largest and best preserved. The building of the complex instruments was started in 1728 have settings and shapes which were scientifically designed and to this day continue to provide extremely accurate information as to the time and the movement of the heavenly bodies. The sundial is 27 metres in diameter over which the sun’s shadow moves at four metres per hour.

I did take a photograph of the tablets explaining what these instruments did but only one was readable at the end. The construction of the items is interesting enough in themselves so I hope you enjoy just looking at the photographs and think what went into the design and building of them nearly 300 years ago.