Saturday, June 6, 2009

Jantar Mantar - A Primera Vista

Looking for some palce out outing in Jaipur, Jantar Mantar can be an ideal plce for you. In Jaipur, the capital and gateway to Rajasthan, you will find one of the most precious and culturally non aligned pieces of architecture in the world. A perfect amalgamation of religion and science, the observatory, still in its own unsecularized integrity, is comparable only with the witnesses in stone of the archaic cultures. Jantar Mantar is a famous astronomical monument.
Jantar Mantar
Jantar means 'instrument' while Mantar (the same word as 'mantra') is usually translated as 'formula' but here it means 'calculation'. So, "Jantar Mantar" means something like ' instrument for calculation.' The observatory consists of elephantine stone observation devices, which get a good degree of accuracy due to their enormous dimensions. It is the biggest of the five observatories, which Jai Singh II had built. The majority of the devices are typical for big observatories in the Islamic world. But his instruments are unique as concerns precision, size and architectural perfection. At least, 120 years after the invention of the telescope, they still provide amazing results.

At first glance, this famous Astronomical monument of Jaipur appears to be a curious if somewhat compelling collection of sculptures. In fact, each construction has a specific purpose, for example measuring the positions of the stars, altitude and azimuth, and calculating eclipses. With these creations, Sawai Jai Singh II made studying astronomy and astrology easier. His observatories were used as laboratories, where one could test oneself on various calculations and check them by practical observations. Formerly, these observatories were used to accommodate academic seminars, conferences, discussions, and, especially, to prepare zodiac charts and almanacs.

As with all other observatories around the country built by Sawai Jai Singh, the one in Jaipur, is a lucid reflection of his belief in the importance of astronomy and passion for architecture. Whether or not you are interested in stars, this place is worth a visit for its pure architectural splendor. Often described as the most surreal and logical landscape in stone, this bewildering piece of art brings curves, corners, colors and the cosmos, all in one complex.


Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

No comments:

Post a Comment