History of Jantar Mantar in New Delhi
· India · Hindustan Times, LiveMint, India Today
Jantar Mantar in New Delhi serves as a defining symbol of protests and an astronomical observatory built to monitor celestial bodies like the sun and planets. Constructed of red sandstone, the pre-modern clocks brought together Indian, Persian and European expertise. Sawai Jai Singh II, the king of Amer and a Mughal ally, built the observatory in Delhi on the orders of Emperor Muhammad Shah. Historians debate the exact construction year, with Pandit Gokal Chand dating it to 1710 and Sayyid Ahmad Khan pointing to 1724. Jai Singh's own writings indicate work began after Muhammad Shah took the throne in 1719, with the astronomical tables taking seven years to complete.
Why it matters
The site remains a vital historical landmark and the defining focal point for public demonstrations in the heart of New Delhi.
Read the original report — Hindustan Times
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