Vedha Shala(Observatory)/Jantar Mantar

Views:

Vedha Shala (Observatory)/Jantar Mantar, Ujjain,Madhya Pradesh. Edit

Detail InformationEdit

Vedha Shala(Observatory)/Jantar Mantar, Jantar Mantar word is at least 200 years old, finding a mention in an account from 1803. Jantra, which in the spoken language is corrupted to Jantar. The word Jantra is derived from yantra, instrument, while the suffix Mantar is from the practice of adding a (usually meaningless) rhyming word for emphasis. The words jantar and ‘mantar (or yantra and mantra) in their colloquial meanings are also related, referring to magical diagrams and magical words respectively. The jantars have evocative names like, Samrat Yantra, Jai Prakash, Ram Yantra and Niyati Chakra; each of which are used to for various astronomical calculations. The primary purpose of the observatory was to compile astronomical tables, and to predict the times and movements of the sun, moon and planets. There is a small planetarium and a telescope to observe the moon, Mars, Jupiter and their satellites. The observatory is also used for weather forecasts.

Vedha Shala(Observatory)Jantar Mantar

HistoryEdit

The Vedha Shala (Observatory) – Ujjain enjoyed a position of considerable importance in the field of astronomy. The observatory extant today was built by Raja Jai Singh (1686-1743), who was a great scholar. He translated the works of Ptolemy and Euclid into Sanskrit from Arabic. Of the many observatories built by him at Jaipur, Delhi, Varanasi, Mathura, and Ujjain, the one at Ujjain is still in use actively. Great works on astronomy such as the Surya Siddhanta and the Panch Siddhanta were written in Ujjain. According to Indian astronomers, the Tropic of Cancer is supposed to pass through Ujjain. It is also the fist meridian of longitude of the Hindu geographers. From about the 4th century BC, Ujjain enjoyed the reputation of being India’s Greenwich. Astronomical studies are conducted through the Department of Education and the ephemeris is published every year.

Must SeeEdit

Popular

Visiting TimeEdit

N.A

Closed OnEdit

N.A

Best Season to VisitEdit

September to March.

Best Time To VisitEdit

Morning, Afternoon, Evening.

Time Required for SightseeingEdit

2hrs

Ticket Required : No Edit

Individual National Adult Rs. : N.A

Kids Rs. : N.A

Individual Foreigner Adult Rs. : N.A

Kids Rs. : N.A

Still Photo Camera Rs. : N.A

Video Camera Rs. : N.A

Guide Required : No Edit

Approximate cost: N.A

Dress Code (If Any) : No Edit

Dress Require: N.A

Restaurants NearbyAdd / Edit

Hotel Muskan Palace ; Doodh Talai near Railway Station, Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh 456006 ‎ ; Ph/M – 078 98 855969 ; Food Serve – Indian

How to ReachEdit

Taxi : Taxi services are available from Indore to Ujjain

Bus : Ujjain is well connected by state road transport public bus services. Regular bus services are available from Indore (55 km), Gwalior (450 km), Ahmedabad (400 km) and Bhopal (195 km) to Ujjain. Super fast and Deluxe A/C buses are also available in these routes. Bus fare is about Rs 3 – Rs 4 per km.

Train : Ujjain Junction Railway Station is an important railway station in Western railway zone. It is well connected to all major railway stations in India. Direct train services are available to Bhopal , Indore, Nagpur, Pune, Malwa, Delhi (Nizamuddin Exp), Mumbai (Avantika Exp), Kolkata (Shipra Express), Chennai (Jp Madras Expre) and many other cities.

Air : Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Airport in Indore is the nearest airport to Ujjain, which is situated 55 km away. Indore is air connected to major cities in India by public and private domestic airlines. Indore is connected to places like Jaipur, Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Bhopal and Chennai. Taxi services are available from Indore airport to Ujjain, costing about Rs 1,000. International travelers can get connecting flights to Indore from Delhi (800 km) or Mumbai (655 km) airport.

Others : Tangas are horse drawn carriages, and this mode of travel is slower than the above modes but cheaper. Fares will vary from Rs 10 to 30 depending on the distance covered. Auto rickshaws in Ujjain don’t run on meter and you need to negotiate on a fixed rate before opting for travel through auto rickshaws. These auto rickshaws however can be a safe mode of travel during night time. Fares may range anywhere from Rs 15 to 60. There are no night fares.

Things to CarryEdit

N.A

Safety / WarningEdit

Double-check all hotel and restaurant bills for errors.
Don’t leave cash and valuables in your hotel room. Use room safes where available.
Keep daily cash in separate pockets.
Never pay for anything upfront – including drivers.