Jantar Mantar literally known as the magical devise is an astronomical observatory. It was the Rajput ruler and founder of Jaipur, Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, a man of great learning who was interested in the cosmic study of planets and stars built the Jantar Mantar of Jaipur. Fascination of the cosmic bodies of the universe in India existed among men long before this observatory. Aryabhata of fifth century is the first of the astronomer of the classical age of Indian mathematics. The dark secrets of the universe still entice out astronomers today and every discovery is considered a great break through in astronomical science. Jantar Mantar, Jaipur is an important tourist point.

Emperor Muhammad Shah had commissioned Sawai Jai Singh II to rework on astronomical tables and make corrections on the planetary positions. It took around seven years to complete this task. Around five astronomical observatories India was built by the Maharaja between 1727 and 1734. These observatories house many structures of unique form that have special functions for astronomical measurement. He built in Delhi the first Jantar Mantar in the year 1724 and in 1728 he built the next in Jaipur.

Jantar Mantar, Jaipur has massive structures of unique architecture likethe samrat yantra, the ram yantra and the jaiprakash yantra. It has the famous sundial and a huge hemisphere.

One of the attractions of the pink city is the sundial of Jantar Mantar. It was the cosmic quest of the great Maharaja whose contributions can be equated to many famous astronomers who have graced the earth with their minute understanding of the cosmic universe.