Not what we expected – absolutely fascinating.

The Jantar Mantar monument in Jaipur, Rajasthan is a collection of nineteen architectural astronomical instruments, built by the Rajput king Sawai Jai Singh II, and completed in 1734. It features the world’s largest stone sundial.

The masonry, stone and brass instruments were built using astronomy and instrument design principles of ancient Hindu Sanskrit texts. The instruments allow the observation of astronomical positions with the naked eye.

The sundials are accurate to 2 seconds.