JANTAR MANTAR: LINKING ASTRONOMY AND ARCHITECTURE

Abstract

Jantar Mantar represents one of the most remarkable intersections of science, art, and architecture in pre-modern India. Constructed in the early eighteenth century under the patronage of Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, these astronomical observatories demonstrate how architectural form was transformed into scientific instrument. Located in cities such as Jaipur, Delhi, Ujjain, Varanasi, and Mathura, Jantar Mantar complexes were designed to observe celestial phenomena with high precision using monumental masonry structures rather than optical devices. This research paper explores the conceptual foundations, architectural principles, scientific functions, and cultural significance of Jantar Mantar, highlighting how astronomy shaped architectural design and how architecture, in turn, enabled scientific inquiry. The study also situates Jantar Mantar within global histories of astronomy and discusses its contemporary relevance as both heritage monument and scientific legacy.