February 28, 2011

Jantar Mantar, Jaipur

The Jantar Mantar in Jaipur, unlike the one I wrote about in Delhi, is beautifully renovated and maintained, and people are prohibited from climbing atop the various instruments. There were several tours happening as we walked through, and people taking pictures. Though I'm an ardent supporter of historic preservation, there was something more endearing and inviting about the Delhi Jantar Mantar; people actively using the instruments as they were not meant to be used (as giant playgrounds).

The world's largest and most inconvenient wristwatch.

This was an instrument that would show which astrological sign was currently active. There is a tiny circular metal plate hung in the center on strings, and as the sun shines down on it, it creates a shadow in a particular area, which denotes the current sign. I don't know how else to explain that. 

The largest sundial in the world.

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