Also Known As · Delhi Observatory · जंतर मंतर
New Delhi, Delhi · monument
Thirteen giant masonry instruments for reading the sun and stars — an 18th-century open-air observatory hidden beside Connaught Place.
Jantar Mantar is one of the most fascinating and unusual monuments in central Delhi — an open-air astronomical observatory built in 1724 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II of Jaipur, an astronomer-king who wanted to correct the existing astronomical tables and measure time and celestial positions with the naked eye. Rather than a temple or a fort, the site is a collection of thirteen monumental masonry instruments, each a piece of working scientific architecture rendered at giant scale in stone and plaster, set within a walled garden just off Connaught Place.
Ghee roast dosa and filter coffee — reliable pure-veg South Indian
Vegetarian patties, pastries, and savouries from a 1920s CP bakery
Chaat, thalis, and café fare across the inner and outer circles
Jantar Mantar is one of the most fascinating and unusual monuments in central Delhi — an open-air astronomical observatory built in 1724 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II of Jaipur, an astronomer-king who wanted to correct the existing astronomical tables and measure time and celestial positions with the naked eye.
the site is compact and can be seen in under an hour, making it an easy add-on to a Connaught Place visit. Information boards explain how each instrument works, and the experience is best in clear morning or late-afternoon light when the shadows are sharp. Carry water and sun protection, as the observatory is open and largely unshaded. Tickets are inexpensive and cheaper booked online.
Visiting Hours
Entry Fee: Indian nationals ₹20 (online) / ₹25 (counter); foreigners ₹250 (online) / ₹300 (counter); children under 15 free. Book online to save. (Fees as of 2026 — confirm on the ASI portal.)
Verified: June 2026
Address
Sansad Marg (Parliament Street), Connaught Place, New Delhi, Delhi, 110001
Just off Connaught Place, central Delhi
🚇 Nearest Metro: Patel Chowk (Yellow Line) and Janpath (Violet Line) — each about 700 m; Rajiv Chowk is about 1 km
🚶 Walking from Metro: From Patel Chowk metro (Yellow Line) it is a flat 8-minute walk (~700 m) to the entrance on Sansad Marg.
Distance from
Parking
street · ₹20–₹50 (paid)
No dedicated parking; use the Connaught Place paid lots or arrive by metro.
🚕 Ride Hailing Tip: Uber and Ola drop on Sansad Marg. The Patel Chowk and Janpath metro stations are both an easy walk.
How to Reach: Jantar Mantar is on Sansad Marg (Parliament Street), a two-minute walk from Connaught Place. Nearest metro: Patel Chowk (Yellow Line) and Janpath (Violet Line), each about 700 m; Rajiv Chowk (Yellow & Blue Lines) is about 1 km. Uber, Ola, and auto-rickshaws serve the whole Connaught Place area.
History
Jantar Mantar was built in 1724 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II of Jaipur, a ruler and astronomer who served the Mughal court and set out to revise the astronomical tables of his time.
🏛️ Architect: The observatory consists of thirteen large fixed instruments built in masonry and plaster, including the Samrat Yantra (a giant equinoctial sundial), the Jaiprakash Yantra, the Ram Yantra, and the Misra Yantra. Their forms follow astronomical geometry rather than decorative style, making the site a rare monument of scientific architecture.
Significance
Jantar Mantar is one of India's most important monuments of science and a striking example of pre-modern astronomical engineering.
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Family Highlights
💰 Equipment Fees: Free for personal phones and handheld cameras. Tripods and professional shoots require prior ASI permission.
📍 The Golden Spot: The towering Samrat Yantra sundial shot from its base against a clear sky, and the curved walls of the Jaiprakash Yantra.
🌅 Best Light Time: Mid-morning or 3:00–5:00 PM for the sharpest instrument shadows.
Someone offers a quick paid tour of the instruments and then overcharges or gives inaccurate information.
Official AdviceThe information boards explain each instrument clearly. If you want a guide, use only an ASI-licensed one with a photo ID and agree the price first.
🌅 Secret View: Stand at the foot of the Samrat Yantra and look up the giant inclined ramp — the scale only registers from directly below.
🎯 Crowd Hack: Weekday mornings are quietest; school groups arrive mid-morning, so come right at opening.
💎 Secret Fact: The Delhi Jantar Mantar is the first of five observatories Maharaja Jai Singh II built; its Samrat Yantra sundial can measure time to within seconds by its shadow.
⚡ Express Tour
30 minutes — the Samrat Yantra, the Jaiprakash Yantra, and the Misra Yantra with the boards.
🔭 Deep Dive Tour
Half day — Jantar Mantar, then Connaught Place shopping and a vegetarian lunch, then Agrasen ki Baoli.
👕 Dress Code: No dress code; comfortable clothing, walking shoes, and sun protection.
📷 Photography Rules: Personal photography is free across the site. Tripods and professional shoots require prior ASI permission. Drones are prohibited.
🏧 Nearest ATM: ATMs throughout Connaught Place (within 500 m).
Jantar Mantar is open every day from about 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM. It is compact and can be seen comfortably in 45 minutes to an hour.
Indian nationals pay ₹20 online or ₹25 at the counter, and foreigners ₹250 online or ₹300 at the counter; children under 15 enter free. Fees can change — confirm on the ASI portal.
It was built in 1724 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II of Jaipur as an astronomical observatory — the first of five such observatories he constructed across northern India.
It is an open-air observatory of thirteen giant masonry instruments designed to measure time and track the positions of the sun, moon, and stars with the naked eye, before telescopes were used in India.
Patel Chowk on the Yellow Line and Janpath on the Violet Line are each about 700 m away; Rajiv Chowk is about 1 km. It is a short walk from Connaught Place.
Connaught Place is a two-minute walk away with many pure-veg and veg-friendly options, including Saravana Bhavan on Janpath for South Indian food and Wenger's bakery for vegetarian snacks.
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