Jantar Mantar, Ved Shala

Ved Shala or Jantar Mantar in Ujjain is believed to be India’s first and foremost observatory. Indian astronomers believe that the first meridian or the Prime Meridian of Longitude (75° 47′ E) passes through Ujjain thus earning it the epithet, ‘Greenwich of India’. The Tropic of Cancer also passes through Ujjain making it most suitable for an observatory. This observatory, made by Raja Jaisingh of Amer, is among the five built by him in India, the others situated at Delhi, Jaipur, Mathura and Varanasi. The Jantar Mantar has all the constructional instruments which determine the positions of heavenly bodies in space. Nadivalaya Yantra, Yamyotarra – Bhitti Yantra, Shanku Yantra, Nadivalaya Yantra, Samrat Yantra and Sundial are the major instruments in the Ved Shala. Although the Jantar Mantar in Ujjain is smaller than that of Delhi and Jaipur, this observatory is most important as the Masonic instruments are still being utilized to conduct research. After Raja Jai Singh, the observatory remained isolated and poorly maintained for 200 years till it was renovated by Madhavrao Scindia. The Ved Shala is located on the Chintaman Road, 2.5 kms from Ujjain Railway Station and can be easily reached by local transport.