Previous Year Question
Where did Maharaja Jaisingh II built observatories?
Delhi
Jaipur
Ujjain
Varanasi
Select the correct answer from the codes given below:
1 and 2
1 and 3
2 and 3
1, 2, 3 and 4
Correct Answer: D
Detailed Solution
The correct answer is Delhi, Jaipur, Ujjain and Varanasi—all four.
The founder of Jaipur, Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, had a deep interest in astronomy and mathematics. During the first half of the eighteenth century, he established large permanent astronomical observatories to obtain more accurate measurements of celestial positions, time, planetary motion and astronomical calculations.
Jai Singh II constructed a total of five major observatories at—
Delhi
Jaipur
Mathura
Varanasi/Banaras
Ujjain
Among them, the Jantar Mantar at Jaipur is the largest and the best preserved. UNESCO recognizes it as a World Heritage Site. It contains about 20 major fixed astronomical instruments designed for naked-eye observation of astronomical positions.
Its famous instruments include the Samrat Yantra, Jai Prakash Yantra and Ram Yantra. These were used for measurements such as local time, positions of the Sun and stars, and other astronomical observations.
It should also be noted that the fifth observatory at Mathura is not included among the statements in this question. This does not mean that no observatory existed there; rather, all four locations actually listed in the question are correct, making the appropriate code 1, 2, 3 and 4.