Samrat Yantra, built by Sawai Jai Singh II in 1728 CE at Jaipur, Rajasthan, is the largest sundial in the world. It is a part of the Jantar Mantar, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Gnomon Height: 22.6 meters (74 feet)
Function: Measures time with an accuracy of 2 seconds.
Structure:
A massive triangular gnomon (shadow-casting structure).
Two quadrants on either side for precise time reading.
Material: Made of local stone and marble, ensuring durability.
Sawai Jai Singh II, a scholar-king, built five Jantar Mantars (astronomical observatories) across India—Jaipur, Delhi, Ujjain, Mathura, and Varanasi.
The Jaipur Jantar Mantar is the most well-preserved and houses 19 astronomical instruments.
The Samrat Yantra was used for calculating time, predicting eclipses, and tracking celestial movements.
It is the most accurate sundial of its time.
Still functions and can tell local Jaipur time to within two seconds of accuracy.
Recognized as an architectural and scientific marvel.
The Jantar Mantar, Jaipur, including the Samrat Yantra, showcases India’s rich heritage in astronomy, science, and engineering.
