Day 30 Jantar Mantar & Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Jaipur 12 February 2026

Описание: Jantar Mantar, a Cathedral, and the Comfort of Starbucks

Our final major stop of the day was Jantar Mantar, Jaipur’s extraordinary astronomical observatory. Built in 1734 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, the same visionary ruler who founded Jaipur. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most remarkable scientific complexes of the pre‑modern world.

Stepping inside, I felt as though I had entered a landscape of abstract stone sculptures. But with Bikan’s explanations, the forms suddenly came alive as precise astronomical instruments, each one designed for naked‑eye observation.

Highlights of Jantar Mantar

• Samrat Yantra - the world’s largest stone sundial, towering 27 metres high.
Its shadow moves 1 mm per second, with an astonishing accuracy of about 2 seconds.
Bikan demonstrated how it works, and it was genuinely impressive.
• 19 instruments in total, each designed to measure something different:
eclipses, star positions, zodiac coordinates, planetary movements, and celestial altitudes.
• Jai Prakash Yantra - an inverted sky map you actually stand inside, allowing observers to read the position of stars and planets with remarkable precision.


Without a guide, these structures would seem like abstract art. With explanation, they reveal the brilliance of Jai Singh II, who combined mathematics, astronomy, and architecture to create instruments of breathtaking accuracy.

Jantar means instrument, and Mantar means calculation, a perfect description of this scientific playground.

On the way back to my hotel, I asked to stop at the Sacred Heart Cathedral. Unfortunately, it was closed, once again. Daily Mass is at 6.30 am, and realistically, I won’t be able to make it. A pity, but at least I’ve seen the exterior.

After being dropped off, I decided to walk to the Starbucks I had spotted yesterday, less than five minutes from the hotel. I couldn’t believe how delighted I was to sit there with a familiar Starbucks Americano in hand. I even treated myself to a slice of chocolate truffle sponge cake, which was surprisingly good.

It was the perfect little indulgence to keep me going, especially since I’ll be attending a cooking demonstration this evening and will likely be eating late.

A gentle, satisfying end to a full day of history, science, and small comforts.