Delhi's Jantar Mantar (adult/child ₹300/free) is one of five observatories commissioned by Maharaja Jai Singh II, ruler of Jaipur. Constructed in 1724, Jantar Mantar (derived from the Sanskrit words for "instrument" and "calculation" but which is also used in place of "abracadabra" by some magicians) is a well-maintained park containing a collection of curving geometric structures carefully calibrated to monitor the movement of the stars and planets.
It's easy to reach just off Connaught Place, and the eccentric shapes include the Samrat Yantra, a giant sundial; the Misra Yantra, shaped like an upside-down heart, which is a world-time clock; and the Ram Yantra, with rows of windows to observe the positions of celestial bodies. Unfortunately, the tall buildings in this part of the city render many of the semi-accurate instruments unusable.
