By IANS
New Delhi : The 18th century monument Jantar Mantar in the national capital was illuminated Thursday with an eye on the Delhi Commonwealth Games 2010 as Tourism and Culture Minister Ambika Soni said at least 15 monuments would be illuminated to attract more tourists to this metropolis.
“Conservation and preservation is our primary aim but along with that flaunt them as showpieces of rich cultural heritage,” Soni said while inaugurating the illuminations at the Jantar Mantar observatories.
Superintending Archaeologists S.K. Sinha said work is underway at Safdarjung Tomb and Sabzburg in south Delhi. Besides, Delhi Gate, Purana Quila, Dadi Pooti Ka Gombuj and Sher Shah Gate are among the 15 selected monuments that would get this facility.
Jantar Mantar, housing five prominent astronomical observatories, have 14 major geometric devices for measuring time, predicting eclipses, tracking stars in their orbits, ascertaining the declinations of planets, and determining the celestial altitudes and related ephemerides.
Samrat Jantar, the largest instrument, is nearly 90 feet high and its shadow is carefully plotted to tell the time of day. It can predict time with accuracy up to one second by measuring the shadow of sun.
ASI, Nehru Planetarium in collaboration with the Apeejay Group, a private business enterprise, conducted the preservation and illumination work at the monument. Raja Sawai Jai Singh-II of Jaipur built the observatories during the early 18th century.