Beautification drive for Jantar Mantar planned

Jaipur, June 10 (UNI) A beautification and development plan is on the anvil for Jaipur's historical observatory Jantar Mantar.

According to tourism officials, Rs 1.90 crore would be spent on the development of Jantar Mantar, which would include renovation, repair and lighting up of the monument and increasing the facilities for tourists.

Jantar Mantar is the largest and best preserved of Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh's five observatories. It is built in stone and marble whose settings and shapes are designed scientifically and are one of the high points of medieval Indian astronomy.

The officials said around Rs 1.06 crores would be spent on upgrading the stone flooring, white-washing, polishing and fine-tuning the araish work of Jantar Mantar. The remaining Rs 84 lakh would be spent on landscaping the area around Jantar Mantar, electrification, flood lights, toilets and building a veranda near the entry point.

There are also plans to build an underground air-conditioned Astronomy Society and Cultural Centre on the Jantar Mantar premises.

A light and sound show is being planned, which will showcase the history and significance of Jantar Mantar.

Audio-guides will be available for tourists, which will help them learn about the various measuring instruments present in the observatory. Around 200 audio guides are to be bought for the purpose.

The astronomy society and cultural centre will display the old models of measurement and a literature on astronomy will also be available. A good amount will be spent on conservation and chemical treatment of the measuring machines.

A cafeteria is also likely to come up on the premises.

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