World heritage status sought for Jaipur's Jantar Mantar

Jaipur, Apr 1 (ANI): The authorities at the world-renowned astronomical observatory, Jantar Mantar, in Jaipur, have approached the UNESCO for giving a world heritage site status.

It is one of the five astronomical observatories in India with buildings of unique form, each with a specialized function for astronomical measurement.

The government of India has sent the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to the UNESCO to include Jantar Mantar in the world heritage site lists.

Two months earlier, a team of UNESCO experts had also visited Jaipur in this regard and have approved the Jantar Mantar technically.

According to the authorities, Jantar Mantar meets all the parameters to be included in the list of world heritage sites.

"We have sent a proposal to the UNESCO for the monument to be included in the World Heritage. With the support of the Government of India, the ASI went for the purpose and there is a possibility for the inclusion of the monument in the World Heritage site," said Pandit O P Sharma, Superintendent of Jantar Mantar

Officials claimed there is a possibility of receiving a positive signal from UNESCO by the end of June.

"Jantar Mantar is a major mark of the city. It is a unique building on its own and that differentiate Jaipur from other cities. As far as Jaipur is concerned, this is the only place where you can have Jantar Mantar," said Maharhisi Mishra, a visitor.

Meanwhile, experts said that that maintenance and conservation of Jantar Mantar would also improve, as there will be involvement of international experts.

The open-air observatory, built by Maharaj Sawai Jai Singh in 1728, consists of a dozen-odd metal and masonry structures used for astronomical calculations.

The peculiar structures were used to calculate planetary positions, solar and lunar eclipses and generate astronomical data. By Lokendra Singh (ANI)