Ujjain has a extraordinary geographical location—not only does the Tropic of Cancer pass through it, it was India’s Prime Meridian (zero degrees longitude) before the world’s official Prime Meridian was set at Greenwich in 1884. This was determined by ancient Indian mathematicians and astrologers way back when Ujjain was known as Avantika. It’s documented in the
Surya Siddhanta, one of the earliest Hindu texts on astronomy that was written in the 4th century. Ujjain was a crucial center for mathematical and astronomical research in the 6th and 7th centuries. Unfortunately, the city’s first observatory was destroyed by invading Sultan Iltutmish, from Delhi, in 1235. It wasn’t until the 18th century that Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh built the existing one, known as Jantar Mantar. It’s one of five such observatories that he constructed in India (the others are in Delhi, Mathura, Varanasi and Jaipur), and the only one that’s still in use. Its intriguing astronomical instruments work by casting shadows. Jantar Mantar is open daily and there’s an entry fee of 10 rupees for adults. If you’re there around noon on June 21, the day of summer solstice, the sun will move directly overhead and your shadow will completely disappear for a minute!
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