Jantar Mantar

A few minutes later, we arrived at Jantar Mantar. This time, Pau got out with me, and his mate drove off, obviously having arranged to pick us up later. We crossed the road and Pau asked me if I wanted to go in. I said, 'Of course, entrance is included in what I paid for the tour.' Again, Pau was surprised. He wanted proof, so I showed him all the details of the tour I'd booked and he took screen shots to show his boss. He still wasn't going to pay for my ticket, and said he would wait for me outside. At this point, I'd had enough. I told him I would continue by myself. I firmly refused his request for a tip. What a cheek!

Once he'd left, I calmed myself down, bought my ticket, and went to visit Jantar Mantar, one of five observatories built by Maharaja Jai Singh II, ruler of Jaipur. Built in 1725, Jantar Mantar is a well-maintained park containing a collection of curving geometric structures carefully calibrated to monitor the movement of the stars and planets. The eccentric shapes include the Samrat Yantra, a giant sundial, the Misra Yantra, an upside-down heart which is a world-time clock, and the Ram Yantra, circular buildings with rows of windows to observe the positions of celestial bodies. I didn't fully understand what I was looking at, but it was a calm and peaceful place to spend an hour - just what I needed after the morning I'd had.Read more