Man Singh Observatory, Astronomical observatory in Varanasi, India.
Description
Man Singh Observatory is an astronomical facility built on the rooftop of Man Mahal Palace near Dashashwamedh Ghat in Varanasi. The site contains several stone instruments designed to track celestial movements and calculate time through astronomical observation.
History
A local maharaja built this observatory in 1737 as part of a network of five astronomical sites across northern India. The construction reflects the period's focus on precise astronomical measurement and mathematical calculation.
Culture
The instruments on the rooftop show how people observed and measured the sky centuries ago using mathematical stone structures. Visitors can still see the same devices that were used to track stars and celestial movements.
Practical
The observatory is open daily and charges a small entrance fee, with different rates for local visitors and international guests. The best time to visit is early morning when the stone structures are clearly visible in bright sunlight.
Did you know?
This observatory uses an equatorial sundial that differs from other similar sites and achieves accuracy comparable to modern measurement tools. This makes it a special example of how ancient peoples mastered precise astronomical measurement.
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