DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.611#0065
THE RIVER FRONT. 45
33. Man Mandir Ghat.—This belongs to the obser-
vatory which stands above it. This observatory, together
with four others of a similar character, at Delhi, Ujain,
Matara, and Jeypur, were built a little more than two
centuries' ago by Raja Jai Singh of Jaipur, who appears
to have had a passion for astronomy, and attained a
wide reputation for his attainments. Whether he named
the observatory after his distinguished ancestor Man
Singh, in honour of his memory, or whether he utilised a
building or site which already bore that ancestor's name
is not clear.
The place inside is not much better than a ruin, but
a very well-preserved ruin. The astronomical instru-
ments were massively constructed of stone and metal,
and are still is very good preservation, though unused.
The place is no longer used as an observatory, but is
occupied by a few men, presumably pensioners of the
Maharajah of Jaipur. They do not suggest to the casual
visitor that they are guilty of much astronomy.
The building of Man Mandir is a large, and, in a sense,
an impressive pile, but it is too flat to be called beautiful.
It lacks grace and symmetry. There is one redeeming
feature, however, and that is very redemptive. High up
in the extreme northeast corner of the building juts
out a balcony, which is one of the finest things in Bena-
res. It is a gem. and well worth examining carefully.
It is seen well from the river, but better still from the
ghat itself standing in a north-easternly direction from it.
It has been conjectured that this may have come from
some older building and been built into the present one,
and this conjecture seems plausible.
At the south of the building, approached only by a
flight of steps, (unless you can prevail on one of the at-
tendants to let you through by a door from the observa-
tory part of the building), is an " akhara " (which means
33. Man Mandir Ghat.—This belongs to the obser-
vatory which stands above it. This observatory, together
with four others of a similar character, at Delhi, Ujain,
Matara, and Jeypur, were built a little more than two
centuries' ago by Raja Jai Singh of Jaipur, who appears
to have had a passion for astronomy, and attained a
wide reputation for his attainments. Whether he named
the observatory after his distinguished ancestor Man
Singh, in honour of his memory, or whether he utilised a
building or site which already bore that ancestor's name
is not clear.
The place inside is not much better than a ruin, but
a very well-preserved ruin. The astronomical instru-
ments were massively constructed of stone and metal,
and are still is very good preservation, though unused.
The place is no longer used as an observatory, but is
occupied by a few men, presumably pensioners of the
Maharajah of Jaipur. They do not suggest to the casual
visitor that they are guilty of much astronomy.
The building of Man Mandir is a large, and, in a sense,
an impressive pile, but it is too flat to be called beautiful.
It lacks grace and symmetry. There is one redeeming
feature, however, and that is very redemptive. High up
in the extreme northeast corner of the building juts
out a balcony, which is one of the finest things in Bena-
res. It is a gem. and well worth examining carefully.
It is seen well from the river, but better still from the
ghat itself standing in a north-easternly direction from it.
It has been conjectured that this may have come from
some older building and been built into the present one,
and this conjecture seems plausible.
At the south of the building, approached only by a
flight of steps, (unless you can prevail on one of the at-
tendants to let you through by a door from the observa-
tory part of the building), is an " akhara " (which means