The Astronomical Observatories of Jai Singh c10.87

c10.87

44. Past Restorations. Syed Aḥmad Khān tells us that, in 1852, the Raja of Jaipur partially restored the Samrāṭ Yantra, at the request of the Archæological Society of Delhi; and, in the Proceedings of the Delhi Archæological Society of the 6th January 1853, we read: "It having been stated that the large gnomon of the Junter Munter had been repaired at a cost of Co.'s Rs. 442-1-10, leaving a balance of Co.'s Rs. 157-14-2 of the sum presented to the Society by the Rajah of Jeypore, for the repairs of that Observatory, and this being much too small a sum to enable the Society to complete the repairs, or even to build around a compound wall, which is absolutely necessary, for the security of the remains from further dilapidation, it was unanimously resolved that the Agent to the Lieutenant-Governor, Delhi, be requested to make known to the Rajah of Jeypore, through the proper authorities, the inability of the Society to complete the contemplated work, without further funds." For many years nothing further was done. In 1910, His Highness, the present Mahārāja of Jaipur, sanctioned the restoration of the observatory at Delhi, and the work was completed in 1912. Paṇḍit Gokal Chand was placed in charge of the astronomical part of the restoration, which was carefully carried out. The work comprised the restoration of the buildings, the regraduation of most of the scales, and, in the case of the Jai Prakāś, practically the reconstruction of the whole instrument. Most of the facings and the graduations were done in lime plaster, but the main graduations on the quadrants of the Samrāṭ Yantra are in a soft black stone, very neatly inlaid in the surface of the quadrants. The graduations in lime are already becoming obliterated. On the top of the gnomon of the Samrāṭ Yantra a sun-dial of European type was erected.