Indian history · Kings and empires · Rajput kingdoms
Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II of Amber (1688â1743): Founder of Jaipur, Builder of the Jantar Mantar Observatories and Patron of Astronomy
Sawai Jai Singh II of Amber combined the roles of warrior, statesman, town planner and astronomer. He founded the planned city of Jaipur, built giant masonry instruments to observe the sky in five Indian cities and compiled new astronomical tables. Two UNESCO World Heritage Sites â the Jantar Mantar of Jaipur and the Walled City of Jaipur â are linked with him. This guide gives the facts exams ask.
Sawai Jai Singh II at a glance
| Detail | Fact |
|---|---|
| Dynasty | Kachhwaha Rajputs of Amber (Dhundhar region) |
| Born | 3 November 1688 |
| Reign | 1699/1700â1743 |
| Title | "Sawai" (one and a quarter) â said to have been given by Aurangzeb |
| Founded | Jaipur, from 1727 |
| Architect | Vidyadhar Bhattacharya of Bengal |
| Observatories | Jantar Mantar at Delhi, Jaipur, Ujjain, Varanasi and Mathura |
| Astronomical tables | Zij-i-Muhammad Shahi, dedicated to Emperor Muhammad Shah |
| Died | 21 September 1743 |
The Kachhwahas of Amber
The Kachhwahas ruled from Amber, near today's Jaipur, and were among the first Rajput houses to ally with the Mughals. Raja Bharmal married his daughter to Akbar in 1562, and Raja Man Singh I became one of Akbar's leading generals. Mirza Raja Jai Singh I negotiated the Treaty of Purandar with Shivaji in 1665. Sawai Jai Singh II continued this tradition of service to the Mughals while building up his own state.
The title "Sawai"
According to tradition, when the young Jai Singh met Aurangzeb, the emperor held both his hands and asked what he could do now. Jai Singh replied that when a husband holds his bride's hand, she has nothing to fear â and the emperor, pleased, called him Sawai, meaning "one and a quarter", i.e., superior to others. The title passed to his successors, and the Jaipur flag famously carries "one and a quarter" flags.
Political career
- Under the later Mughals he served as governor (subahdar) of Malwa and Agra at different times.
- During the confused years after Aurangzeb's death, he balanced between rival Mughal factions and the rising Marathas, sometimes negotiating with Baji Rao I.
- He performed the Ashvamedha and Vajapeya sacrifices, reviving ancient royal rituals.
Founding Jaipur (1727)
Amber's hilly site had no room for growth. In 1727, Jai Singh began a new capital on the plain to the south, named Jaipur after himself.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Planner | Vidyadhar Bhattacharya, a Bengali scholar in his service |
| Principles | Grid plan based on Vastu Shastra and Shilpa Shastra texts, combined with Mughal and contemporary ideas |
| Layout | Broad straight streets, nine rectangular blocks (chowkris), city walls with gates |
| Markets | Planned bazaars with uniform shopfronts along the main streets |
| Palace | The City Palace at the centre |
Jaipur's buildings were painted pink in 1876 to welcome the Prince of Wales (Edward VII), earning the name "Pink City". The Hawa Mahal (1799) was built later by Sawai Pratap Singh.
The Walled City of Jaipur was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2019.
Jantar Mantar: astronomy in stone
Jai Singh was deeply interested in astronomy. He studied Sanskrit, Persian and Arabic texts, sent scholars to collect European works and found existing brass instruments too small for accurate readings. His solution was to build huge masonry instruments.
Five observatories
| City | Built | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Delhi | c. 1724 | First of the five |
| Jaipur | c. 1728â1734 | Largest and best preserved; UNESCO World Heritage Site (2010) |
| Ujjain | c. 1725 | On the line of the Tropic of Cancer area used in Indian astronomy |
| Varanasi | c. 1737 | On the roof of Man Mandir ghat |
| Mathura | c. 1738 | No longer survives |
Key instruments
| Instrument | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Samrat Yantra | A giant sundial; at Jaipur its gnomon is about 27 metres high and tells local time to about 2 seconds |
| Jai Prakash Yantra | Hemispherical bowls for positions of celestial bodies |
| Rama Yantra | Measures altitude and azimuth |
| Misra Yantra (Delhi) | Combination instrument showing noon in other world cities |
| Rashivalaya Yantras (Jaipur) | Twelve instruments, one for each zodiac sign |
Zij-i-Muhammad Shahi
Using his observations, Jai Singh's astronomers compiled the Zij-i-Muhammad Shahi (completed around 1728â35), a set of astronomical tables dedicated to the Mughal emperor Muhammad Shah. He also had Euclid's Elements and other works translated into Sanskrit.
Legacy
- Jaipur became one of the best-planned cities of pre-modern India and is now Rajasthan's capital.
- His observatories remain a symbol of India's scientific heritage and attract visitors and students.
- He is remembered as a ruler who combined Rajput tradition, Mughal service and scientific curiosity.
Exam traps
- Jaipur was founded by Sawai Jai Singh II in 1727; the Hawa Mahal was built later (1799) by Sawai Pratap Singh.
- The Jantar Mantar of Jaipur became a UNESCO site in 2010; the Walled City in 2019.
- Jai Singh built five observatories; the Mathura one no longer exists.
- Mirza Raja Jai Singh I (Purandar, 1665) is a different, earlier ruler.
Key points to remember
- Kachhwaha ruler of Amber; title Sawai (by tradition from Aurangzeb).
- Founded Jaipur (1727); planner Vidyadhar Bhattacharya; Vastu-based grid.
- Jantar Mantar: Delhi, Jaipur, Ujjain, Varanasi, Mathura.
- Samrat Yantra â giant sundial; Zij-i-Muhammad Shahi.
- UNESCO: Jantar Mantar Jaipur (2010), Walled City of Jaipur (2019).
Practice questions
Q1. Jaipur was founded in 1727 by:
- (a) Raja Man Singh
- (b) Sawai Jai Singh II
- (c) Mirza Raja Jai Singh I
- (d) Sawai Pratap Singh
Show answer
Answer: (b) Sawai Jai Singh II â Sawai Jai Singh II founded Jaipur.
Q2. The chief planner of Jaipur was:
- (a) Lutyens
- (b) Vidyadhar Bhattacharya
- (c) Ustad Ahmad Lahori
- (d) Le Corbusier
Show answer
Answer: (b) Vidyadhar Bhattacharya â Vidyadhar Bhattacharya planned the city.
Q3. Which of these cities did NOT have a Jantar Mantar built by Sawai Jai Singh II?
- (a) Ujjain
- (b) Varanasi
- (c) Agra
- (d) Mathura
Show answer
Answer: (c) Agra â His observatories were at Delhi, Jaipur, Ujjain, Varanasi and Mathura.
Q4. The Samrat Yantra at Jantar Mantar is a:
- (a) Telescope
- (b) Giant sundial
- (c) Water clock
- (d) Compass
Show answer
Answer: (b) Giant sundial â It is a huge equinoctial sundial.
Q5. The astronomical tables compiled under Jai Singh II were dedicated to:
- (a) Aurangzeb
- (b) Bahadur Shah
- (c) Muhammad Shah
- (d) Farrukhsiyar
Show answer
Answer: (c) Muhammad Shah â The Zij-i-Muhammad Shahi was dedicated to Muhammad Shah.
Q6. The Jantar Mantar of Jaipur was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in:
- (a) 1986
- (b) 2010
- (c) 2014
- (d) 2019
Show answer
Answer: (b) 2010 â It was inscribed in 2010; the Walled City followed in 2019.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Jaipur called the Pink City?
Its buildings were painted pink in 1876 to welcome the Prince of Wales, and the colour has been kept since.
Why did Jai Singh build such large instruments?
Larger masonry instruments gave more precise readings than the small brass instruments available in his time.
What does "Sawai" mean?
"One and a quarter" â a title implying that the ruler was a cut above others.
Official sources
Rules, dates and figures can change. Always check the latest official notification or government release before relying on a detail.