Sawai Jai Singh II(1688 – 1743)

Jai Singh II

Astronomer-king who founded the planned city of Jaipur (1727) and built the Jantar Mantar observatories — one of 18th-century India's greatest intellects.

Sawai Jai Singh II

What you need to know

  • Born 3 November 1688; became Raja of Amber at age 11 in 1699
  • Title 'Sawai' (one and a quarter) given by Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb for his intelligence
  • Founded Jaipur in 1727 — one of world's first planned cities
  • Built Jantar Mantar observatories in Delhi, Jaipur, Mathura, Ujjain, Varanasi
  • Invited European astronomers and Jesuit priests to his court
  • Died 21 September 1743; left a prosperous and architecturally magnificent kingdom
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Facts at a glance
Born
Died
Gender
MALE
Religion
HINDUISM
Type
RULER

Details

Born
3 November 1688
Died
21 September 1743, Jaipur
Reign
1699–1743, Amber/Jaipur
Title
Sawai (= 1.25, meaning he was 1.25x greater than ordinary men)
Founded
Jaipur (1727)
Observatories
Jantar Mantar in 5 cities (Delhi, Jaipur, Mathura, Ujjain, Varanasi)
UNESCO
Jantar Mantar, Jaipur (2019)