A Guide to the Old Observatories at Delhi, Jaipur, Ujjain, Benares

A Guide to the Old Observatories at Delhi, Jaipur, Ujjain, and Benares (1920) is a classic early twentieth-century account of India’s monu¬mental astronomical heritage. Written at a time when systematic docu¬mentation of indigenous scientific traditions was still emerging, the book offers a detailed and accessible introduction to the great observational complexes associated with the subcontinent’s long engagement with astronomy, mathematics, and cosmology. Covering the celebrated observatories of Delhi and Jaipur alongside the older centres of Ujjain and Benares, the guide describes the instru¬ments, architectural principles, and observational methods that shaped pre-modern Indian astronomy. It situates these structures within their historical and cultural contexts, highlighting their role in time-keeping, calendrical calculations, and ritual life. More than a descriptive handbook, the volume reflects an early scholarly attempt to interpret Indian astronomical knowledge through careful observation and explanation. A century after its first publication, it remains a valuable resource for historians of science, students of architecture, and readers interested in the scientific traditions of South Asia, as well as an important document in the history of how India’s observatories were first studied, recorded, and presented to a wider audience.

• Publication date: 1 August 2026
• Page count: 148
• Dimensions: Height 230 mm; Width 150 mm
• Publisher: Manohar Publishers and Distributors
• Format: Hardback
• ISBN-13: 9789374512951