Day 8b The observatory and Ashok

Brief post, not sure when we will get internet again.  Tomorrow is free in the AM, then a bazaar trip in the pm.  Then, the day after, (final day of our holiday), we  relocate back to Delhi; everyone heads out to Beijing except us, we stay for two more days and go to Amristar and the Golden Temple.

First a couple of pictures from Day #8 taken at the Janta Manta, an astrological and astronomical observatory built by Maharaja Jai Singh in 1738.   It is a collection of nineteen architectural astronomical instruments and it features the world's largest stone sundial.  It is also a UNESCO World Heritage site.  Our guide explained several instruments to us.  None of us really understood what he was talking about.  He tried to explain, and we tried to understand why Indian Standard time is 30 minutes off from Greenwich Mean Time Standards.  He basically said that Indian time is more accurate……

This sundial, which is huge, can tell the time within 2 seconds!

 

Here is a shout out to our guide Ashok, (Ah-shook).  A great guy and a great guide.  Very attentive to all our needs, making sure we stay together As we all are under the weather off and on, he is always asking how we are doing.  He is a free-lance guide, has a master’s degree in Tourism and really enjoys his work.  Very knowledgeable about the culture and history of India.   We couldn’t ask for a better guide.  Yeah, Ashok!