Archive · 23 Jul 2026
Jantar Mantar: From Observatory to Protest Hub
Jantar Mantar is a historic observatory built in 1731 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II.
It was used to study the movement of celestial bodies.
Over time, the road next to it became a popular place for protests in India.
People from different groups, like farmers and students, gather there to protest and demand changes.
However, residents nearby complained that the protests caused problems like noise and garbage.
The Supreme Court decided that protests could still happen at Jantar Mantar but with rules to keep the area clean and peaceful.
Today, Jantar Mantar is known as a place where people can protest and make their voices heard.
Jantar Mantar was built in 1731 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II as an observatory.
It became a protest site in the late 1980s due to its proximity to government offices.
Residents complained about the disruption caused by protests, leading to a Supreme Court ruling in 2018.
The Supreme Court allowed protests at Jantar Mantar with guidelines to regulate crowd size, duration, sanitation, and noise levels.
Jantar Mantar remains a symbol of democratic dissent and a key location for protests in India.
- Who
- Protesters, residents, and authorities
- What
- Jantar Mantar's transformation from an observatory to a protest site
- When
- Built in 1731, became a protest site in the late 1980s, Supreme Court ruling in 2018
- Where
- Jantar Mantar, New Delhi
- Why
- Protesters seek visibility and accessibility near government offices, while residents seek peace and a clean environment
Protesters
Residents
Protest Location
Protesters
Protesters argue that Jantar Mantar is a symbolic and accessible location for demonstrations, close to Parliament and government offices, making their voices more visible.
Residents
Residents argue that protests at Jantar Mantar disrupt daily life, with demonstrators staying for weeks or months, erecting temporary structures, using loudspeakers, and leaving behind garbage.
- Built By
- Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II
- Year Built
- 1731
- Original Purpose
- Astronomical observations
- Current Use
- Protest site
- Supreme Court Ruling
- 2018
- Key Instruments
- Samrat Yantra, Jai Prakash, Ram Yantra, Misra Yantra
- Protest Guidelines
- Up to 1,000 people, prior police permission, regulations on crowd size, duration, sanitation, noise levels, traffic management, public order, and organizers' responsibilities