Jantar Mantar in Central Delhi has been added as a venue for the India Biennale 2026, a 108-day festival of art, architecture and design organised by the Ministry of Culture. The festival is scheduled to run from 4 December 2026 to 21 March 2027, with participants from more than 20 countries.
Jantar Mantar as an astronomical observatory
Jantar Mantar in Delhi is one of five observatories built by Maharaja Jai Singh II of Jaipur in the early 18th century. The Delhi observatory was constructed in 1724. Its masonry instruments were designed for observing celestial bodies and measuring time and astronomical positions. The Samrat Yantra functions as a monumental sundial, while the Ram Yantra is used to measure the altitude and azimuth of celestial objects. The Jai Prakash Yantra uses complementary concave structures to map celestial coordinates. The Jantar Mantar observatory in Delhi is distinct from the Jantar Mantar in Jaipur, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Biennale venues and participating institutions
The 16th-century Purana Qila is the Biennale’s central hub and is expected to host the Ministry of Culture’s exhibition. Other listed venues include the Red Fort, Qutub Minar complex, Lodhi Gardens, Agrasen ki Baoli and Safdarjung Tomb. The programme includes architecture and design firms, public and private art institutions, and cultural organisations. Participants include the National Gallery of Modern Art, the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art, the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre, the JSW Foundation and DAG.
Jantar Mantar and public spaces
A stretch of Jantar Mantar Road was denotified as a designated protest site on 11 October 2026. Ramlila Maidan, Burari Ground and CBD Ground were identified as alternative protest venues. The Biennale’s addition of Jantar Mantar places an astronomical heritage monument among the festival’s cultural venues.
Important Facts for Exams
- Maharaja Jai Singh II established observatories at Delhi, Jaipur, Ujjain, Varanasi and Mathura.
- The Samrat Yantra at Jantar Mantar is a large sundial used to measure local time.
- UNESCO inscribed the Jantar Mantar in Jaipur on the World Heritage List in 2010.
- Purana Qila is a 16th-century fort in Delhi and the designated hub of the India Biennale 2026.
The India Biennale 2026 is scheduled for 4 December 2026 to 21 March 2027, and its programme includes venues across Delhi.
