The largest stone astronomical observatory in the world -- Jaipur's Jantar Mantar -- has been accorded world heritage status by Unesco. The decision was taken at Unesco's World Heritage Committee meeting currently being held in Brasilia in Brazil. "This is India's 28th and Rajasthan's second site (after Keoladeo National Park in Bharatpur) which has been given this status and it is a matter of proud for us and for nation as well," tourism minister Bina Kak told reporters here. In fact, Jantar Mantar is the first monument to find a place in the cultural heritage site list of Unesco as Keoladeo National Park is included in the list of natural heritages. The observatory, built between 1727 and 1734 by Maharaja Jai Singh II at his new capital of Jaipur, is among the seven sites in the world which have been added to Unesco's World Heritage list this year."I received a phone call in the wee hours of Sunday from our principal secretary, tourism, Usha Sharma, from Brasilia that Unesco has given Jantar Mantar the status of world heritage site," a jubilant Kak told reporters. She said a three-member team from the state presented a management plan before the Unesco committee on Saturday. The committee then considered over 37 sites across the world.
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