Jaivaan of Jaigarh Fort

The First Glance of Jaiban & standing at its base reminded me of Alistar Mc Cleans Guns of Navarone.

Jaigarh Fort was a centre of artillery production for the Rajputs. It is now home to the JAIBAN commissioned in 1720. It was the world's largest cannon on wheels of the Early Modern Era / 18 Century. The foundry where it was manufactured is also located here inside the Jaigarh Fort atop the Aravalli Range in Jaipur.

This cannon was never used in any battle as the Rajput rulers of Amer had friendly relations with the Mughals. The cannon was fired only once with a charge of 100 kilograms (220 lb) of gunpowder and when fired covered a distance of about 35 kilometres (22 miles). Although going by the gun powder make & other related technicalities, scientifically it could be established that the firing range can be of a max 03 Miles. Noteworthy the only one time when it was fired the raging ball created a deep crater on the Aravallis mountains which is now a small lake. If Legends are to be believed, few expectant mothers suffered mis carraige on hearing the Thundering sound of the Artillery.

The Jaivana was manufactured during the reign of Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II (1699–1743). The barrel is 20.19 foot (6.15 m) in length and weighs 50 tonnes. It has a diameter of 11 inches (280 mm).It is mounted on wheels and has the mechanism of two back wheels mounted on roller pin bearings, to turn it 360° and fire in any direction. A Tin shed was built to protect the cannon against all Weather conditions.