SanjayMurugesan220 at 11:09, 21 March 2026

2026-03-21T11:09:01Z

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{{short description|Large historic artillery weapon in Rajasthan, India}}
{{DISPLAYTITLE:Jaivana Cannon}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}}

The '''Jaivana Cannon''' ([[Hindi]]: जयवाण) is a large 18th-century [[cannon]] preserved at [[Jaigarh Fort]], in [[Rajasthan]], [[India]]. At the time of its manufacture in 1720, it was the world's largest cannon on wheels.<ref name="BruynBain20102">{{cite book|author1=Pippa de Bruyn|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HlqM2CR4vfUC&pg=PA521|title=Frommer's India|author2=Keith Bain|author3=David Allardice|author4=Shonar Joshi|date=1 March 2010|publisher=Frommer's|isbn=978-0-470-55610-8|pages=521–522|accessdate=16 April 2011}}</ref>
[[File:Fort Jaigarh 2017-12-29zi.jpg|thumb|300px|Jaivana Cannon]]
[[File:Jaivan Canon on wheels.JPG|thumb|right|300px|The cannon from the rear]]

==History==
The Jaivana was manufactured during the reign of Maharaja Sawai [[Jai Singh II]] (1699–1743) at a foundry in Jaigarh.<ref name="perch">{{Cite web|title=Jaigarh Fort – Jaipur, India|url=http://www.cs.utah.edu/~noliver/india/Forts/Jaigarh-AmberFort/Jaigarh.html|publisher=cs.utah.edu|accessdate=14 April 2011|archive-date=11 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140311093126/http://www.cs.utah.edu/~noliver/india/Forts/Jaigarh-AmberFort/Jaigarh.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Jaivan">{{Cite web|title=Jaipur|url=http://www.jaipur.org.uk/forts-monuments/jaigarh-fort.html|publisher=Jaipur.org.uk|accessdate=16 April 2011}}</ref> The cannon was fired only once, with a charge of {{convert|100|kg}} of gunpowder, and when fired was claimed to have covered a distance of about {{convert|35|km}}.<ref name="hub">{{Cite web|title=Jaigarh Fort – Jaipur|url=http://www.jaipurhub.com/tourist_attractions/jaigarh_fort.html|publisher=Jaipurhub.com|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713073704/http://www.jaipurhub.com/tourist_attractions/jaigarh_fort.html|archivedate=13 July 2011|accessdate=16 April 2011}}</ref><ref name="Abram2003">{{cite book|author=David Abram|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kAMik_6LbwUC&pg=PA161|title=Rough guide to India|date=15 December 2003|publisher=Rough Guides|isbn=978-1-84353-089-3|pages=161|accessdate=16 April 2011}}</ref> It is said that the projectile fired from it made a small lake in Chaksu, though this is clearly an embellished legend and could not have physically happened.
The cannon is now located at the [[Jaigarh Fort]], [[Jaipur]], at {{coord|26|58|48.03|N|75|50|37.29|E|}}.

==Technical data==
{{Unreferenced section|date=November 2018}}
The length of the barrel of the cannon is {{convert|6.15|m|ft|abbr=on}} and it weighs 50 tons.{{Citation needed|date=November 2014}} The circumference near the tip of the barrel is {{convert|2.2|m|ft|abbr=on}} and that of the rear is {{convert|2.8|m|ft|abbr=on}}. The diameter of the bore of the barrel is {{convert|28|cm|in|abbr=on}} and the thickness of the barrel at the tip is {{convert|21.6|cm|in|abbr=on}}. The thickness gradually increases as one moves towards the rear of the barrel. The two thick rings on the barrel were used for lifting it with the help of a crane which, though incomplete, is still lying in Jaigarh. A {{convert|776|mm|in|adj=mid|-long}} elevating screw was used for raising and lowering the barrel.

The barrel has floral design. An elephant rests on the tip of the barrel and a pair of peacocks are carved in the centre. A pair of ducks also decorates the rear of the barrel.

Jaivana rests on a high two-wheeled carriage. The wheels are {{convert|1.37|m|ft|abbr=on}} in diameter. The carriage is equipped with two removable additional wheels for transport. The removable wheels are {{convert|2.74|m|ft|abbr=on}} in diameter. 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 weather.

About {{convert|100|kg|lb|abbr=on}} of gunpowder fired a shot ball weighing {{convert|50|kg|lb|abbr=on}}.

The uses and range of the cannon and cannonballs vary over different sources.

The Jaivana Cannon was only fired once by [[Jai Singh II]], as a test-fire in 1720. The most exaggerated myth claims that the weapon had a range of {{convert|40|km|mi|abbr=on}}, other sources say it is 35, 22 and {{convert|11|km|mi|abbr=on}}, although the exact range could perhaps never be determined without adequate scientific computation.{{Citation needed|date=November 2018}} Most sources, including local tourist guides agree that it was fired in the direction of [[Chaksu]].{{Citation needed|date=November 2018}} The impact is said by many locals and tourist guides to be powerful enough to have caused a depression where a pond can be seen today. Legend has it that after it fired, pregnant women living nearby suffered miscarriages.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/offtrack/story/20040712-efforts-on-to-give-facelift-to-foundry-that-built-world-largest-cannon-on-wheels-in-jaipur-790032-2004-07-12|title=Efforts on to restore foundry that built world's largest cannon on wheels in Jaipur|website=India Today|language=en|access-date=2018-11-25}}</ref> [[File:Jaivana Cannon.webm|thumb|Jaivana Cannon]]

==See also==
{{Commons category|Jaivan Cannon}}
*[[Tsar Cannon]]
*[[List of the largest cannon by caliber]]
*''[[The Pride and the Passion]]'', a 1957 fictional historical film drama with a large siege cannon that has a nearly identical carriage and similar size barrel.

==References==
{{reflist}}

== Further reading ==

* R.S. Khangarot, P.S. Nathawat- Jaigarh the invincible fort of Amber(1990), Raj Kmar Parnami, RBSA Publishers, Jaipur
*http://www.journeymart.com/DExplorer/AsiaIS/India/india_addon/fortspalaces/jaigarh.asp

[[Category:Large-calibre artillery]]
[[Category:Artillery of India]]
[[Category:History of Jaipur]]
[[Category:Individual cannons]]

Jaivana Cannon - Revision history

SanjayMurugesan220 at 11:09, 21 March 2026