Birla Planetarium

4.5

Location: Paul’s Cathedral, 96, Jawaharlal Nehru Road, Cathedral Rd, Kolkata, West Bengal 700071, India

Estimated visiting time: 1 hour

Designed in the typical Indian style, the Birla Planetarium is a single-storeyed circular structure (officially M. P. Birla Planetarium) in Kolkata, West Bengal, India, whose architecture is loosely styled on the Buddhist Stupa at Sanchi. In India: B.M. Birla Planetarium in Chennai and the Birla Planetarium in Hyderabad are the two other Birla Planetariums.

Attraction

Being the oldest and largest planetarium in Asia and the second largest in the world, Birla Planetarium is among Kolkata’s famous landmarks. At a walking distance from the Maidan metro station and also from Park Street Circle, the planetarium is situated adjacent to the iconic Victoria Memorial, and St. Paul’s Cathedral. It was built in the year 1962 and is popularly called Taramandal. By the then Prime Minister, Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru, the magnificent building was inaugurated. Throughout the course of the day in three major languages, Hindi, English, and Bengali, there are regular one-hour shows on wonders of the universe and on facts about the galaxies held at the planetarium.

History

Mr. M. P. Birla, an industrialist, and philanthropist was the founder of the Planetarium which is also an institution for the study of astronomy, astrophysics, and cosmology. On 29th September 1962, the doors of the planetarium were opened and started working the same day. However, it was formally inaugurated by the then Prime Minister, Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru, on 2nd July 1963. It has been conducting free evening courses in astronomy, which is an essential historical aspect or trivia about the planetarium and which has become quite famous among people from all walks of life. Conducted on a weekly basis, the course is a 10-month course. For students with a background in Physics and Mathematics, the center also introduced a post-graduate Diploma course in Astronomy and Planetary Sciences. With a detailed curriculum in astrophysics and astronomy, this was initiated in 1993. Conducted for school kids depending on various age groups, there are also a series of graded programs.

Inside/Outside Views

Birla Planetarium was the first planetarium to be set up in Asia and the second to be established in a Commonwealth country, set up as a foundation to serve as an institution dedicated to the study of science and research. Several shows are featured here. The shows are played in English, Bengali and Hindi. ‘Zodiac Signs and Stars’, ‘Journey of Antarctic’ and ‘New View of Solar System’ are the shows held at regular intervals .‘Our Universe’ has become the most loved and sought-after show, after its renovation. Giving visitors an experience similar to sitting in a spaceship, this is a custom-made show. ‘Cosmic Collisions’ is another show which is also a must-watch. Making it a unique thing, the practice of delivering live lectures during the shows, about Birla Planetarium Kolkata, is the best. Be it a student or a tourist, this provides all, an opportunity to interact with experts in the industry along with additional information to all visitors.

Opening Hours

Thursday 12–6 PM

Friday 12–6 PM

Saturday 12–6 PM

Sunday 12–6 PM

Monday 12–6 PM

Tuesday 12–6 PM

Wednesday 12–6 PM

Entry & Others Fees

INR 100 per head in general.
INR 40 for students in a group of 25 or more on request.

Near Restaurants

Near Hotels

How to Reach

To reach Birla Planetarium, the easiest way is to hire a cab or yellow taxi from the airport. From all major locations, the place is easily accessible.

By Air: The closest airport is Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport.

By Train: The closest railway station is Howrah Junction.

By Bus: Plying regularly from Howrah Junction station, there are both local buses and minibusses.

The nearest metro station is Maidan Metro Station.