Kalimpong Science Centre — Attraction in West Bengal

Kalimpong Science Centre is located and this Science Centre is about 9 KM to the north of the Kalimpong town and cover an area of 7 acres of hilly land. Kalimpong Science Centre is the first kind in the hills of Darjeeling District offers umpteen learning opportunities through fun and enjoyment of all age groups. Kalimpong Science Centre communicates science and technology to the peoples in such a way with the primary objective of developing a scientific temper in the society and promoting of the knowledge and ideas of science on various educational institutions/organizations. Science is best understood through experimentation and this experience is a great forum for learning science and technology in a non-formal way where learning process is self-motivated and pleasurable. Kalimpong Science Centre has been conceived, designed and developed by National Council of Science Museums (Ministry of Culture, Government of India). This Science Centre has been officially handed over to the Department of Education-Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council on 11th September’2007. Kalimpong Science Centre has been registered under West Bengal Certificate of Registration of Societies Act XXVI of 1961 on 27th July’2007. Kalimpong Science Centre has been established in Kalimpong, one of the Hill Sub-Division of Darjeeling District in the year 2008, conceived, designed and developed by National Council of Science Museums (Ministry of Culture, Government of India). It is knowledge-based organization of high quality and dedication; engage in popularizing Science and Technology among the general masses particularly, in students. Kalimpong Science Centre was inaugurated on 2nd October’2008 by Shri B. L. Meena, IAS, and Honorable Administrator-Darjeeling Gorkha Hill council. Main objectives of Kalimpong Science Centre

•To popularize science in general and to inculcate scientific temper among the general masses.

•To create, inculcate and sustain a general awareness in the public, especially the youth about science and its application to modern life.

•To develop scientific attitude and temper with a view to helping children and adult to think and act rationally in a modern society.

•To supplement science education by providing audio-visual media through science museum, exhibition, science club etc., and by organizing teacher education, design and development of teaching aids and experimental kits for students.

•To identify, encourage and nurture creative scientific talent, especially among children.

•To create infrastructure and facilities and to undertake programme to explain science to the general masses with the view of inculcating a scientific temper in them.

•To arrange for permanent and semi-permanent display of visual object and exhibits on scientific and technical topics.

•To design and produce exhibits, model and other visual objects needed not only for these centers but also by schools and community centers and advice the letter in the display and presentation of these objects according to their thematic and related patterns.

•To procure films on science and technology and organize their screening to supplement science education in school and colleges.

•To generate and improve, through students, teachers and others, new innovative forms of experiments and teaching methods, using commonly available local materials and appliances as well as organize their demonstration periodically with explanatory lectures.

•To initiate formation of science clubs, science promotional groups etc, in schools, colleges and in the community as well.

•To arrange for mobile science exhibitions and semi-permanent exhibition for educating the general masses in urban and rural areas about the growth of science and technology, and its application in agriculture, industry, health, society development etc.

•To provide common service facilities in the form of science library, reading rooms, small electrical/electronic/mechanical workplace,...

Tucked in the heart of Kalimpong, about 70 km from Darjeeling, the Kalimpong Science Centre is a must-visit, especially for families with school-going kids. This place is a perfect mix of education and entertainment, and it makes science not just easy to understand, but also exciting to explore. The moment the entrance is crossed, one is greeted by busts of some of India’s greatest scientists, each with a detailed plaque explaining their contributions to science and the awards they’ve received on a global scale. Names like Homi Bhabha, C.V. Raman, S. Ramanujan, and Vikram Sarabhai all stand tall, inspiring young minds before the learning even begins.

Inside, the centre offers a world of interactive fun. From the front desk, tickets for a 3D show can also be booked for just ₹50 extra per person — a short film experience that adds more spark to the visit. Beyond that, the main museum is filled with hands-on science experiments that turn difficult concepts into simple fun. There’s the fascinating infinity well that seems to go on forever, holographic pyramids that project floating images, and plenty of buttons, levers, and mirrors that make every exhibit feel like a game with a lesson.

Each section in the museum is themed — light and shadow, sound, motion, energy — all brought to life with colorful, touch-friendly models. A large rotating kaleidoscope lets visitors play with mirror designs, and other displays explain basic physics with clever illusions. The best part? Kids (and adults!) don’t just look, they participate — stand in a spot, press a switch, turn a crank — it’s science that asks to be touched and explored. It’s a great way to spark curiosity and make textbook lessons come alive.

After the indoor fun, a large open-air lawn adds another dimension to the experience. A few outdoor experiments demonstrate how sound travels — stand on one side of a sculpture and hear your voice clearly reach the other end without shouting. The lawn also features large dinosaur replicas that kids absolutely love. Each one comes with a board describing its era, diet, and traits — a mini Jurassic experience in the hills! These life-size models help children visualize the prehistoric world with excitement and wonder.

To top it all off, the lawn offers a picture-perfect backdrop — the museum, dinosaurs, and wide green lawns against a stunning view of the distant hills, floating clouds, and peaceful skies. All in all, the Kalimpong Science Centre is a beautiful blend of learning and leisure. Whether exploring science, watching clouds roll in, or capturing a few memorable photos — this is a place that engages the mind while feeding the soul. Highly recommended, especially for curious...

is a science and technology centre situated close to Deolo Hill in Kalimpong, West Bengal. It was established in order to propagate a scientific temper and to share amongst the public knowledge and ideas pertaining to science and technology. There is a science observatory and 3D movie theatre on the premises.

Set up by the National Council of Science Museums, it spans an area of 7 acres and overlooks the mighty Kanchenjunga. Within the museum are a variety of exhibits that people can see. There are indoor exhibits which include the Fun Science Gallery where one can find scientific objects and interact with them in order to learn. The kaleidoscope, rolling balls, fun mirrors, pendulum, optical gadgets, objects defying gravity as well as others are a few of them. The Digital Gallery focuses on the inception and journey of computerised scientific gadgets. One would see a blue tooth printer, a phone which plays the voice of JJ Thomson and also learn about bar code reading or binary coding.

The outdoor exhibits are displayed in the Science Park which is lush green. There are massive dinosaur installations, exhibits explaining the evolution of the different species on earth and exhibits on pendulums, optics and sound. One can learn about the working of pulleys, the reflectometer of sound, check one’s weight and also find out how difficult it is to get out of a spider web. There is also a medicinal garden comprising medicinal plants so as to teach people about their values and habitats. Furthermore, activities are organised for children wherein they can learn about the stars and planets through Taramandal, an...