Periyar Science and Technology Center Entry Fee
- 30 per person for Adults
- 15 per person for Children (Below 12 yrs)
Birla Planetarium Entry Fee
- 30 per person for Adults
- 15 per person for Children (Below 12 yrs)
Birla Planetarium 3D Science Movie Entry Fee
- 20 per person for Adults
- 20 per person for Children (Below 12 yrs)
Package Fee (Science Centre, Planetarium, 3D Science Movie & Science Park)
- 60 per person for Adults
- 30 per person for Children (Below 12 yrs)
Birla Planetarium Chennai Phone
044 2441 0025
Rating: 
| 4/5 stars
Based on total 52 reviews
Birla Planetarium Chennai Address: Gandhi Mandapam Road, Kotturpuram, Duraisamy Nagar, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 600025, India
Birla Planetarium Chennai Tour Packages
Birla Planetarium Chennai Timings
| Day | Timing |
|---|---|
| Monday | 10:00 am – 5:45 pm |
| Tuesday | 10:00 am – 5:45 pm |
| Wedesday | 10:00 am – 5:45 pm |
| Thursday | 10:00 am – 5:45 pm |
| Friday | 10:00 am – 5:45 pm |
| Saturday | 10:00 am – 5:45 pm |
| Sunday | 10:00 am – 5:45 pm |
BM Birla Planetarium Chennai is on the premises of Periyar Science and Technology Centre. And it’s considered the most modern planetarium in India.
The planetarium was established in 1983. But it was inaugurated in 1988 by R Venkataraman, the then President of India. It is known for its virtual tours of the night sky. It also has multiple galleries with over 500 exhibits for you to explore. The collection is divided into categories like Life Science, Electronics and Communications, Energy and more.
It has a sky theatre, with a hemispherical dome, where you can see various astronomical objects in the universe. These shows are run in both Tamil and English. It also organises audio-visual programs on different astronomical themes.
This place lies close to Guindy National Park, making it a wonderful place for stargazing, too. Away from the glaring city lights, the night-sky observation is easy here.
Things to do at Birla Planetarium Chennai
1. Exploring exhibits – Birla Planetarium and Science Centre have numerous halls with different scientific exhibits on display. Fun mirrors, mathematical demos and astronomical phenomena are among the popular ones here. You'll also find galleries dedicated to ocean life, defence research and nuclear power. A hall of fame, with portraits and statues of various astronauts and scientists, is also present at Birla Planetarium in Chennai.
2. Watching 3D shows – Visual sky shows are conducted at different times in English and Tamil. The programs include space phenomena such as meteor showers, stellar cycles, sky and seasons, and more. Overall, 35 such audio-visual programs explaining the cosmic phenomena are shown in the planetarium. The theme of shows is usually changed every 3 months.
3. Observing the night sky – A special show on night sky observation is also conducted here usually on Saturday evenings. Visit Birla Planetarium Chennai on a night with clear skies and you'll be engrossed in stargazing.
4. Roaming in the park – The place also has a Science Park for kids, with outdoor exhibitions categorised into different branches of science. It has toy cars running with automatic electronic signal systems. The system of solar energy, wind energy and biogas energy are displayed. And a small forest set up with different varieties of flora and fauna are also here.
5. Checking Science on a Sphere – Science on a Sphere program projects high-resolution videos on a suspended globe, representing our Earth. You can learn about Earth’s atmosphere, oceans and land with the help of digital images. The experience is interactive as well as educational.
Birla Planetarium Chennai Timings and Entry Fee
The Birla Planetarium in Chennai is open every day from 10 AM to 5.45 PM, even during the weekends and festivals. It is closed only during the national holidays.
The 3D show timings are 10.45 AM, 1.15 PM and 3.45 PM for the English language shows. The Tamil show timings are 12 PM, 2.30 PM and 4.30 PM. And the Saturday night sky observation show runs from 7 PM to 9 PM.
Chennai Birla Planetarium entry fee is ₹30 per adult and ₹15 per kid (below 12 years). Ticket price for 3D shows is ₹20 per person for adults and kids both. And the Science on a Sphere exhibition is priced at ₹20 for adults and ₹10 for kids.
You can even buy the package ticket to visit both Birla Planetarium and Science Centre. The tickets are priced at ₹60 for adults and ₹30 for kids. The price includes the charges for exhibits, 3D shows and Science Park. The entry to Science on a Sphere show isn’t included.
Best time to visit Birla Planetarium Chennai
Chennai is scorching hot and humid during summer. The monsoon season brings some relief for travellers. But untimely torrential downpours and occasional cyclones make it unsuitable for a pleasant visit.
So, the best time to visit Birla Planetarium in Chennai is during the winters, from December to February. The climate remains warm, and the sky is clear for most parts of the day.
Image Gallery of Birla Planetarium Chennai
Time to explore Birla Planetarium Chennai
You will need around 1-2 hours in Birla Planetarium Chennai. You'll be able to watch the 3D science show, walk through the galleries, and check the exhibitions. If you’ve extra time in hand, you can walk around the Science Centre and enjoy the Science Park with your kids.
How to reach Birla Planetarium Chennai?
Birla Planetarium is in the Kotturpuram area of Chennai, near Guindy National Park, and can be reached easily from all parts of Chennai. It is about 11 km away from Chennai Central railway station and 14 km away from the bus terminus in Koyambedu. From Chennai airport, the distance to the planetarium is 12 km.
And following are the various ways to reach Birla Planetarium Chennai –
By metro – Kotturpuram MRTS Station is the nearest to Birla Planetarium, only a km away. From the station, you can walk the distance to the planetarium or hire a taxi/auto.
By bus – Regular public buses are also available to Birla Planetarium Kotturpuram bus stop. It is 2 km away, and you can take an auto or taxi from there.
By taxi/cab – Booking a taxi/cab from top car rental companies in Chennai is the most convenient way to visit the planetarium and other places around. Depending on the traffic conditions, it should take you about 30-45 minutes from most parts of the city.
Places to visit near Birla Planetarium Chennai
1. Guindy National Park – Guindy National Park and Snake Park is a habitat of varied species of fauna and dry evergreen forests. Apart from the wildlife, it’s home to grasshoppers and crabs too. Different species of butterflies and birds are also here.
2. Semmozhi Poonga Botanical Garden – Semmozhi Poonga Botanical Garden is the home to over 500 species of plants. It has some of the rarest and vivid collection of plants from around the world. The garden also has many medicinal and aromatic herbs.
3. San Thome Church – Santhome Basilica is a shrine dedicated to St. Thomas, one of the apostles of Jesus Christ. It’s one of the only three churches in the world which have been built on the tombs of the apostles.
4. Marina Beach – Marina Beach, stretched along a length of 12 km, is the second largest beach in the world. Apart from the beach itself and the waves crashing the golden sand, tourists love the beach activities too.
5. Government Museum – Government Museum Chennai is a museum of human history and culture. It has a rich collection of Roman antiquities. The museum complex also houses the National Art Gallery having rare European and Asian paintings.
Explore the many tourist attractions of Chennai by booking a Chennai Tour package with us. At Chennai Tourism, a division of Holidays DNA, we present our customers with affordable tour packages, including 1-day, 2-day and 3-day packages for them to choose from depending on their budget and duration. Please fill the Contact Us form to get in touch with us.
