Howrah Planetarium and Astronomical Research Centre, Science planetarium in Howrah, India.
The Howrah Planetarium and Astronomical Research Centre is a public science facility located in Howrah, a city on the western bank of the Hooghly River across from Kolkata. It has a domed projection hall for sky shows and separate research areas equipped with telescopes.
The centre opened in 2022 as part of a national effort to expand scientific education and astronomical research infrastructure across India. Before it opened, the Howrah area had no comparable facility dedicated to astronomy.
The planetarium draws many school groups and families from Howrah and the surrounding areas of Kolkata, for whom it is often a first encounter with astronomy. The shows are presented in Bengali and Hindi, which makes the content easy to follow for local audiences.
The facility is close to major transport hubs in Howrah, making it straightforward to reach by train or local bus from central Kolkata. Shows run during daytime hours, so arriving early in the day helps avoid longer waits.
The centre is one of the few planetariums in India that combines public outreach with an active research programme under the same roof. The telescopes on site are used for ongoing observation work, not only for display during visitor hours.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
