Girawali Observatory, Optical astronomy observatory near Junnar, India

The IUCAA Girawali Observatory is an optical astronomy facility run by the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics, 80 km from Pune off the Pune–Nashik highway near Junnar. Its 2 m Ritchey-Chrétien telescope sits on an alt-azimuth mount on a small hill inside a Reserved Forest, housed under an 11 m aluminium-painted dome, with a separate office building holding dormitory, canteen and library.

IUCAA proposed a medium-sized optical telescope near Pune, funded by the University Grants Commission. In 1996 a contract went to the UK's Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council, which passed the work to Telescope Technologies Ltd of Liverpool. The telescope was handed over on 14 February 2006, inaugurated by Prof. Yash Pal on 13 May 2006, and regular observations began in November 2006.

The site serves Indian universities by providing access to advanced equipment for research and study. Students and researchers from across the country come here to conduct their astronomical work.

Observations run from October to May, split into two four-month proposal cycles; the IGO-TAC allocates about 60% of telescope time, with the rest reserved for director's discretionary time, targets of opportunity, training and maintenance. The site sits on a hill inside a Reserved Forest near Girawali village, off the Pune-Nashik road about 80 km from Pune.

The observatory sets aside part of its telescope time for training and for observation proposals from Indian universities, alongside regular astronomy. About 60% of the time is allocated by the IGO-TAC, while the remaining 40% covers director's discretionary time, targets of opportunity, training programmes, observatory projects and maintenance.