The hi-tech city of Hyderabad has a lot to explore being it the historic monuments, museums of Nawab’s, religious places or entertainment centres. Birla Planetarium and Science Museum is one such place that is actually both, an entertainment centre as well as an education centre. The full name of Birla Planetarium is B. M. Birla Planetarium and Science Museum. It is situated at Nampally on Naubat Road in Hyderabad in the state of Andhra Pradesh. The inauguration of the Planetarium was done in the year 1985 on 8th September by the hands of N. T. Ramarao. This Planetarium is one of the best Planetariums in the world as well as in India. There are two more Birla Planetariums in the country. These are M. P. Birla Planetarium in Kolkata and the other one is B. M. Birla Planetarium in Chennai. This planetarium is considered to be the most modern and hi tech planetarium in the country. It is constructed by Mr. P. A. Singaravelu, a Civil Engineer. The entire centre is divided into five sections, namely Planetarium, Museum, Science Centre, Art gallery and Dinosaurium. The museum at the centre came into existence in the second phase of Science Centre in the year 1990. There is a doom shaped structure here which houses the museum of the centre. Help of Japanese technology is taken in creating this. It is a wonderful experience to explore the centre. It not only educates the young minds but also entertains and encourages visitors to be curious about the universe and solar bodies. The main attraction here is the sky shows that are conducted at scheduled time every day. The theme of the sky shows is changed time to time in order to keep it new, fresh and interesting for the viewers. These sky shows basically comprises of various elements of universe including Comets, meteors, cosmos, eclipse, etc. the way they give the information about our universe with an astonishing sound quality is really impressive and you do not even try to blink your eyes as you don’t want to miss anything in the show. Kids enjoy the show very much and when they come out of the theatre they all are drowned in the pool of information and never ending questions about the universe. They all become so curious to know more about the cosmos.The new but very interesting addition to the Planetarium and Science Centre is the Dianosaurium. As the name suggests it is a museum focused on Dinosaurs which were on the earth millions of years ago. This section is added to the centre in the year 2000. The main attraction here is a one hundred and sixty million years old mounted dinosaurs named Kotasaurus Yamanpalliensis. It is quite difficult to pronounce the name of this dinosaur. It was excavated from an area in Adilabad district of Andhra Pradesh state. The Geological Survey of India gifted this huge fossil to the Science Museum of Hyderabad. Apart from this there are several other smaller fossils of Dinosaur eggs, marine shells, fossilised tree trunks, etc. makes the collection.Timings of Birla Planetarium and Science CentreIt is open from 10.30 am to 8.15 pm every day.Opening daysIt is open on all days of week except every last Thursday of the month.Entrance feeIt is quite reasonable as they charge only Rs. 13 per person.Contact numbers+91- 040 – 23241067+91–040- 23235081Website: www.birlasciencecentre.org