Planetarium is not only a place to enjoy, entertain, learn and educate kids and young about the cosmic world. Let me take you to one such place that will definitely satisfy your curiosity about the world outside our world and about which we have lots of questions. The name of this huge Planetarium is kept in fond memory of the great industrialist and futurist Mr. B. M. Birla. This planetarium is situated at Gandhi Mandapam Road in Kotturpuram’s Periyar Science and Technology Centre campus in Chennai. The location is quite close to the Guindy National Park and thus giving an advantage of clear sky for night sky observation sessions as there is no glaring of city lights. This Planetarium was founded on 11th May 1988 and was inaugurated by then President of India Mr. R. Venkataraman. The current director of the Planetorium is P. Iyamperumal. The campus of Science and Technology centre also has various other sections apart from the Planetarium. This includes eight galleries like Physical Science, Electronics & Communication, Energy, Life Science, Innovation, Transport, International Dolls & children and Materials Science.All these galleries altogether have more than five hundred exhibits. This Planetarium is said to be the most modern one in the entire country as here cosmic shows are held on a special hemispherical aluminum inner dome.The audio visual programs held here is quite a wonderful experience for everyone. The air-conditioned theatre in the planetarium has a seating capacity of 236 persons. There is a hall of fame surrounding the main theatre in circular shape where portraits and statues of scientists and famous personalities from Astronomy field are displayed for inspiration and information along with other models of celestial bodies. The 360 degree sky theatre is the new addition in the year 2009 is first of its kind in entire country. A special software Wrap is used to create 360 degree effect.The DLP projector is installed for a full dome mirror projection at a cost of 2.1 million rupees. The planetarium also houses a seminar hall, a sound studio and a class room where several seminars and workshops are held by experts belonging to the field of Astronomy. The planetarium offers various courses on Astronomy for the interested candidates who want to choose Astronomy as a career. The fully computerised planetarium also organises star or meteoroid gazing on second Saturday of every month between 7.00 pm and 9.00 pm.ShowsThere are various shows are conducted here at scheduled times in English and Tamil languages. These shows are based on the Solar System, eclipse, Earth, Man on Moon, Comets, Shooting meteoroids, stellar cycle, sky and season, Deep sky, etc. There are about thirty five programs have been introduced in the Planetarium since its inception on topics related to astronomy. To keep it refresh every three months the program theme is changed.Show timingsIn English language – 10.45 am, 1.15 p.m. and 3.45 p.m.In Tamil Language – 12.00 noon and 2.30 p.m.Other features include:1. Impressive traffic park2. Toy cars with automatic electronic signals system for kids3. Energy and eco park with displays of solar energy, wind energy and bio gas4. Life size models of wild animals in eco park to attract kids with several plants and water bodies5. Meteorological observatory in order to understand celestial phenomenaOpening daysThe Planetarium and the Science & Technology Centre are open on all days of week but they are closed on National Holidays.Opening timingsThe timing of the centre is from 10.00 am to 5.45 pm every day.How to reach Birla Planetarium?It is quite easy to reach the Planetarium as the Kotturpuram MRTS railway station and Kasturba Nagar MRTS railway station are situated just one kilometer away from the Planetarium. Not only these but there is a bus stop also lies quite close to the planetarium at a distance of just two kilometers in the north direction.AddressNo. 4, Gandhi Mandapam Road,Kotturpuram, Chennai, IndiaRUCHI MAHAJAN