Quick answer: Science City is a large hands-on science centre on J.B.S. Haldane Avenue, off the Eastern Metropolitan Bypass in east Kolkata, run by the National Council of Science Museums (NCSM). It opened fully on 1 July 1997 and has halls on space, the Earth, physics, evolution and maritime history, plus an outdoor science park. As of October 2026, its official website lists opening hours of 10 am to 7 pm every day (ticket counters close at 6 pm) and an entry fee of ₹80 per person, with separate tickets for the Space Theatre and the Dark Ride.
Science City Kolkata at a glance
| Detail | What we verified (October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Address | J.B.S. Haldane Avenue, Kolkata 700046 (off the Eastern Metropolitan Bypass) |
| Run by | National Council of Science Museums, Government of India |
| Timings | 10 am to 7 pm, all days of the week; ticket counters close at 6 pm (official website) |
| Entry fee | ₹80 per person; free for children under 3; group concession for 25 or more (official website) |
| Space Theatre | ₹150 per person, show of about 27 minutes (official website) |
| Dark Ride (Evolution of Life) | ₹50 per person, about 20 minutes (official website) |
| Phone | 033 2285 4343, 033 2285 1572, 033 2285 2607 |
| Time needed | Half a day, or most of a day if you see every hall and show |
Correction: an earlier version of this article gave the hours as 9 am to 8 pm, an entry fee of ₹60 and a long list of ride prices, from ₹20 for the road train to ₹60 for the Space Theatre. Those figures are out of date. The official website now shows the hours and prices above; for other rides and shows, check the prices at the ticket counter.
History of Science City
Science City stands on about 49.6 acres of land acquired in January 1994. It opened in two parts: the Convention Centre Complex on 21 December 1996, and the rest of the science centre on 1 July 1997, when it was inaugurated by the then Prime Minister, Inder Kumar Gujral. It is often described as the largest science centre in the Indian subcontinent.
Science City is a unit of the National Council of Science Museums, an autonomous body under the Union Ministry of Culture that runs science centres across India. Its aim is to make science understandable through interactive exhibits rather than glass cases.
The earlier version of this article said the site was a rubbish dump for more than 100 years, that the Nobel laureate Paul Crutzen inaugurated the Convention Centre with Chief Minister Jyoti Basu, and that the centre had received 29.9 million visitors. We could not confirm these details on an official source, so they have been removed.
What to see at Science City
Space Odyssey
The Space Odyssey building houses the Space Theatre, a 3D theatre, the Time Machine motion simulator and Reflections, a mirror-illusion exhibit. The Space Theatre has been upgraded into a fulldome 3D digital theatre, which was inaugurated by the Union Minister of Culture around 2020; older descriptions of an optical star-ball projector no longer apply. The Time Machine is a motion-simulator ride that gives the feel of a space journey, and the mirror exhibits create illusions such as a “head on a platter”.
Dynamotion Hall
Dynamotion is the hall for physical science, with interactive exhibits you can touch and operate. Its sections include an aquarium, a butterfly enclave, biodiversity, physical science, a nano lab, illusions and “Power of Ten”, which shows the scale of the universe from the very large to the very small in steps of ten. Science shows are also held here.
Earth Exploration Hall
The Earth Exploration Hall was inaugurated on 6 December 2008 by Ambika Soni, then Union Minister for Culture. It is a two-storey hall built around a large model of the Earth, with exhibits on geography, climate, people and wildlife, and on climate change and natural disasters. The southern hemisphere is covered on one floor and the northern hemisphere on the other.
Science Exploration Hall
This 5,400-square-metre building opened in 2016. According to the official website, it includes:
- Evolution of Life: a dark ride through the history of life, with 56 robotic animal models in seven sections;
- Digital Panorama on Human Evolution: a 360-degree projection on how humans evolved;
- Science and Technology Heritage of India;
- Emerging Technologies; and an interpretation area.
Maritime Centre
The Maritime Centre, in a building shaped like a ship, covers India’s maritime history with artefacts, scale models and navigation systems. It was developed in collaboration with the port authority in Kolkata.
Outdoor attractions
The official website also lists a musical fountain, a butterfly nursery, cable cars, an outdoor science park and Science on a Sphere, a spherical projection display. A Coronavirus exhibition was also listed in October 2026. The earlier version mentioned a road train, monorail cycle, caterpillar ride and gravity coaster; some of these may still run, so ask at the counter which rides are open on the day.
How to reach Science City
- By road: Science City is at the junction of the Eastern Metropolitan Bypass and the Park Circus connector (J.B.S. Haldane Avenue). Buses on the Bypass, taxis and app cabs are the easiest way to get there.
- By air: Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport is the nearest airport; take a taxi or app cab.
- By rail: Sealdah is the nearest large railway terminus; from there or from Howrah, take a taxi or app cab.
Tips for visiting
- Arrive early: counters close at 6 pm, and the halls are large.
- Buy Space Theatre and Dark Ride tickets when you arrive, as shows run at set times.
- Weekends and school holidays are the busiest days.
- Check with the counter for any rides or halls closed for maintenance.
Places to visit nearby
On the same side of the city, Nicco Park in Salt Lake is a good add-on for families, and Mother’s Wax Museum is further out in New Town. For a quieter afternoon, head south to Rabindra Sarobar.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Science City Kolkata ticket price?
As of October 2026, the official website lists entry at ₹80 per person, the Space Theatre at ₹150 and the Dark Ride at ₹50. Children under 3 enter free.
What are Science City Kolkata’s timings?
10 am to 7 pm, all days of the week, according to the official website. The ticket counters close at 6 pm.
Who runs Science City Kolkata?
The National Council of Science Museums (NCSM), under the Government of India’s Ministry of Culture.
When did Science City Kolkata open?
The Convention Centre opened on 21 December 1996 and the science centre on 1 July 1997, inaugurated by Prime Minister I. K. Gujral.
Timings, prices and attractions checked in October 2026 against the official Science City website; history against published records of the centre. Prices and show schedules change, so check at the counter.
