Kodaikanal Solar Observatory Museum

Please do not skip this place while going in and around Kodaikanal. Probably this feels more worthy than all other Crowded places!

Museum was kept neat, and the management was very good in explaining about everything.

Excellent place to visit for those interested in physics, astronomy and space sciences. For children also good to visit once.

There is an entry fee for every person. NO camera inside.

2 telescopes available for visitors to see the sun.

Historical photos and data available for those who interested in this field.

Remember to walk a kilometre up hill to this spot! No visitor cars allowed!

Though visited kodaikanal many times, but due to miscellaneous reasons couldn't visit this place. But this year trip we made it to this Solar Observatory, which was established by the British in 1895. Glad to visit this place this year on our Independence Day. The security at the gate provides enough information. The staff at the museum explains in detail N with patience. Nowadays because of the Internet we may learn more about the solar system, but definitely we must go N see this place. Visitors vehicles are not allowed inside campus. From the main gate we have to walk for 500m and little uphill to reach the museum. It's peaceful inside campus. And good walking too. Spare 3 to 4 hours to enjoy this place. Take your own water bottles. Please don't litter the place. Restrooms are available. Good for students.

Very useful for children and adults to know more about Sun, Solar system and Universe.
The walkway is very beautiful and lot of frames for selfie and family photos.

It was a totally unexpected visit and we were quite surprised by the experience we had. Kids loved the place and green ambience within the campus. The staff were really helpful in explaining the physics and really did a great job in setting up the telescopes when the sky cleared. Great work.

Best place to visit in kodaikanal, one of my best experiences in my life . Seen a Jupiter and sun black spot.

Very informative. Great place for school children.
But you need to walk around 450 meters up hill, will be good if they provide battery-operated vehicle from entrance to museum.

A must-visit place for astro lovers. The staff is so helpful in explaining the site. They show you the sun spots and the 5th layer of our sun with a telescope for the public, but the observatory telescope is not allowed for public use.

I visited the Kavalur observatory before, where they showed their main telescope, but not much other details were found there. However, here they have many educative exhibits.

My small suggestion to IIAP is to publish a book about what you exhibit inside the museum, as it's impossible to remember everything. Each of the posters you display needs more time to study. Thank you.

Loved the visit.. Very informative and the amazing pine covered atmosphere

The security will explain what the observatory is all about. Also if the sky is not clear he will say we cannot take a view of the sun. After all this explanation only we need to take tickets. Setting the expectations right is a good thing to do

One of the best sight seeing place for kids. They were able to learn about the sun and solar system. Also the view from the telescope is something different which they do not get to watch frequently. Also they explain things in detail and even clear our doubts

Legendary, Central Govt Observatory.
A 100 years old.
This Observatory has one hundred years solor database.
Excellent Museum, a memorable place.
Very nice behaviour & mindset of staff.
High altitude of Kodaikanal.
The works and contributions of Dr. E. Ebenezer and Team are highly appreciable.

Details about solar system in a museum. You should be lucky to get a clear sky to view the live sun image. Enchanting to students interested in astronomy. But one must step into the place for the surrounding - if you are a nature lover

It's a experience of a life time.. A must visit place in Kodai. They don't allow to visit the Observatory as research work is conducted by Scientists but Muesium is open for all. They give you demo and have three telescopes, we can see live 4th and 5th layers of the Sun.. Loved this experience! Photography is prohibited here..

Beautiful place. Very informative. Staffs are really patient in explaining the details of the observatory to us. They also showed a short video on the history of the observatory and the process that has been going on in it for several decades now. Definitely worth a visit when you are in kodaikanal.

Indian institute of astrophysics (IIA). Amazing museum inside, worth every rupee. We saw sun with black spots in the telescope (live), the movement of planets, about our solar system, Pluto, our moon and universe. Lots of interesting topics covered. Not to mention the scenery around the museum. The pathway, though long was beautiful and photo worthy. There was even a bridge like structure just to take photos. Must visit

We took a group of students there. The head of the observatory and the other staff members took us around and explained the functioning of the observatory. They interacted with the students very well and gifted them when they answered well. We had a great time out there!!!

The solar observatory museum is a small museum on the grounds of the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (highest point in Kodaikanal). The museum is well maintained and shows a lot of information about astrophysics and the solar observatory. The information is in English and Tamil and they also show interesting videos with explanations. And very good friendly staff

Amazing place
Mr Ganesan Sir explained all complex details about space and earth in a very simple way.
Must place to visit
If you are just going without interest you will not be benefitted if you wish to learn new things surely they will teach you more.
1. You can see Sun reflection in telescope ☀
2. You can view the telescope 🔭 which is 100+ years old which used to gather information of space 🛸trust me the telescope dome is just a wonder 🌌
3. You can witness India's oldest clock which is still functioning and mechanism of it is simply amazing 🕰
4. There is also night time visit to view stars and planet where you can use actual telescope. Interested people can enroll and watch the dazzling sky at night timings might differ on seasons by ( 11 PM and 5 AM )
5. The surrounding and ambience is very pleasing and perfect for outdoor photoshoot with sky reaching trees 🌳

Really wondering how before 100 years when there is no transportation facility they have transferred the telescopes to Kodaikanal ❣This place has a great history 🌟

Good learning here on solar observatory if luck you have a sky sight seeing in clear night sky