Nehru Science Centre

Every Sunday I plan to take a rest by lying lazily throughout the day, watching TV or reading the fully loaded Times of India. There are hardly any Sundays when I stay at home. I get out of the house to enjoy trekking, ham radio, sailing or to see some exhibition in the city. This Sunday, I planned to visit Nehru Science Centre (not Nehru Planetarium) with my cousin named Parag, who has just given his SSC board exams.

This place is 10 minutes away from Mahalakshmi Station on Western Railway. Nehru Science Centre is a museum with loads of information for kids, youngsters and adults too. I was eager to visit this place from a long too. This place is full of knowledge, information tips and that with some examples and samples. This helps kids and a person with less education to know things in better and clear way. As soon as you enter the premises of the centre, you will find a garden which has some facts and examples explaining scientific facts like Sun Dial, How Friction works?, Echo Tube, A Simple Camera, Perceiving Depth, Polarization of Sky Light, Semaphore etc. You can also see the huge Steam and the Electric Locomotive engines here.

Further you go, you will notice a big building dedicated for the museum, which has huge halls with various themes. There are scientific models displayed in a glass cabinet, which have a button to light them and make them work. The first hall has some more scientific facts and examples like Planetary Motion, Vortex (with a live model). You will also find a huge model which explains Inertia, Kinetic Energy and Potential Energy. This hall also has a small shop where you can purchase Science based Educational games explaining the facts about light, sound, energy, light and heat etc. You can purchase these games at reasonable costs.

The second hall has some real simple and easy to understand facts. You will come across a Kaleidoscope, Interactive LCD Kiosks providing useful information. There are models displayed on Impossible Mixture, Size and Distance, Sense of Taste etc. One can actually experience a mild Electric Shock and Lightning and also get detailed information on Braille Communication.

The third hall has very interesting facts about Sound. Here, you will increase your knowledge by understanding the facts on How do we hear?, Testing your own Voice, How Sound travels?, Doppler Effect etc. Later, you enter the very interesting hall of Light. This hall has all the information on Invention of Light in the ancient period and the journey of light upto Modern Times. You can see the examples on Light used for Security Detection, Optical Illusions, Laser Applications, Telescope and Microscope, Holography, Early Lighting Devices, Invention of Lamps, Artificial Lights, Colour Rendering and also a very interesting fact on How Light can create moods?

Later, you move towards the hall with loads of Information on Reptiles and Mammals, Evolution of the Man, The Great Ice Age, Evolution of Mammals, Evolution of the Reptiles, The Age of Reptiles, The Story of Life and Evolution of Plants.

Two separate halls have been dedicated for subjects like Mathematics and Aviation.

Photography and Video Photography is allowed in the centre without any extra charge, so please do not forget to carry your camera along with you and also extra batteries along with you. Approximately, you can capture around 200 images within 2-3 hours.

The best thing I liked about this place was, the security guards do not allow anyone to enter the Science Centre with any baggage and NOT even a water bottle. Very good step to maintain cleanliness in the premises. If possible try avoiding visiting this place on Sunday as NSC is on the Mumbai Darshan list. NSC has a large canteen providing light food, lunch, tea, coffee and soft drinks.

Timings:
The Science Centre is open to public every day including Sundays and public holidays throughout the year, except two days, i.e. Holi(2nd day) and Diwali.
Opening hours: 10.00 hrs to 18.00 hrs
Ticket Counter Timing: 10.00 hrs to 17.30 hrs

Fees:
Admission Fees (Per Head) for general visitors is Rs 20/- and the Parking Charges for four wheelers is Rs 10/- and for two wheelers is Rs 5/-.

How to Reach:
The Centre can be reached by public transport i.e. train, bus, taxi or private vehicles.
It is situated on Dr. E. Moses Road between Mahalaxmi Rly. Station on the South and Worli Naka on the North at a distance of about 1 km from either end.
The nearest bus stop is Jijamata Nagar.
The nearest railway station - Mahalakshmi (Western Rly.), Byculla (Central Rly.);
Bus Routes - 50, 80(Ltd.), 91(Ltd.), 124, 154, 164, 165, 168, 172, 351.

Thanks and Regards.