Birla Industrial and Technological Museum

Relish the golden days of childhood when going to school was fun because of friends and not so much because of long science classes. The Birla Industrial and Technological Museum in Kolkata, West Bengal, is a fascinating place for visitors of all age group showcasing various exhibits and models relating to science and its concepts in a fun way.

About the Museum

If you are in Kolkata and even a tiny bit interested in science and its concepts, then a visit to the incredible Birla Industrial and Technological Museum is a must-have experience to witness your school science lessons get unfurled in front of your eyes. Established in 1959 under the National Council of Science Museums, Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India, the Birla Industrial and Technological Museum is the place for visitors for all age to engage in activities and communicative models based on Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Astronomy, Biology, Electronics, and much more.

The Birla science museum has 12 galleries in total all buildings and every gallery showcase science exhibits and interactive models. The exhibitions in the gallery are not limited to display but visitors can also do experiments on their own, all you have to do is switch on the experiment board by waving your hand on the sensor-led switches. With its galleries and interactive activities, the BITM is a place where science manifests itself through means of interesting and exciting models and is a great place to have fun while learning. The following are the 12 galleries in the museum that are distinct from each other and offer a unique experience to its visitors.

1) Transport Gallery

Located in the old building of the museum, the Transport Gallery has over 90 exhibits portraying 50 models apart from the interactive activities. It imparts knowledge about water transport, airborne transport, and surface transport with exhibits such as Underground Metro Railway in Kolkata, Transport of Materials, Air Transport models, Underwater Submarine model and locomotive models.

2) Digital Adventure Gallery

Introduced in the recent years, the Digital Adventure Gallery houses 16 exhibits illustrating digital technology. Some of these exhibits include Virtual Assistance, Drive Zone, Digital Canvas, Balloon Burst, and Color Sensing Robot which fascinate all visitors and especially for children.

3) Electricity Gallery

The Electricity Gallery narrates the history of electricity and its various aspects through numerous attractive aspects. The major highlight of the gallery is the high-voltage theatre where electricity is generated using several models such as Van de Graaff Generator, Tesla Coil, and Plasma Ball set up together. Students are free to try out different experiments in this gallery.

4) Mathematics Gallery

If you never liked mathematics in school, the Mathematics Gallery in the Birla science museum will make you understand the mathematical concepts easily and interesting with graphical illustrations and interactive exhibits.

5) Popular Science Gallery

This is the gallery where simple and common science concepts are established such as Radio Bucket, Video Racing, Momentum Multiplier, Strength of Air Pressure, and Obedient Ball.

6) Biotechnology Gallery

This gallery is for the biology enthusiasts and abridges the cutting-edge technology with its 52 interactive exhibits. Here you will get to see Identify My Parents, Plant Cell Model, DNA Model, Origin of Life, and other similar exhibits.

7) Metals Gallery

Explaining about metals such as Copper, Zinc, Aluminum, Steel, Iron, etc., through its 50 exhibits, the Metals Gallery is all about metallurgy. The exhibits comprise various models and diagrams to illustrate the model better.

8) Motive Power Gallery

This one display 81 exhibits on the distinct types of powers humans have invented so far and depict the use of animal power to nuclear power. The story and process behind the invention of several engines is also displayed here.

9) Physics Gallery

The Physics Gallery also has various exhibits and models explaining the different concepts of physics and experiments like Weight on Moon and Gravity Well. The gallery also has 28 interactive exhibits on gravity, mechanics, light and electromagnetic fields, and a statue of Newton under an Apple tree discovering gravity.

10) Television Gallery

This is yet another unique gallery in the museum and showcases everything from technology to the mechanics of television. You can see very old tv sets, valves, analogue cameras, early animation systems, and analogue studios which is a fascinating sight.

11) World in Darkness Gallery

A unique concept developed by the museum’s management, this gallery is meant for the visually impaired people to learn and understand about the universe through braille complaint exhibits. The gallery contains over 19 exhibits on display.

12) More Attractions

Apart from the 11 galleries, there is another section where fun and interesting activities are administered and models defying science are housed. The Kid’s Zone is children’s favorite with a Doll House, Pool of Balls, slides, swings, etc. The Bubble Show demonstrates tricks done with bubbles made of soap solution such as Bubble in a Bubble, Fire Bubble, and Rotating Bubble. The Floating Tap is an interesting mystery in the garden compound that is a water fountain with an invisible pipe system.