Published: May 16, 2026 | Category: Nagpur Local | Raman Science Centre timings | By: Nagpur Updates Desk
This Sunday, science is free for everyone.
The Raman Science Centre and Planetarium, Nagpur will throw open its doors to all visitors completely free of charge on Sunday, May 18, 2026 — in celebration of International Museum Day. No tickets. No entry fee. Just walk in and explore one of Nagpur’s finest educational and recreational destinations.
The centre will be open from 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM (Raman Science Centre timings). This is a rare opportunity — and a perfect Sunday outing for families, students, and curious minds of all ages.
What Is International Museum Day?
Every year on May 18, the world celebrates International Museum Day — an initiative by the International Council of Museums (ICOM). The theme for 2026 is “Museums for Education and Research” — a fitting tribute to institutions like Raman Science Centre that have spent decades making science accessible, engaging, and fun for the public.
Museums across India — and around the world — mark this day by offering free entry, special programs, and unique experiences for visitors. In Nagpur, Raman Science Centre is the city’s premier institution marking this occasion.
What Can You Explore for Free?
Raman Science Centre is not your typical museum. It is an interactive, hands-on science experience spread across 6 acres opposite the serene Gandhi Sagar Lake in the heart of the city.
Here is what awaits you on May 18 — all at zero cost:
11 Interactive Galleries The centre houses 11 themed galleries covering different aspects of science and technology. These include:
- Fun Science Gallery I and II — hands-on exhibits where you press levers, roll balls, pull strings, and make science work with your own hands
- Information and Communication Technology Gallery — showcasing the evolution of ICT
- Invention Gallery — celebrating human ingenuity and discovery
- Augmented Reality Gallery — immersive AR exhibits demonstrating next-generation technology
Planetarium — 133-Seat Dome Theatre The Raman Science Centre Planetarium has been transporting visitors into the depths of space since January 5, 1997. The 133-seat dome theatre screens multiple shows daily — each lasting approximately 30 minutes. On International Museum Day, planetarium shows are included in the free experience.
3D Theatre A dedicated 3D science theatre shows immersive science films that make complex scientific concepts visually stunning and easy to understand.
Prehistoric Animal Park A unique outdoor attraction — the Prehistoric Animal Park features life-size models of dinosaurs and prehistoric animals in a naturalistic outdoor setting. Immensely popular with children, this is a feature that very few science centres in India can boast of.
Science Park — 6 Acres The expansive outdoor science park offers large-scale interactive exhibits and demonstration models in an open-air setting — a welcome change from the intense Nagpur heat when visited in the evening hours.
Innovation Hub A dedicated space showcasing cutting-edge technologies and encouraging creative problem-solving among young visitors.
Who Should Visit?
The honest answer is: everyone.
Families with children — This is arguably the best family destination in Nagpur for a Sunday. Children between the ages of 5 and 15 will find something to engage with at every turn — from dinosaur models to interactive science gadgets to the planetarium dome.
Students — Science students at every level will find the exhibits enriching. The galleries complement school and college curricula in a way that textbooks simply cannot. On a normal day, school groups visit by the busload. On May 18, individual students can visit for free.
Adults and senior citizens — The planetarium, the science demonstration lectures, and the ICT and invention galleries offer genuine intellectual enrichment for adult visitors.
Teachers — Science teachers who want to supplement their classroom instruction with practical, engaging demonstrations will find the centre’s exhibits directly relevant to curricula across science subjects.
About Raman Science Centre: Nagpur’s Scientific Heritage
The Raman Science Centre was inaugurated on March 7, 1992, by former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao. It is operated by the National Council of Science Museums (NCSM) — under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India — and is affiliated with Mumbai’s Nehru Science Centre.
The centre is named after Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman — the legendary Indian physicist and Nobel Prize winner who discovered the Raman Effect, a phenomenon fundamental to modern molecular science. Though born in Tamil Nadu, C.V. Raman’s connection to central India makes the naming of this Nagpur centre a particularly fitting tribute.
Since its inauguration, the centre has welcomed millions of visitors — students, families, science enthusiasts, and tourists. It has played a quiet but vital role in shaping scientific curiosity among generations of Nagpur’s youth.
Practical Information for May 18
Here is everything you need to know before you visit:
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Date | Sunday, May 18, 2026 |
| Entry Fee | FREE (International Museum Day only) |
| Timings | 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM |
| Location | Opp. Gandhi Sagar Lake, Subhash Road, Empress City, Nagpur |
| Phone | 0712-2735800 / 2770187 |
| ramanscn@gmail.com | |
| Nearest Metro | Sitabuldi Metro Station (approx. 10-min walk) |
| Parking | Available at the centre |
Tips for visitors:
- Arrive early — free entry days attract large crowds, especially for popular shows like the planetarium
- Carry water bottles — it is hot outside and the outdoor areas require walking
- Wear comfortable footwear — the 6-acre campus involves a fair amount of walking
- The Prehistoric Animal Park is outdoors — visit in the morning or late afternoon to avoid peak heat
A Perfect Free Sunday in Nagpur
International Museum Day is not just about free entry. It is an invitation to reconnect with curiosity — to remember that learning can be joyful, science can be playful, and discovery is available to everyone regardless of budget.
Raman Science Centre embodies that spirit every day it opens. On May 18, it opens that experience to every Nagpur resident — completely free of cost.
Whether you are visiting for the first time or the fifteenth, Sunday, May 18 is the perfect occasion to spend a meaningful, educational, and genuinely enjoyable day at one of Nagpur’s most beloved institutions.
Just as Nagpur is investing in its future through world-class airport modernisation and smart city infrastructure, institutions like Raman Science Centre remind us that the foundation of any great city is its commitment to education, curiosity, and the public good.
Go. Explore. Learn. It is free.
Nagpur Updates wishes all visitors an enriching International Museum Day at Raman Science Centre on May 18, 2026!
Tags: Raman Science Centre, International Museum Day, Nagpur Museum, Free Entry Nagpur, NCSM Nagpur, Planetarium Nagpur, Nagpur Tourism, Nagpur Local News 2026
