Welcome to Kalimpong Science Centre

Kalimpong, a small hill town of great beauty with picturesque landscape, colorful sunrise and sunset, beautiful valleys adorned with hundreds of varieties of flowers in varied colour is among one of the most beautiful hill stations in India. It is nestled in the lower Himalaya in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is located at 27.06° N & 88.47° E at an average elevation of 4,100 feet from the sea level.

Kalimpong is well-known for various ethnic cultures and races. It is also well known for its many educational institutions, which attract students from all over India and abroad. In recent times, Kalimpong, a hill sub-division of the district of Darjeeling  has become an important tourist destination owing to its temperate climate and proximity to popular tourist locations in the region. Kalimpong is also famous for its flower market, especially the wide array of orchids.

Kalimpong town is located on a ridge connecting two hills, Deolo Hill and Durbin Hill, at an elevation of 4,100 feet from the sea levels. Deolo, the highest point in Kalimpong, has an altitude of 5,590 feet and Durbin Hill is at an elevation of 4,501 feet from the sea level. The River Teesta flows in the valley below and separates Kalimpong from the state of Sikkim.

Deolo, the highest point in Kalimpong, has an altitude of 5,590 feet from the sea level where Kalimpong Science Centre is located and this Science Centre is about 9 KM to the north of the Kalimpong town and cover an area of 7 acres of hilly land. Kalimpong Science Centre is the first kind in the hills of Darjeeling District offers umpteen learning opportunities through fun and enjoyment of all age groups.

Kalimpong Science Centre communicates science and technology to the peoples in such a way with the primary objective of developing a scientific temper in the society and promoting of the knowledge and ideas of science on various educational institutions/organizations.

Science is best understood through experimentation and this experience is a great forum for learning science and technology in a non-formal way where learning process is self-motivated and pleasurable.  

Kalimpong Science Centre has been conceived, designed and developed by National Council of Science Museums (Ministry of Culture, Government of India). This Science Centre has been officially handed over to the Department of Education-Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council on 11th September’2007.

Kalimpong Science Centre has been registered under West Bengal Certificate of Registration of Societies Act XXVI of 1961 on 27th July’2007.

Kalimpong Science Centre has been established in Kalimpong, one of the Hill Sub-Division of Darjeeling District in the year 2008, conceived, designed and developed by National Council of Science Museums (Ministry of Culture, Government of India). It is knowledge-based organization of high quality and dedication; engage in popularizing Science and Technology among the general masses particularly, in students.

Kalimpong Science Centre was inaugurated on 2nd October’2008 by Shri B. L. Meena, IAS, and Honorable Administrator-Darjeeling Gorkha Hill council.

Main objectives of Kalimpong Science Centre

To popularize science in general and to inculcate scientific temper among the general masses.

To create, inculcate and sustain a general awareness in the public, especially the youth about science and its application to modern life.

To develop scientific attitude and temper with a view to helping children and adult to think and act rationally in a modern society.

To supplement science education by providing audio-visual media through science museum, exhibition, science club etc., and by organizing teacher education, design and development of teaching aids and experimental kits for students.

To identify, encourage and nurture creative scientific talent, especially among children.

To create infrastructure and facilities and to undertake programme to explain science to the general masses with the view of inculcating a scientific temper in them.

To arrange for permanent and semi-permanent display of visual object and exhibits on scientific and technical topics.

To design and produce exhibits, model and other visual objects needed not only for these centers but also by schools and community centers and advice the letter in the display and presentation of these objects according to their thematic and related patterns.

 To procure films on science and technology and organize their screening to supplement science education in school and colleges.

To generate and improve, through students, teachers and others, new innovative forms of experiments and teaching methods, using commonly available local materials and appliances as well as organize their demonstration periodically with explanatory lectures.

To initiate formation of science clubs, science promotional groups etc, in schools, colleges and in the community as well.

To arrange for mobile science exhibitions and semi-permanent exhibition for educating the general masses in urban and rural areas about the growth of science and technology, and its application in agriculture, industry, health, society development etc.

To provide common service facilities in the form of science library, reading rooms, small electrical/electronic/mechanical workplace, auditorium etc.

To organize in-service training for administrative and scientific personnel on the different aspects of establishing and maintaining science museums.

To carry out research in the history of science and technology with special reference to the State.