Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate a Rs 115-crore planetarium in Mysuru on November 13, a facility officials describe as the world’s first tilted LED dome planetarium. The inauguration is scheduled after 3 pm, and the Prime Minister will also address a gathering of around 10,000 people at the venue.
The announcement was made on Monday by Mysuru-Kodagu MP Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar, who said the planetarium is a major addition to the city’s education, science and tourism infrastructure. The Prime Minister will reach Mysuru after inaugurating the Pink Line of Bengaluru’s Namma Metro earlier the same day.
What makes this planetarium different
The planetarium has been built at the Sri Jayachamaraja Wadiyar Centre for Higher Learning of the University of Mysore, at the foot of Chamundi Hill. It is part of the Cosmology Education and Research Training Centre, known as COSMOS, and has been constructed under the supervision of the Bengaluru-based Indian Institute of Astrophysics.
Officials say the facility features curved-screen projection technology claimed to be the first of its kind in the world. The planetarium will have two domes with a combined seating capacity of around 150 to 160 people, and it is expected to host two to three shows every day for students and tourists.
Along with the domes, the centre will have classrooms and training rooms for educational programmes, making it a working science learning hub rather than only a tourist attraction.
How the project took shape
The project was a long-cherished idea of Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who contributed Rs 5 crore from her Members of Parliament Local Area Development funds towards its establishment. It has also received funding through the Swadesh Darshan scheme and the Department of Science and Technology under the Union Ministry of Science and Technology.
The Indian Institute of Astrophysics will operate the institution, which stands on University of Mysore land. MP Yaduveer inspected the preparations at the site on November 7, days before the inauguration, and said the finishing work was on track.
A packed day in Karnataka
November 13 will be a busy day for the Prime Minister in Karnataka. After inaugurating the Namma Metro Pink Line in Bengaluru, he will travel to Mysuru, where he will take part in a Miyawaki forest development programme at K.C. Layout and plant a sapling. The forest has been developed under the Bharat One project with Japanese collaboration.
The planetarium inauguration follows after 3 pm, and the Prime Minister will address the large gathering assembled at the venue.
Why it matters for Mysuru
For students in Mysuru and across Karnataka, the planetarium brings astronomy within easy reach. Instead of travelling to Bengaluru or other cities for a planetarium show, school and college students will be able to watch immersive sky shows close to home, with programmes designed around the curriculum and public interest in space science.
For tourism, the facility adds a new landmark to a city already known for the Mysuru Palace, Chamundi Hill and the Dasara festival. Officials expect the daily shows to draw both students and tourists through the year, giving the city another reason for visitors to stay longer.
The opening also underlines a wider push to build science infrastructure outside the big metros, with a national research institute running a public facility on a university campus.
FAQs
When will the Mysuru planetarium open?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate it on November 13, 2026, after 3 pm.
What is special about this planetarium?
Officials describe it as the world’s first tilted LED dome planetarium, with curved-screen technology claimed to be the first of its kind.
How much did it cost to build?
The facility was constructed at a cost of Rs 115 crore.
How many people can watch a show?
The planetarium has two domes with a combined seating capacity of around 150 to 160 people, and it plans two to three shows a day.
Who will run the planetarium?
The Bengaluru-based Indian Institute of Astrophysics will operate it on University of Mysore land.
Mysuru will get its date with the stars on November 13, and for the city’s students, the sky is about to come a little closer.
