STARGATE OBSERVATORY KAUSANI
Situated in the state of Uttarakhand, Kausani is a cosy little hill station that Mahatma Gandhi lovingly called the “Switzerland of India”. We opened our first private observatory here in 2016. Guided by our friendly and highly experienced StarGuide, and equipped with a fantastic 8-inch computerized GoTo telescope, you can explore the wonderful view of the Universe.
What Can You Do Here?
- Take a guided tour of the night sky
- Observe the Moon, planets, star clusters, galaxies and nebulae through the telescope
- Learn how to photograph the objects in the night sky
- Look at the sun, directly, without hurting your eyes!
- Understand Physics experientially, by making rockets and cameras yourself
- Visit our Space & Astronomy Museum
- Take home memorabilia from our Store
AFTER SUNSET
Guided Tour Across the Night Sky
Take a journey through the night sky in this 45 minute show as we explore the moon, the planets and the stars. Learn about the night sky and the science, the history and the mythology that make it up. Learn how to identify different celestial objects and constellations in the night sky. And then, look at select celestial bodies in all their glory, as you gaze at them through our state-of-the-art premium telescope. All under the able guidance and instructions of our expert StarGuides.
45 minutes per show
Rs. 500 per ticket (Night Show), Rs.700 per ticket (Early Morning Show)
20 seats per show
A Photo With The Stars Behind You
What do you do when you’re with stars? Take a selfie, of course! Get a shot of yourself taken with your favorite constellation, curated by our StarGuide. All you have to do is pose for a minute. And as if by magic, you’ll have a stunning photo with the stars, which will be provided as a soft copy for you to share with your friends.
5 minutes per click, 15 minutes of processing
Rs. 1,000 per photo
20 photos per hour
A Shortcut to Capturing the Universe on your Camera
Don’t have time for long exposures and detailed processing? Fret not. In this session we’ll teach you how to take images of the Milky Way and the Night Sky with your smart phone and your DSLR in a quick 2-hour workshop. Ensure you book 3 days in advance to get a convenient slot!
2 hours per session
Rs. 5,000 per head
10 attendees per session
Food, beverages, and the Who’s Who of the Universe!
Celebrate an occasion of yours with the stars in full attendance! You will get your own private celestial show, along with a selfie / group shot with the Milky Way or the Starry Sky. Bring your food and beverages and make it a party! This will be a personalized 4-hour session at a location in the nearby forest. You will need to book 7 days in advance for this.
4 hours (Start: Between 8 pm and 10pm)
Rs. 10,000 per session
40 guests per session
A Own Chartered Tour Across the Universe
The observatory is yours! For 1 hour, the observatory will be sealed off for you, for a group of up to 10 individuals. Under the guidance of the StarGuide, you can explore the skies to your heart’s content, and learn to handle the telescope for yourself. It’s just you, your friends, a telescope, and the Universe!
1 hour (Start: Between 8 pm and 10pm)
Rs. 10,000 per session
10 guests per session
BEFORE SUNSET
Enjoy a Breathtaking View of the Himalayas!
Kausani is a hill station tucked away in the Himalayas, and has an enviable view of the Garhwal Mountains, the tallest peaks of the Himalayan Siwalik Range. This includes Nanda Devi (7,925m – tallest peak completely in India) and Trisul (7,120). Get a breath-taking view of these peaks through the spotting scopes in our observatory.
30 minutes per show
Rs. 150 per ticket
20 seats per show
Observe The Sun Through Special Solar Filters
See the Sun in all its glory, without frying your eyes! Enjoy the marvelous beauty of the source of all our energy, through our telescope and state-of-the-art solar filters. You can also learn how to see the Sun with simple home aids like pinhole cameras, ball projectors or our solar goggles. If you’re lucky, you’ll get to see sunspots, and maybe even the elusive solar flares!
One hour per session
Rs. 300 per ticket
20 seats per session
One Small Step for Your Child, One Giant Leap for Astronomy
The unparalleled fertile imagination a child is powerful enough to take it to the moon and stars by just looking up at the night sky with wonder and curiosity. Our activities are designed to tap into this sense of curiosity and give them an experience which is both fun and informative. A session lasts for two hours and can be held either before lunch or in the evening before dark.
Each session would consist of the following:
- Introduction to basic astronomy – about stars, planets, satellites, etc. (15 min)
And one or more of the following activities, depending upon your booking:
- Space Travel and Rocket-building activity (45 min)
- Basic Optics – Make your own pinhole camera (30 min)
- The Sun – Observation using solar goggles and ball projector (30 min)
- The Concept of Time – Make your Jantar Mantar / Sun dial (30 min)
- The Moon – Formation of craters (30 min)
Enroll your kids in a special Multi-hour activity where they will learn to make water-powered rockets, air-powered rockets, and simple optical devices activities. Your kid can take part in one or more activities, and the same needs to be booked at least 1 day in advance to have an assured spot.
Up to 3 hours per session
Varies per activity
20 seats per session
