A Day of Science, Space and Childhood Memories at Shrikrishna Science Centre

A Day Of Science, Space And Childhood Memories At Shrikrishna Science Centre

There are some places that instantly take you back to your childhood.

Not because they have remained exactly the same.

But because they remind you of a time when learning felt like an adventure.

Shrikrishna Science Centre in Patna is one such place for me.

I had visited it many years ago during my school days, and I still remembered some of the exhibits that had fascinated me back then. So during this Patna trip, we decided to visit it again.

This time the group included my husband, my brother, my cousins, and me — six people ready to spend a day exploring science.

And honestly, it turned out to be far more fun than I expected.

About Shrikrishna Science Centre

Located near Gandhi Maidan, Shrikrishna Science Centre is the first regional-level science centre in Bihar and one of the oldest science centres in eastern India. It was established in 1978 and inaugurated on 14 April 1978. The centre is named after Dr. Shri Krishna Singh, the first Chief Minister of Bihar.

For decades, it has been one of the most popular educational attractions in Patna, especially among school students.

Entering The Science Centre

We reached the science centre, parked our car, bought the tickets, and walked inside.

The moment we entered, memories started coming back.

The place still had the same spirit that I remembered.

Children were running from one exhibit to another.

Families were experimenting with different models.

People were learning science without even realizing they were learning.

And that is probably the biggest success of a science centre.

The Ground Floor Science Galleries

We started exploring the galleries on the ground floor.

One of the most enjoyable parts of the centre is that science is not presented through books or long explanations.

Instead, you can touch, rotate, pull, press, and experiment with the exhibits yourself.

Many exhibits demonstrate:

* Laws of motion

* Optical illusions

* Sound and vibrations

* Pulley systems

* Energy transfer

* Electricity and magnetism

* Mathematical puzzles

* Balance and gravity

The Fun Science Gallery contains dozens of hands-on exhibits that explain physics and mathematics through practical demonstrations.

One exhibit that immediately caught our attention was a beautiful artificial tree decorated with dozens of small lights. At first glance, it looked like a decorative installation, but it was actually demonstrating the science of sound. Every time someone clapped, spoke loudly, or created a sound near it, the lights on the tree reacted and started glowing in different patterns. Children and adults were gathered around it, testing different sounds and watching the lights respond. Naturally, we joined in as well. It was fascinating to see something as simple as sound being transformed into a colourful visual display. It was one of those exhibits that looked magical until you remembered that science was working behind it.

Every few minutes, someone from our group would discover something interesting and call everyone else over.

It was impossible not to get involved.

The Blue Area And Ocean Gallery

After spending quite some time downstairs, we moved towards the first floor.

One of the most visually attractive sections was the blue-themed ocean area.

The lighting itself makes the place feel completely different from the rest of the centre.

The Ocean Gallery focuses on marine life, underwater ecosystems, ocean exploration, and aquatic biodiversity. The exhibits introduce visitors to various sea creatures, underwater habitats, and the importance of oceans in sustaining life on Earth.

The atmosphere was relaxing.

Naturally, we spent quite some time clicking pictures there.

The Children's Area

Nearby was the children's activity area.

Unfortunately for us, there was one problem.

We were no longer children.

The area was specifically reserved for younger visitors.

So while we could look at it from outside, we were not allowed to enter.

A little disappointing?

Yes.

But understandable.

Although I am still convinced some of us were mentally qualified to enter.

Exploring The First Floor Galleries

We then continued exploring the rest of the first floor.

This section contains several interesting galleries, including exhibits related to mirrors, images, visual perception, optical effects, and scientific illusions.

Some of the exhibits challenge your senses.

Others make you question whether what you are seeing is actually real.

And then there are exhibits that simply make you laugh.

Science becomes much more interesting when it starts confusing your brain.

Time For The 3D Show

After exploring the galleries, it was finally time for our 3D show.

We had booked tickets for **Turtle Vision 2**.

We collected our 3D glasses and entered the theatre.

The movie takes viewers on an underwater journey following sea turtles and marine ecosystems.

The 3D effects were impressive.

At several points, it genuinely felt like creatures were swimming directly towards us.

The visuals were colourful, immersive, and educational at the same time.

For both children and adults, it was an enjoyable experience.

Mirrors, Illusions And The Fruit Plate

After the show, we continued exploring.

One of the most entertaining sections of the science centre is the Mirrors and Images Gallery.

This gallery contains several illusion-based exhibits including:

* Mirror Maze (Bhul Bhulaiya)

* Infinite Well

* Infinite Train

* Giant Hall

* Dine With Yourself

* Head On A Platter

* All Eyes On You

* TV Studio with Chroma Key effects

The famous fruit plate photograph area was still as entertaining as ever.

Every visitor seems to stop there.

Including us.

And of course, we clicked our pictures.

The Mirror Maze

The Mirror Maze deserves its own mention.

No matter how old you are, getting lost in a maze of mirrors is surprisingly entertaining.

At first it seems easy.

Then you walk directly into a mirror.

Then another.

Then another.

Soon you realize the maze is much smarter than you.

And everyone around you is laughing.

It was easily one of the most fun sections of the entire visit.

The Second Floor – Space And Astronomy

Next, we climbed to the second floor.

This floor was probably my favourite.

The exhibits here focus heavily on astronomy, space exploration, telescopes, planets, stars, and the history of space science.

We saw displays explaining:

* The evolution of telescopes

* Famous astronomers

* Space exploration missions

* Solar system models

* The life cycle of stars

* The Sun and planetary systems

* Space technologies and discoveries

Many exhibits explain complex topics in a very simple way, making them easy to understand even for visitors with no scientific background.

For anyone interested in astronomy, this floor alone is worth the visit.

Jurassic Park And Science Park

After completing the indoor galleries, we moved outside.

The centre has a Jurassic Park section featuring dinosaur models that remain a favourite among children.

Nearby is the Science Park, which contains outdoor scientific exhibits that allow visitors to learn while playing.

Even as adults, we found ourselves interacting with several of these exhibits.

Some things never change.

The Magic Tap

And then came my favourite attraction.

The Magic Tap.

At first glance, it looks impossible.

Water continuously flows from a tap that appears to be floating in the air.

No visible pipe.

No visible support.

Just water.

I knew it was a scientific illusion.

I knew there had to be an explanation.

But I still stood there staring at it for several minutes.

It was simple.

It was clever.

And somehow, it became my favourite memory from the entire visit.

Ending The Day

By the time we finished exploring everything, we had spent several hours inside the science centre.

We had learned things.

Clicked pictures.

Got lost in mirrors.

Watched a 3D movie.

Explored space.

Met dinosaurs.

And admired a floating tap.

Not bad for a single day.

As we walked out and grabbed some snacks before heading home, I realized something.

Places like Shrikrishna Science Centre are not just for children.

They are for anyone who still enjoys being curious.

And perhaps that is why I enjoyed this visit just as much as I did years ago.

Maybe even more.