Review
It was a long weekend from office for the Holi festival, involving Saturday, Sunday, and Monday as well. We could have made a small trip to North India to have some snowy tour, but we decided to give some time to ourselves and to our parents. We came down to Ahmedabad from Baroda to spend this mini vacation. We decided to visit some nearby place in Ahmedabad and return early by evening.
After completion of my graduation from Ahmedabad in 2007, I moved out to Baroda for my professional career. I did not get a chance to visit Science City during my stay in Ahmedabad. Anyway, a long halt came to an end when we decided to visit Science City as a family picnic.
It was Sunday, and we had already made the plan on Saturday to visit this place. Usually I read as much as possible about the place before I go there, so I did the same for this place also. I read reviews on various websites and visited the official website of Science City to learn about the place and timings to plan my trip effectively.
https://scity.gujarat.gov.in/ is the website for the establishment where all details are given with simple navigation. You can create an account on this website and book tickets online.
I did the same before starting the trip. I booked online entry tickets and parking tickets for my Dzire. This is a great idea for a cashless India.
The opening time of Science City is 10:00 AM daily. I recommend visiting this place from 11:00 AM onwards, starting with the "Hall of Science and Hall of Space" section. This is because IMAX shows start from 12:00 PM onwards, which can be seamlessly enjoyed.
We reached at 11:00 AM and parked our vehicle under the shadow of trees. There is ample parking space available inside the campus, so do not worry about carrying your vehicle. Rather, it is better to go in your own vehicle and carry some snacks to create a picnic mood. There is also a cafeteria and restaurant available inside the campus, so carrying heavy food or snacks isn't strictly necessary.
Toilets and drinking water are available at multiple points throughout the walking path.
Finish the Hall of Science and Hall of Space from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Many models and visual screens are arranged inside the Hall of Science to explain different scientific principles and space explorations. It's a wonderful place for enhancing the imagination and interest of children in science and space.
The IMAX screen is huge and clear for enjoying 3D shows lasting 30 to 40 minutes each. There are 4 to 5 shows of different movies in IMAX starting from 12:00 PM. IMAX is at a walkable distance from the Hall of Science, so plan to reach there by 11:50 AM to buy entry tickets. Entry details for IMAX are described on their website (₹125 per head, per show).
Directions to various points are clearly indicated throughout the walkways, making foot navigation very easy.
The entrance of IMAX isn't particularly well-maintained, though. Escalators were installed but were non-operational, and the entrance ambiance wasn't very appealing. While entering the dome, you pass through the Electrodrome, where electricity and its distribution are explained through visuals, images, and miniature models. Going straight leads you to the entrance of the IMAX theatre.
We selected the "Walk on the Moon" show to give it a try, and we enjoyed it a lot with 3D glasses.
It's better to enjoy these indoor shows in the afternoon to avoid the summer heat and save energy for the evening fountain show. Other attractions like the "Energy Park" and "Life Science Park" can also be comfortably explored in the evening.
Enjoy the evening fountain show and return home after this magnificent one-day picnic.