Magnetic Observatory

Views:

Sight Address : Police Line, Alibag, Maharashtra 402201 Edit

Detail InformationEdit

Magnetic Observatory is the only one of its kind in Asia and one of 13 in the whole world, with whom data is exchanged every 12 minutes. The British period building that houses rare valuable instruments like a magnatograph is built only in stone, with no steel used. The observatory records magnetic movement in the earth’s’ crust and also magnetic storms caused by solar storms.

Magnetic Observatory, Alibaug

HistoryEdit

The Alibag magnetic observatory building was built with Porbandar sandstone, and such care was taken that every individual stone was tested for traces of magnetism. The room housing the instruments was designed to have such a good insulation, that the diurnal variation of temperature would remain within just 1 degree Celsius. After the building was ready and a new set of instruments installed in 1904, parallel observations were made for two years at Colaba and Alibag. This ensured that the Alibag observations would be compatible with those made at Colaba earlier. The Colaba and Alibag measurements together, from 1846 till today, constitute one of the longest series of geomagnetic data in the world. Only after the two-year parallel data for Colaba and Alibag was analysed and compared, and the results found satisfactory, were Bombay trams given permission to run on electric traction from May 1907.

Must SeeEdit

Attraction

Visiting TimeEdit

N.A.

Closed OnEdit

N.A.

Best Season to VisitEdit

N.A.

Best Time To VisitEdit

Morning, Afternoon, Evening.

Time Required for SightseeingEdit

2-3 Hours.

Ticket Required : No Edit

Individual National Adult Rs. : N.A.

Kids Rs. : N.A.

Individual Foreigner Adult Rs. : N.A.

Kids Rs. : N.A.

Still Photo Camera Rs. : N.A.

Video Camera Rs. : N.A.

Guide Required : No Edit

Approximate cost: N.A.

Dress Code (If Any) : No Edit

Dress Require: N.A.

Restaurants NearbyAdd / Edit

Sanman Restaurant ; Ganesh Krupa Building, Israil Lane, Alibaug, India ; Ph/M – 91-93716-43324 ; Food Serve – indian

How to ReachEdit

Taxi : Taxis are another way to get around town. They can be hired from nearby cities and used for local transport as well. Taxis charge around Rs 1500 per day. A/C taxis and SUV’s such as Toyota Qualis are also available.

BUS : By bus : MSRTC buses should be available from various parts of Maharashtra. If you are leaving from Mumbai, then you have an option of boarding MSRTC buses, leaving every 30 mins – 1 hr from the Mumbai Central Bus Station. Though they might be uncomfortable, they top in terms of punctuality. Remember to grab a window seat!
Private buses can be chartered – a good option if you are going in a large group.

Train : The nearest station is at Gholvad Station (2 km) from which one can take bus, taxi or rickshaw to Alibaug. Train services between Mumbai and Surat stop at this station. Panvel is another nearest station which is at a distance of 49 kms from Alibaug.

Air : The nearest airport is Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Airport, which is 179 km away.

Others : By boat : There are ferries and catamarans available from the Gateway of India, Mumbai. The journey takes 2 hours. However, service is suspended during the rains, i.e. May-October. The ferry takes you to Rewas and you are taken on a bus to Alibag. The cost of the bus trip is usually included in the ferry fare. This is the recommended way of getting to Alibag.