The Vainu Bappu Observatory (VBO) is located in the picturesque neighbourhood of the village of Kavalur in the Javadi Hills, in the state of Tamil Nadu. Established in the 1960s, VBO hosts the 40-inch Carl Zeiss Telescope, the 1.3m J.C. Bhattacharya Telescope (JCBT) and the 90-inch Vainu Bappu Telescope (VBT).
Curated night sky observations are arranged using a 15cm telescope on every Saturday, from 7 to 10 pm. This programme is subject to clear sky conditions. No prior arrangement is needed.
Industrial/Educational visits from academic institutions need prior notice and approval so that adequate arrangements can be made. More Information
About 175 km south-east of Bangalore, and about 200 km south-west of Chennai.
By Air: The nearest airport to VBO is Bangalore, which besides being an international airport, is connected by direct flights to Chennai, Mumbai, New Delhi and Kolkata, among other major cities of India.
By Rail: The nearest train stations are Vaniyambadi (29km from VBO) and Jolarpettai (46km from VBO), which have connections from Bangalore, Chennai, Mumbai and New Delhi.
By Road: The VBO, located near the village of Kavalur, may be reached by road from Bangalore, via Hosur-Krishnagiri-Vaniyambadi-Alangayam-Kavalur.