HAL Aerospace Museum, Bangalore: ✔Timing, Entry Fee, Location

Being a melting pot of history, art, and technology, Bangalore has a diverse range of museums and galleries. Of these, the HAL Aerospace Museum is a one-of-its-kind tourist attraction that deserves a special place in your itinerary. For starters, it has earned the honor of being the first aerospace museum in the country. With a fine collection of aircraft, prototypes, engine models, photographs, and other unique exhibits, the museum takes you through the origins, growth, and achievements of India’s aviation sector. The museum complex also has simulator rides, gardens, play areas, and other attractions to make your visit a memorable one. All in all, it is one of the best infotainment places to visit in Bangalore and arrests the attention of kids and adults in equal measures.

If you are an aviation enthusiast, don’t miss out on visiting this unique museum in the City of Gardens. Given below is a comprehensive account of the HAL Aerospace Museum including its timings, entry fee, major exhibits, attractions, nearby tourist places, and more.

HAL Aerospace Museum, Bangalore Information

HAL Aerospace Museum, Bangalore: History and Overview

Spread over 4 acres of area, the HAL Heritage Centre and Aerospace Museum is located on Old Airport Road, about 15 km away from the heart of the city. It was established in the year 2001 by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), one of the giants in the Indian aerospace industry. The primary objective of setting up this museum-cum-heritage center was to educate the general public on the history of Indian aviation in general and the achievements of HAL in particular.

Attractions and Facilities at HAL Aerospace Museum, Bangalore

Touted as one of the best museums in Bangalore, the HAL Aerospace Museum houses a good range of aeronautical exhibits in different formats, including photographs, prototypes, working models, and others. Some of the key attractions here include:

• Hall 1: This is a Hall of Fame that displays several photographs that help you trace the history of Indian aviation, starting from the 1940s till the 21^st These photographs will shed light on the advanced strides our country has taken in the fields of aeronautics and defense.
• Hall 2: This is an exhibition hall where a good range of real and life-size aircraft and engines, both old and new, are on display. By exploring the exhibits in this hall, you can gain information on the various functions of aero engines manufactured by the HAL.
• Outdoor Display Section: The museum has an outdoor, open-air section where various famous aircraft such as MIG 21, Kiran, Marut, Ajeet, Canberra, Lakshya, HT-2, etc. are displayed.
• True-motion Simulator Games/Rides: Want to know how does it feel to fly a fighter jet or commercial aircraft? The museum houses a section dedicated to true-motion simulator rides. You can put yourself in the pilot’s seat and enjoy an exciting virtual flying experience.
• Air Traffic Control Tower: You might have seen Air Traffic Control Towers – that is, the work station where aviation professionals control the take-off, movements, and landing of planes – in movies. While at the HAL Museum, you can visit the mock Air Traffic Control Tower here and get a first-hand experience of how the aviation industry works.
• Library: Want to dig deep into the topic of aeronautics? Make your way to the library housed within the museum where you can find aerospace-related books, translides, and audio and video materials.
• Gardens: Once you are done exploring the museum, spend some time relaxing at the beautifully landscaped lawns surrounding the building. The museum complex has a rose garden, herbal garden, and an orchidarium, each of which is home to an exotic range of plant species.
• Sustainability Park: Another key attraction here is the Sustainability Park with working models of biogas plants, solar power, and hybrid windmills. The park offers you an opportunity to learn more about energy sources and the conservation of natural resources.
• Children’s Play Area and Fish Pons: Are you visiting the museum with your tiny tots? Be assured that they will get their share of fun and entertainment. There are a kids’ play area and a small fish pond within the museum premises to keep your little ones engaged for hours.
• Souvenir Shop: Do you wish to take some memorabilia back with you as an everlasting memory of your visit? The museum has a souvenir shop where you can purchase aircraft replicas and other keepsakes.
• Cafeteria: Feeling famished? The well-loaded cafeteria at the museum is where you can fuel up after exploring all the exhibits.

Major Exhibits at HAL Aerospace Museum, Bangalore

The collection of aircraft, prototypes, engines, and aviation-related equipment at the HAL Museum is regarded as one of the best in the country. Some of the noteworthy exhibits here include:

• Adour, the engine used in Jaguar Fighter Jets
• Garret, the engine used in the multipurpose Dornier Aircraft
• Orpheus, the engine used in Kiran Trainer Aircraft
• Pushpak, a two-seat cabin monoplane first used in the 1950s
• Basant, an agricultural/utility aircraft
• Ejection seat with parachutes
• Lakshya, the remotely-piloted target aircraft
• Marut, a twin-seat, twin-engine fighter-bomber aircraft
• Hindustan Jet Trainer developed by HAL for the Indian Airforce
• Ajeet, a single-seat fighter aircraft
• Dhruv, an indigenously designed advanced light helicopter
• Model of a full-size heat shield (the uppermost stage) of a PSLV
• A meteorological radar
• An ATC (Air Traffic Control) radar
• Hansa, an all-composite light aircraft
• Canberra, a jet-powered bomber

Attractions near HAL Aerospace Museum, Bangalore

• Shivoham Shiva Temple (4 km)
• Murugeshpalya Shiva Temple (4 km)
• Chinnappanahalli Lake Park (5 km)
• Sree Surya Narayana Swamy Temple (7 km)
• Virginia Mall (7 km)
• The Forum Value Mall (7.5 km)
• Phoenix Marketcity (8 km)
• Kaikondrahalli Lake (8.5 km)

So, are you ready to take a trip back to your childhood and become that curious child who used to get overjoyed every time an airplane flew over the house? Do keep a few hours aside during your Bangalore trip to visit this unique heritage museum and explore its exhibits. If you are planning to stay in the city for a couple of days, here’s an itinerary to help you cover some of the major attractions in Bangalore.