Devyani

It is the main academic core of IUCAA and consists of 4 main blocks, each having
different activities grouped around a central court, library with adjoining
librarian�s rooms, stores, binding room etc.
The most elegant of all the buildings is the library housed in the Varahamihira
block containing some 20,000 books and subscribing to about 100 scientific
journals,
the IUCAA�s library is one of the most advanced modern libraries, specializing in
astronomy and astrophysics in India.

Lecture Halls
They are 3 in number. One of them well equipped with a projector as teaching
through the films and slides medium is necessary part of astronomy and
astrophysics.
The lecture hall open out into a common students lounge and common room, keeping
the feeling of interaction alive.

History : After IUCAA was set-up in 1988, it quickly became well known for research
in theoretical astrophysics, cosmology and in observational astronomy.
Observational work at IUCAA was carried out using optical and other telescopes
located in India and other countries in the world, as well as in space.
IUCAA did not have its own telescope.
A proposal was therefore made to set up a state-of-the-art, medium sized optical
telescope at a suitable site relatively close to Pune.
It was believed that such a telescope would provide the much needed observational
facilities, for research and training, to the university community.
The proposal was supported by the Governing Board and the Council of IUCAA as well
as the University Grants Commission, which provided the funds needed for the
project.
A contract was signed in 1996 with the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research
Council (PPARC) of the United Kingdom for supply of a 2-metre telescope by the
Royal Greenwich Observatory (RGO) in Britain.