India – full of diversity, the climate is equally diverse. The study of such weather is equally complicated but important. Alibag observatory was established for accurate forecasting of weather for fishing, sea transport, agriculture, research and charting of ferromagnetic force in Earth’s interior, and this observatory is continuously doing this important work.

History –

Not only Raigad but a very important magnetic observatory for meteorological studies of India is the observatory at Alibag. This world famous observatory was established in 1904 and its golden jubilee was celebrated on 12 December 1954. It is the first magnetic observatory in India to research and map the ferromagnetic force in the Earth’s interior. Earth is a ferromagnet and ferromagnetic energy circulates inside. Research and mapping of this mysterious power is an ongoing work here. This is a branch of Colaba Observatory. The Colaba Observatory in Mumbai was built by the East India Company in 1726 to guide fishing and trade traffic. As the west coast of India is important for India’s meteorological studies, the government has put in a lot of effort to build various facilities at the Colaba Observatory. During the period 1841-1846, the Kulaba Observatory began conducting research and observations of the magnetic force in the Earth’s inside.

Earth’s magnetic force has an important place in natural phenomena and the scientist believes that the place with such magnetic force is in the area from Colaba to Alibaug. Therefore, along with the forecasting of the weather, the work of identifying the magnetic force began. For that, a lot of equipment was brought to the Colaba . This research work started from 1872. A graph of the magnetic force in the earth’s surface also began to be recorded. After it was decided to use electricity in the city of Mumbai, the effect of electricity on the magnetic research work was inevitable. So the magnetic research instruments and equipment of the Colaba Observatory had to be shifted to another place nearby. Hence, in 1904, the Government of India established the Alibaug Observatory by shifting the Magnetic Force Research Branch to Alibaug. During the next two years, magnetic research at Colaba was completely discontinued and concentrated at Alibaug.

The Building –

The machinery at the Alibaug , particularly the magnetograph, is extremely microscopic and is housed in a distinctive stone-built building. It is designed so that the temperature in the building does not change much. Special stone from Porbandar has been used to avoid iron ore in the building stone. Iron is not used at all. Power generation near the observatory is prohibited in order to enable precise measurements of the magnetic field of the Earth’s body. Therefore, there was no electricity generation in Alibaug city and there was no electricity consumption in the city that time. In recent times, however, electricity is being used with some restrictions by supplying electricity from outside.

In the observatory, magnetometers have been installed in one building and magnetographs in another building. This world famous observatory is the jewel of Raigad district.

The following passage is illustrative of the observatory –

“The most important data in geophysics maintained here pertaining to 115 years elevates its position to the few of it’s kind in the world.  The system of its observation and experiments is closely connected with the field of magnetism. Hence the building is so designed as not to get affected by the external disturbances both radiographic and electrical. The basic data in Geographics collected here is being extensively used by the scientists all over the world. Furnished with the most modern equipments and apparatus, it transmits intimation of the magnetic storms to come, which obstruct Radio and telecommunication waves. From time to time the observatory publishes data incorporating it’s findings. It has large demand from the scientists all over the world.”

A government permit is required to visit the place. But from outside we can see this observatory from the beach as well. The entrance to the observatory is on the left side of the road parallel to the beach that leads to Varsoli.

Reference: – Raigad Gazetteer