The District Science Center (National Council of Science Museums ), situated 2kms from Thirunelveli on the banks of river Tamiraparani at Palayamkottai is a unique institution aims at popularize science, manipulate the spirit of enquiry, encourage creative talents and instills systematic temper in life. It is  a part of the National Council of Science Museums, attached to the Department (HRD) Government of India and a satellite unit of Visvesvaraya Industrial and Technological Museum (VITM) , Bangalore.

One among the 124 centers in the country, the science center has 3 permanent galleries on ocean, a semi permanent gallery on popular science and a 6 acre science park. The various exhibits in these galleries helps the people to create an awareness of scientific development. It has a well equipped planetarium and a sky observatory, where one could enjoy the view of heavenly bodies through a telescope. The center has a good collection of films and video cassettes on nature, wildlife computers etc. and organizes programmes on videos, planetarium shows, mobile science exhibition, film show, temporary exhibitions, science drama and science fair.