The legacy of the institute goes back to more than seven decades, first as a state observatory under Uttar Pradesh and now as an autonomous institute under the administrative control of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Govt. of India. The main research fields of ARIES include Astronomy & Astrophysics and Atmospheric Studies. ARIES has made a unique contribution in many areas of astronomical research, particularly those involving time critical phenomena owing to its location in the middle of about 180 degree wide longitude band with no other modern astronomical facility. ARIES has India’s largest telescope at an altitude of 2540m in a place called Devasthal. It is located about 50 km by road towards the east of Nainital. The Devasthal Optical Telescope (DOT) has an aperture of 3.6-m. 
ARIES also places equal emphasis on student training (PhD and post-docs). In the coming years, we will focus on building our core research strengths in science and engineering, develop world-class observing facilities and teaching programmes. I invite, especially, the younger generation to take up Astronomy, Astrophysics and Atmospheric Studies as their career options. Hope the information provided here will motivate the young minds.