An entire nation held its collective breath as Chandrayaan-3 inched closer to the lunar surface, finally erupting with joy as India scripted history by becoming the fourth country to successfully touch down on the Moon.

People gathered in educational institutions, offices, city squares and religious places to watch the Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) live telecast of Chandrayaan-3's final descent to the uncharted surface of the lunar south pole.

Comprising the lander (Vikram) and the rover (Pragyan), India's Moon mission Chandrayaan-3 touched down on the lunar south pole at 6.04 pm on Wednesday, propelling the country to an exclusive club of four and making it the first country to land on the uncharted surface.

Chandrayaan-3 is a follow-on mission to Chandrayaan-2 and its objectives are to demonstrate safe and soft-landing on the lunar surface, roving on the Moon, and to conduct in-situ scientific experiments.

Addressing ISRO scientists virtually from Johannesburg, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India made a resolve "on the Earth and fulfilled it on the Moon".

"This is a moment to cherish forever," Modi said, noting that India has reached the south pole of the Moon, where no country had ventured so far.

"India is now on the moon and now is the time to walk on the 'Chandra Path'," the prime minister said.