There was a time that the lions or the antlered deer were endangered species and were rare to be found. They feared extinction, but thanks to the captive breeding programs of the various zoo in India that these animals have been bred successfully and brought out of the danger of extinction. Besides, in this modern world of the concrete jungle, these zoological parks are the only space in the city that is covered with lush green and features these natural habitats in their utmost grandeur for display. Explore the 15 best zoos in India right here.
15 Best Zoos in India:
1. Nandankanan Zoological Park:
Spread over an area of 437 hectares, the Nandankanan Zoological Park is a zoo cum botanical garden located in Bhubaneshwar. Established in 1960, the zoo was opened to the public in the year 1979. It is the first Indian zoo that joined the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums in 2009. Nandankanan Zoo is one of the popular Zoos in India.
- Zoo Opened Year: 29 December 1960.
- The area occupied By Zoo: 437 Hectares (1080 acres).
- Animal Types: 3582 animals of 158 different species (2022).
- Zoo Timings: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Monday closed).
- Entry Fee: Adults – 50 Rs, Child – 10 Rs.
- Website: https://www.nandankanan.org/
Some Amazing facts:
- The zoo is located in the environs of the Chandaka forest and includes 54 hectares of Kanjia Lake.
- More than 3.3 million people visit this zoo every year.
- The death rate of animals in this zoo is the lowest (3.1%) as compared to the national average of 10%.
- It is the only zoo in India that breeds white tigers.
- Other endangered species like the Asiatic lion, Sangal Lion-tailed macaque, Indian crocodiles, NilgiriLangur, mouse deer, Indian pangolin and countless birds and reptiles are successfully bred at Nandankanan Zoo.
- The Zoo is also home to numerous freshwater fishes and has more than 34 species of aquaria.
- With more than 130 species of orchids, this zoo will soon become the largest orchid house in Odisha.
Nearby Attractions:
- State Tribal Museum, which is located at 16 km distance from the Nandankanan Zoo Park.
- Bhubaneswar is famous for its ancient temples; the city has 700 temples like Lingaraja Temple, Rajarani Temple, Parasurameshwara Temple, Mukteshwara Temple, Rama Mandir etc., within 25 km from Zoo. That is why this city is called “Temple City”.
- Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves, historical tourist spots of Odisha, are must-sees within 16 km from the zoo.
- Dhauli Shanti Stupa, a famous Buddhist shrine in Dhauligiri, is within 30 km from the zoo.
2. Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens:
Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens or the Mysuru Zoo, is popularly known as one of the oldest zoos in India. Spread in an area of 157 acres, this zoo is one of the most famous zoos in India. Originally the Mysuru Zoo was created on an area of 10 acres in the palace of Maharaja Chamaraja, which was gradually expanded and later on handed over to the Mysore State Government for management in the year 1948.
- Zoo Another Name: Mysuru Zoo.
- Situated Near: Mysore
- Zoo Opened Year: 1892
- The area occupied By Zoo: 64 hectares (157 acres).
- Animal types: Elephants, green anacondas, giraffes, Zebras, tigers, lions, rhinoceroses, and baboons.
- Zoo timings: 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. ( Tuesday closed).
- Entry Fee: Adults – 100 Rs, Child – 50 Rs.
- Website: https://www.mysuruzoo.info/
Some Amazing Facts:
- Established in 1892, the zoo was opened to the public only in 1902.
- The zoo includes an artificial lake and a bandstand.
- The zoo was taken care of by the Department of Parks and Gardens of the Mysore State Government in the year 1948.
- This Zoo has had more elephants than any other Zoo in India.
- At one point of time, more than 34 elephants lived in this zoo, which was over a period of time transferred to other Zoos.
Nearby Attractions:
Mysuru Zoo is surrounded by beautiful tourist attractions of Mysore within 3 km like Karanji Lake Mysore, Mysore Palace, Sri Nandi Temple, Mysore Sand Sculpture Museum, Maharaja Chamarajendra Wadayar Statue, Kukkarahalli Lake etc.
3. National Zoological Park:
Spread over an area of 71 hectares (176 acres), the National Zoological Park located near the Purana Qila in Delhi is a big zoo in India. This zoo is home to more than 130 species of birds and animals from around the world. The Zoo was in the news in 2014, after a man called Maqsood had fallen inside the tiger’s moat accidentally and killed raising questions about the visitor’s safety at the zoo.
- Zoo Another Name: Delhi Zoo
- Situated Near: Delhi
- Zoo Opened Year: 1959
- The area occupied By Zoo: 71 hectares (176 acres)
- Animal Types: Chimpanzee, hippopotamus, spider monkey, Giraffes, African wild buffalo, Gir lion, Zebras, jaguars, hyenas and migratory birds such as peafowl.
- Zoo Timings: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Fridays closed).
- Entry Fee: Adults – 200 Rs, Child – 100 Rs.
- Website: https://nzpnewdelhi.gov.in/
Some Amazing Facts:
- The 16th -Century Citadel is located in the Zoo and is one of the major attractions in the zoo.
- The Zoo is a sprawling green island amidst the burgeoning urban Delhi.
- This Zoo is also a part of the Conservative Breeding program and is known for the breeding of Brow Antlered Deer.
Nearby Attractions:
One of the oldest forts in India, Purana Qila is at a walkable distance from Delhi Zoo, which is 600 meters away. India Gate is 1.5 km away from National Zoological Park. Lodhi Garden and Humayun’s Tomb are 3 km away from Zoo.
4. Arignar Anna Zoological Park:
The Arignar Anna Zoological Park, famously known as the Vandalur Zoo is a zoo located in the southwest part of Chennai. The Zoo is at a drive of 15 kms from the Chennai Airport and about 31kms from Chennai Central. This zoo has the credit of being the first zoo in India. Established in 1855 it is the oldest zoo in India.
- Zoo Another Name: Vandalur Zoo.
- Situated Near: Vandalur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
- Zoo Opened Year: 1855 as Madras Zoo, 1985 at the current location.
- The area occupied By Zoo: 510 Hectares (1300 acres).
- Animal Types: Tiger, leopard, lion (hybrid), wild dog, lion-tailed macaque, Nilgiri langur, hyena, jackal, blackbucks, Indian bison, barking deer, sambhar, spotted deer, crocodile, snakes, water birds.
- Zoo Timings: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Tuesday closed).
- Entry Fee: Adults – 90 Rs, Child – 50 Rs.
- Website: https://www.aazp.in/
Some Amazing Facts:
- The Vandalur zoo is the largest zoo in India
- The first all India Zoo Superintendents Conference was held here back in 1955.
Nearby Attractions:
Skandhasram temple, dedicated to Lord Murugan, is located 11 km from Vandalur Zoo. And Sri Lakshmi Kuberar Temple at a distance of 7 km is a must visit place near this zoo. Sri Dhenupurieshwara Temple is one of the most famous and oldest temples in Chennai, located 14 km from the Zoo. One of the finest beaches in Tamil Nadu, Kovalam Beach is 24 km from Vandalur Zoo Park.
5. Sakkarbaug Zoological Garden:
Spread over an area of 200 hectares, Sakkarbagh Zoo was established in 1863 by the Babi Nawabs of Junagadh and is one of the largest zoos in India. This Zoo is home to more than 40 Asiatic Lions and Lionesses. It also features a National History Museum that houses the skeletons of two giant Asiatic Lions along with that of a panther, deer, boar, blackbuck, and antelope amongst others.
- Zoo Another Name: Sakkarbaug Zoo, Junagadh Zoo.
- Situated Near: Junagadh, Gujarat.
- Zoo Opened Year: 1863.
- The area occupied By Zoo: 200 hectares (490 acres).
- Animal Types: 525 mammals, 597 birds, and 111 reptiles.
- Zoo Timings: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Wednesday Closed).
Some Amazing Facts:
- This Zoo is the largest breeding center of Asiatic Lions in India.
- In 2009, The Sakkarbaug Zoo of Junagadh became the only Zoo in India to feature African Cheetahs. Two pair of cheetahs were received by the zoo from the Singapore Zoo by trading its 3 Asiatic lions.
- They also received Indian Gaur, marmosets, green pheasants, and Malabar giant squirrels from the Mysore Zoo in exchange for a pair of Asiatic Lions.
- This Zoo also breeds white-backed vultures.
Nearby Attractions:
Junagadh is a popular tourist destination, there are many famous forts, temples and caves near Junagadh Zoo. Popular places among them are Upperkot Fort, Majewadi Gate, BAPS Swami Narayan Mandir and Girnar Ropeway.
6. Nehru Zoological Park:
Nehru Zoological Park is a famous attraction and one of the most visited destinations in Hyderabad. Established in 1959, the Zoo was opened to the public on 6th October 1963.
- Zoo Another Name: Hyderabad Zoo, Zoo park.
- Situated Near: Mir Alam Tank, Hyderabad, Telangana.
- Zoo Opened Year: 1963.
- The area occupied By Zoo: 153.8 hectares (380 acres).
- Animal types: Indian rhino, Asiatic lion, Bengal tiger, panther, gaur, Indian elephant, slender Loris, python, as well as deer, antelopes, and birds. The nocturnal house features chimpanzees, giraffes, fruit bats, slow Loris, civets, leopard cats, hedgehogs, barn owls, mottled wood owls, fishing owls, and great horned owls.
- Zoo Timings: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Monday Closed).
- Entry Fee: Adults – 50 Rs, Child – 30 Rs.
Some Amazing Facts:
- The nocturnal house here reverses day and night for the night animals so that they remain active when the visitors visit the zoo.
- The Zoo also features a dino park, aquarium, butterfly park, and tortoise house.
- Multiple safari trips are arranged throughout the day where one can spot Asiatic lions, Bengal tigers, and Sloth Bear
Nearby Attractions:
Special attractions near Zoo Park within 3 km are Sudha Car Museum, Sri Ranganatha Swamy Temple, Chowmahalla Palace and Khursheed Jah Devdi.
7. Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park:
Named after the daughter of Sarojini Naidu, the Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park is the largest Zoo in India at a height of 7000 feet altitude. This zoo specialises in breeding animals adapted to alpine conditions such as the snow leopard, red panda, and Himalayan wolf.
- Zoo Another Name: Darjeeling Zoo.
- Situated Near: Darjeeling, West Bengal.
- Zoo Opened Year: 1958
- The area occupied By Zoo: 27.3 hectares (67.56 acres).
- Animal Types: Himalayan Wolf, Red panda, snow leopard, Gorals, Siberian Tigers, Himalayan Tahr, grey peacock pheasant, blue sheep, Himalayan Monal, Himalayan salamander, blood pheasant and satyr tragopan amongst others.
- Zoo Timings: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Thursday Closed)
- Entry Fee: Adults – 20 Rs
- Website: http://www.pnhzp.gov.in/
Some Amazing Facts:
- This zoo has more than 300000 visitors each year.
- This park specialises in displaying the Himalayan flora and fauna
Nearby Attractions:
Popular Darjeeling tourist spots Happy Valley Tea Estate, Mahakal Temple and Observatory Hill View Point are 1.5 km from Darjeeling Zoo.
8. Assam State Zoo cum Botanical Garden:
The Assam State Zoo situated in Guwahati is the largest zoo in Northeast India. When the 64th Indian National Congress meeting was held here in Guwahati in 1957, they had put to display some birds and animals of which the female leopard cub was the favourite of all. After the meeting came to an end, Guwahati felt the need of a zoo to house these animals, and this is how the Guwahati Zoo came into existence.
- Zoo Another Name: Guwahati Zoo
- Situated Near: Guwahati, Assam
- Zoo Opened Year: 1958
- The area occupied By Zoo: 175 hectares (432.435 acres).
- Animal Types: One-horned Indian rhinoceros, tiger, clouded leopard, golden langur, hoolock gibbon, serow, elephant, brow-antlered deer, slow loris, Himalayan black bear, leopard cat, binturong, jungle cat.
- Zoo Timings: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Friday closed).
Some Amazing Facts:
- This zoo is situated within the Hengrabari Reserved forest of Guwahati
- This successfully breeds Indian one-horned rhinoceros.
Nearby Attractions:
The places you must visit when going to visit Guwahati Zoo are Shraddhaanjali Kanan Park which is 200 meters away and ISKCON Temple which is 3.5 km away.
9. Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park:
- Zoo Another Name: Rajiv Gandhi Zoo, Katraj Zoo.
- Situated Near: Katraj, Pune, Maharashtra.
- Zoo Opened Year: 1999.
- The area occupied By Zoo: 53 Hectares (130 acres).
- Animal Types: Reptiles, mammals and birds including a white tiger, a male Bengal Tiger, leopard, sloth bears, sambhars, barking deer, blackbucks, monkeys, and elephants.
- Zoo Timings: 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Wednesday).
Some Amazing Facts:
- This zoological park is divided into three parts – An animal orphanage, a snake park, and a zoo.
- It also has a lake called Katraj Lake.
Nearby Attractions:
Katraj Lake, Aagam Mandir, Sri Sadguru Shankar Maharaj Math, Amba Mata Mandir and ISKCON temple Pune are within 3 km range from Katraj Zoo.
10. Indira Gandhi Zoological:
- Situated Near: Kambalakonda Reserve Forest, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.
- Zoo Opened Year: 1977
- The area occupied By Zoo: 253 hectares (625 acres).
- Animal Types: Birds such as Pelican, Painted stork, Peafowl, Duck, Spotted dove, Lovebird, Parakeet, Eagle, Vulture, Budgerigar, Macaw, Ostrich, and Emu. Primates such as Common langur (Hanuman monkey), Bonnet monkey (common Indian monkey), Rhesus monkey, Olive baboon, Mandrill, Ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta), Goeldi’s marmoset and three new Chimpanzees. Other animals such as Barking deer, Elephant, Wild boar, Gaur, Sambar deer, Spotted deer, Nilgai, Swamp deer, Eld’s deer (Thamin deer), Indian rhinoceros, Hippopotamus, Giraffe, Tiger (Leucistic and Bengal), Leopard, Cheetah, Puma and Jaguar, Jackal, Wild dog, Striped hyena, Sloth bear, Himalayan black bear. Reptiles such as Python, Cobra, King cobra, Rat snake, Tortoise, Terrapin, Water monitor lizard, Monitor lizard, Mugger crocodile, and Gharial.
- Zoo Timings: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Monday Closed).
- Entry Fee: Adults – 50 Rs, Child – 10 Rs.
- Website: https://www.vizagzoo.com/
Some Amazing Facts:
- Amazing collection of flora and fauna.
- Free Wi-Fi in the complete zoo area.
- A particular breeding program of White Tigers and Indian Wild Dogs.
Nearby Attractions:
Kambala Konda Eco Park, Thenneti Park, ISKCON Temple, Sagar Nagar Beach and Kailasagiri are 3 km from Vizag Zoo.
11. Nawab Wajid Ali Shah Zoological Garden:
- Zoo Another Name: Nawab Wajid Ali Shah Prani Udyan, Lucknow Zoological Garden (Previously known as Prince of Wales Zoological Garden).
- Situated Near: Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.
- Zoo Opened Year: 1921
- The area occupied By Zoo: 29 Hectares (71.6 Acres).
- Animal Types: Royal Bengal tiger, Asiatic lion, white Bengal tiger, gray wolf, hoolock gibbon, Himalayan black bear, Indian rhinoceros, barking deer, hog deer, Asiatic elephant, giraffe, zebra, European otters, blackbuck, swamp deer, hill mynahs, golden pheasant, giant squirrels, great pied hornbill, , silver pheasant etc.
- Zoo Timings: 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (Monday closed).
- Entry Fee: Adults – 80 Rs, Child – 40 Rs.
- Website: https://www.lucknowzoo.com/home.php
Some Amazing Facts:
- This zoo breeds the swamp deer, blackbuck, hog deer and barking deer, white tiger, Indian wolf, and several other pheasants.
- The 1.5 km track of the toy train covers every area of the zoo
- It is the only other zoo besides the Kanpur Zoo to exhibit an Orangutan
Nearby Attractions:
Ambedkar Park, the most famous park in Lucknow and Hazratganj, the main shopping centre in Lucknow, are in 3 km distance from Lucknow Zoo.
12. Sanjay Gandhi Jaivik Udyan:
- Zoo Another Name: Sanjay Gandhi Botanical and Zoological Garden, Patna Zoo.
- Situated Near: Bailey Road, Patna, Bihar.
- Zoo Opened Year:1973
- The area occupied By Zoo: 60.9 hectares (152.95 acres)
- Animal types: tiger, leopard, clouded leopard, hippopotamus, crocodile, elephants, Himalayan black bear, jackal, blackbucks, spotted deer, peafowl, hill myna, gharial, python, Indian rhinoceros, chimpanzee, giraffe, zebra, emu, and white peacock.
- Zoo Timings: 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Monday Closed)
- Entry Fee: Adults – 30 Rs, Child – 10 Rs.
- Website: https://www.zoopatna.com/
Some Amazing Facts:
- This is one of the favourite picnic spots with more than 50 lakh people visiting each year.
- The Zoo saw a record 36000 visitors in the new year of 2011.
Nearby Attractions:
Eco Park, Bihar Museum, BSPHCL Energy Park and Pancharoopi Hanuman Mandir are within 3 km from Patna Zoo.
13. Alipore Zoological Garden:
The Zoological Garden, Alipore is the oldest zoo in India which has been formally stated as a zoological park. Open for visitors since 1896; this zoo is one of the most popular tourist attraction spots in Kolkata.
- Zoo Another Name: Alipore Zoo, Calcutta Zoo.
- Situated Near: Alipore, Kolkatta, West Bengal.
- Zoo Opened Year: 1876
- The area occupied By Zoo: 18.81 hectares (46.5 acres).
- Animal Types: Royal Bengal tiger, African lion, Asiatic lion, jaguar, hippopotamus, great Indian one-horned rhinoceros, reticulated giraffe, Grant’s zebra, emu, and Indian elephant. It also features a large variety of attractive birds that include some endangered species as well.
- Zoo timings: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Thursday Closed).
- Entry Fee: Adults – 30 Rs, Child – 10 Rs.
- Website: https://kolkatazoo.in/alipore/
Some Amazing Facts:
- The zoo has seen the highest footfall of 1,10,000 visitors on 1/1/2018.
- The Zoo was famous for its 250-year-old giant tortoise Adwaita (Which expired in 2006).
- It is one of the first Zoos in the world that bred the White Tiger.
- The Manipur brow-antlered deer has been brought back from the verge of extinction by the breeding initiative of this zoo.
Nearby Attractions:
Victoria Memorial and Netaji Bhavan are the most famous attractions within 3 km near Kolkata Zoo.
14. Kanpur Zoological Park:
- Zoo Another Name: Allen Forest Zoo.
- Situated Near: Azad Nagar, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh.
- Zoo Opened Year: 1974.
- The area occupied By Zoo: 77 Hectares (190 acres).
- Animal types: cheetah, leopard, jaguar, hyena, black bear, grizzly bear, sloth, rhinoceros, hippopotamus, monkeys, langur, baboons, musk deer, deer, zebra, and antelope.
- Zoo timings: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ( Monday Closed).
- Entry Fee: Adults – 75 Rs, Child – 35 Rs.
- Website: https://www.kanpurzoo.org/
Some Amazing Facts:
- The zoo is home to several chimpanzees including the 26-year old Chimpanzee called Chhajju and Orangutans including the 30-year old Mangal.
- The zoo houses some of the rarest species of plants in its botanical garden.
- A rainwater lake where 100s of deer can be seen grazing is the center of attraction.
- The toy train is a valuable addition to the zoo.
15. Mahendra Chaudhary Zoological Park:
- Zoo Another Name: Chattbir Zoo
- Situated Near: Zirkapur, Punjab, India
- Zoo Opened Year: 1977
- The area occupied By Zoo: 202acres
- Animal Types: 369 mammals, 400 birds, and 20 reptiles as on
- Zoo Timings: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Monday Closed)
- Entry Fee: Adults – 100 Rs, Child – 50 Rs.
- Website: http://chhatbirzoo.gov.in/
Some Amazing Facts:
- The lion safari is one of the biggest attractions of the Zoo.
- The Chattbir Zoo features the longest walk-in aviary in India with a walkway of 300m long.
India is a land of diversity and features a varied species of flora and fauna. These species are made available to the public in the numerous zoos in India. These Zoological parks and botanical gardens are a golden opportunity for a nature lover to be one with nature. So on your next trip to any of the States of India, do not forget to add these Zoological parks to your itinerary and experience the grandeur of nature.
Frequently Asked Questions & Answers:
Q1. Which is The Biggest Zoo in India?
Ans: The Nandankanan Zoological Park in Bhubaneshwar is the biggest zoo in India.
Q2. There are in All How Many Zoos in India?
Ans: The total number of zoos in India is more than 61.
Q3. Which is India’s Largest Zoo?
Ans: Spread in an area of 1265 acres with more than 2553 species of flora and fauna to display, the Arignar Anna Zoological Park in Vandalur has the credit of being India’s largest zoo.
Q4. List the Best Zoos in India.
Ans: The following is the list of Zoos in India – The 5 best ones
- National Zoological Park, Delhi
- Mysore Zoo, Mysore
- Indira Gandhi Zoological Park, Visakhapatnam
- Nehru Zoological Park, Hyderabad
- Nandankanan Zoological Park, Bhubaneshwar
Q5. Which is the most popular zoo in India?
Ans: The Alipore Zoological Garden of Kolkata is one of the most famous zoos in India. In the New Year of 2018, it had a footfall of more than 1,10,000 people making it one of the most famous zoos in India.
