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Zoos in India play a vital role in wildlife conservation, education, and research. Home to a wide range of wildlife and bird species, zoos also act as rehabilitation centres for injured and endangered species. Some zoos even promote breeding programs to preserve biodiversity. You can also learn about the ongoing preservation methods that are curated to protect the well-being of the birds and animals. With 155 zoos recognised under the Central Zoo Authority in India, visiting a few of them can be a rewarding experience for every animal lover.
Top 15 Zoos In India
Zoos in India offer a unique window into the animal kingdom of the country including animals like majestic tigers of Ranthambore to the playful penguins of Darjeeling.
1. National Zoological Park
Photo: Shwetangi Gupta / Unsplash
The National Zoological Park lies in the heart of our country’s capital city, New Delhi, and is the most famous zoo in the India due to its central location and accessibility. Spanning an area of 176 acres, the zoo boasts about 1350 species of animals and birds. It offers natural habitats to the animals, providing a comfortable and enriching environment for them. There are some of the endangered species including the Royal Bengal tiger, Asiatic lion, Indian rhino, and more. The zoo authorities also host educational tours. Also, there is a dedicated aviary and reptile house inside the zoo.
Location: Mathura Road, near Purana Qila, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, 110003
Timings: 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM (Closed on Fridays and national holidays)
Entry Fee: ₹80 for Indians and ₹400 for Foreigners
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2. Mysore Zoo, Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens
Photo: Unni.hariharan/ Wikimedia Commons
Mysore Zoo, established in 1892, is one of the oldest and most well-maintained zoos. Known for its excellent conservation programs, and animal welfare, it is considered the best zoo in India by far. Spread across an area of 157 acres, it is home to 1450 species of wildlife, birds, reptiles, and more. Eventually, you can spot African elephants, giraffes, zebras, and an array of birds and reptiles here. Furthermore, one of the highlights of this zoo is its successful breeding program for endangered species like the Indian Grey Wolf and the White Tiger. The well-maintained surroundings and lush greenery of the zoo add to the experience of this place.
Location: Zoo Road, Indira Nagar, Ittige Gudu, Mysuru, Karnataka 570010
Timings: 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM (Closed on Tuesdays)
Entry Fee: ₹100 for adults and ₹50 for children
3. Arignar Anna Zoological Park
Photo: Pravee1207 / Wikimedia Commons
Established on July 24, 1855, the Arignar Anna Zoological Park is also known as the Vandalur Zoo. It is the biggest zoo in India in terms of land area which spans across 1300 acres, and animal collection of more than 170 species. Being one of the best zoos in the region, it offers natural habitat to many variants of flora and fauna. Also, the zoo offers multiple conservation programs, such as the captive breeding of endangered species including the Lion-tailed Macaque and the Nilgiri Langur as well.
Location: Grand Southern Trunk Road, Vandalur, Tamil Nadu 600048
Timings: 9 AM – 5 PM (Closed on Tuesdays)
Entry Fee: ₹200 for adults and ₹50 for kids
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4. Nandankanan Zoological Park
Photo: Subhadeep Dishant / Unsplash
Nandankanan Zoological Park in Odisha is one of the most significant zoos in India. It is the country’s first zoo to join the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA). Established on December 29, 1960, the park covers a large areas of about 4,006 sq. km. The zoo also covers the famous Chandaka forest and Kanjia Lake. You can witness endangered and native wildlife including the gharial, Asiatic lions, Indian pangolins, and Nilgiri langurs here. Not only that, you can also marvel at the botanical garden, a butterfly park, and a reptile park inside the zoo.
Location: Nandankanan Road, Near Police Station, Barang, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 754005
Timings: 7:30 AM – 5:30 PM (Closed on Mondays)
Entry Fee: ₹50 for Indians
5. Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park
Photo: Tathekalyani / Wikimedia Commons
The Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park in Pune is located in Maharashtra. Known for its naturalistic enclosures, it has an emphasis on animal welfare & conservation. The place also is an animal orphanage, rehabilitating different wildlife cubs, separated from their mother. Some of the staple wildlife that you can witness inside the zoo are tigers, leopards, sloth bears, and a wide array of reptiles. Not only that, you can even spot the King Cobra and Indian Rock Python in the snake parks making it the main attraction of the zoo. Furthermore, you can also attend educational tours in the park and have fun with your friends.
Location: Pune – Satara Road, opp. Katraj Dairy, Katraj, Pune, Maharashtra 411046
Timings: 9:30 AM – 5 PM (Closed on Wednesdays)
Entry Fee: ₹40 for adults and ₹10 for children
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6. Nehru Zoological Park
Photo: ManojKRacherla / Wikimedia Commons
The Nehru Zoological Park, in Old Hyderabad, is one of the top zoos in India. Established on October 12, 1963, it covers an area of 154 hectares. The zoo was named after the country’s first prime minister, Shri Jawaharlal Nehru. It is home to 1,500 different types of animals and birds, including Bengal tigers, lions, Indian rhinoceroses, and various primates. Additionally, there are nocturnal animal houses, aquariums, and reptile houses inside the park, which adds to the charm of the zoo.
Location: NH 44, Bahadurpura, Hyderabad, Telangana 500064
Timings: 8:30 AM – 4 PM (Closed on Mondays)
Entry Fees: ₹70 for adults and ₹45 for children
7. Alipore Zoological Gardens
Photo: SAIKAT GUCHHAIT / Unsplash
Established in 1876, Alipore Zoological Gardens is the oldest zoo in India. Not only was it the oldest zoo but was also a home to Adwaita, an Aldabra tortoise who died at an approximate age of 255 in 2006. Spread across 19 hectares of area, the zoo is home to 1,266 different types of animals, birds, and reptiles. One of the highlights of this zoo lies in the sighting of the iconic Royal Bengal tiger. There are giraffes, elephants and white tigress as well, which adds to the allure of the zoo. Authorities organise several wildlife consideration and breeding programs here as well.
Location: 2, Alipore Road, Alipore, Kolkata, West Bengal 700027
Timings: 9:30 AM – 5 PM
Entry Fees: ₹50 for adults and ₹20 for children
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8. Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park, Darjeeling
Photo: Abhishek.ghosh1984 / Wikimedia Commons
Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park (or Darjeeling Zoo) is a popular zoo located in the Darjeeling district in West Bengal. One of the highlights of this zoo is its breeding and conservation program for different mammals like snow leopards and red pandas. Nestled at an elevation of 7,000 ft, the park is the highest altitude zoo in the country. Also, you can spot Himalayan wolves and a variety of bird species in the zoo.
Location: Padmaja Naidu, Jawahar Parbat, Darjeeling, West Bengal 734104
Timings: 8:30 AM – 4 PM (Closed on Thursdays)
Entry Fees: ₹110 for Indians and ₹180 for Foreigners
9. Sakkarbaug Zoological Gardens, Junagadh
Photo: VasuVR / Wikimedia Commons
Spread across 84 hectares, Sakkarbaug Zoological Gardens (or Junagarh Zoo) dates back to 1863. The main objective of the zoo is to conserve and breed purebred Asiatic lions. The zoo is located in Junagadh, Gujarat, and is home to a wide variety of wildlife including wild boar, antelope and blue bull. One of the most unique features of this zoo is that it has a veterinary hospital inside the zoo as well. If you are a history buff, the zoo has a separate natural history museum inside the museum, adding to its value.
Location: Rajkot Hwy, Joshipura, Junagadh, Gujarat 362001
Timings: 9 AM – 12:15 PM; 3 PM – 6 PM
Entry Fees: ₹20 for adults and ₹5 for children
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10. Indira Gandhi Zoological Park, Visakhapatnam
Photo: Bdmshiva / Wikimedia Commons
Founded in 1977, the Indira Gandhi Zoological Park is one of the renowned zoos in India. Covering a area of 253 hectares amidst the Eastern Ghats in Andhra Pradesh, the zoo is home to about 75 species of animals. The zoo has a wide range of fauna, including tigers, lions, elephants, and several species of primates and reptiles. Additionally, it also features an aquarium and a butterfly park. This place offers a natural habitat for the animals living here.
Location: Dairy Farm, Yendada, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh 530040
Timings: 9 AM – 5 PM (Closed on Mondays)
Entry Fees: ₹20 for adults and ₹10 for children
11. Kanpur Zoological Park
Photo: Mikudavidson / Wikimedia Commons
Much renowned as the Allen Forest Zoo, Kanpur Zoological Park is one of largest zoological spaces in North India that spans across an area of 110 hectares. Established in 1974, this zoo is home to over 125 species of flora and fauna and positioned uniquely inside a forest itself. With over 1400 animals, one can be sure to encounter chimpanzees, a wide range of deer, and even white tigers. In addition to the zoo, the park also boasts a botanical garden, a natural lake that attracts a variety of birds, and a butterfly garden too which makes it a perfect escape for nature lovers.
Location: Hastings Avenue, Azad Nagar, Nawabganj, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh
Timings: 9 AM – 5 PM (Closed on Mondays)
Entry Fee: ₹70 for Indian adults, ₹35 for Indian children (6 – 12 years); ₹400 for foreign adults, ₹200 for foreign children
12. Chhatbir Zoo
Photo: Stalinjeet Brar / Wikimedia Commons
Founded in 1977 and also known as the Mahendra Chaudhary Zoological Park, Chhatbir Zoo is located at a distance of about 20 km from Chandigarh. Covering an estimated area of about 200 acres, Chhatbir Zoo is also popular for being home to India’s longest 300-meter walk-in aviary. It is also quite convenient to explore such natural landscapes as the zoo’s ticket price in India is quite cheap for the locals. Housing more than 950 animals across 85 species, the zoo also features five themed zones and open-air enclosures that showcase 32 species of birds and replicas of natural habitats like that of a safari park for tigers and lions.
Location: Chhat Village, Zirakpur, Punjab
Timings: 9 AM – 5 PM (Closed on Mondays and national holidays)
Entry Fee: ₹60 for Indian adults, ₹25 for Indian children (3–12 years); ₹100 for foreigners
13. Jaipur Zoo
Photo: Rafatalam100 / Wikimedia Commons
Jaipur Zoo is apparently located in the most spectacular location of Rajasthan, i.e., the Ram Niwas Garden which was built by Maharaja Sawai Ram Singh II in 1868. Although the zoo was established in 1877, it is conveniently situated near the Albert Hall Museum and boasts an expansive area of about 35 acres and hosts the fourth-largest gharial breeding farm in India for crocodiles. Housing approximately 550 animals across 50 species, the zoo is divided into two sections which feature birds and reptiles in one and mammals in another. To make the most of spotting leopards, black bears, etc, make sure you visit according to the zoo timings in India.
Location: Sawai Ram Singh Road, Ram Niwas Garden, Jaipur, Rajasthan
Timings: 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM in summers, and 9 AM – 5 PM in winters (Closed on Tuesdays)
Entry Fee: ₹15 for Indians, and ₹150 for foreigners
14. Thiruvananthapuram Zoo
Photo: Amrit Chaitanya / Wikimedia Commons
Spanning across 55 acres of lush green land, Thiruvananthapuram Zoo is one of Asia’s oldest zoological parks. Established in 1859, this zoo has been through a great deal of renovation to transform the old enclosures with modern naturalistic habitats. Housing more than 82 species from all around the world, some of the noteworthy residents of this zoo include Royal Bengal tigers, and Asiatic lions. Located conveniently within the city walls, one must not miss out on the reptile house which showcases seven anacondas in addition to other venomous and non-venomous snakes.
Location: Kanaka Nagar, Nanthancodu, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
Timings: 9 AM – 5:15 PM (Closed on Mondays)
Entry Fee: For Indians: ₹20 for adults and ₹5 for Children (5 – 12 years); ₹150 for foreigners
15. Sepahijala Zoological Park
Photo: Nakornthai / Shutterstock / Image For Representation Only
Set at a distance of about 25 km from Agartala, Sepahijala Zoological Park is famed for being a home to the rare spectacled monkey. Though it serves as the unique attraction of the zoo, the zoological park is also a wildlife sanctuary that spans across 18.5 square kilometers in area. Hosting a variety of species like that of clouded leopards, spectacled monkeys, and numerous birds, the zoo also features a natural forest, a botanical garden, and a lake that enhances the experience of the visitors.
Location: Sepahijala District, Agartala, Tripura
Timings: 9 AM – 5 PM (Closed on Fridays)
Entry Fee: ₹10 for Indians, and ₹50 for foreigners
Most animals that are kept in zoos are a part of the wildlife breeding and rehabilitation programs. Plan to explore the different zoos in India and get a closer look at the exotic flora and fauna of the country now. Start planning your next vacation with TripXL and secure the best deals and get prompt confirmation of your bookings.
Cover Photo: Harshit Suryawanshi / Unsplash
