One of the most prominent tourist destinations in Delhi, the National Zoological Park is popular among all age groups. Most of the footfall witnessed here comprise kids and wildlife explorers. It is also the favourite weekend destination among the Delhiites. Established in 1959, the park offers a unique opportunity to see a wide variety of animals, reptiles, and species of birds. There are two pathways, one which leads to the library and the other that houses rare species of animals and birds, like - Hippopotamus, White Tiger, Spider Monkey, Gir Lion, Hyena, Axis deer, Peafowl, Hog Deer, Banteng, Emu, Macaque, African Wild Buffalo, and many more.
The zoo remains open all days of a week from 9 am to 4:30 pm and the ticket prices are:
- Rs. 40/person for adults
- Rs. 20/person for children
- Rs. 100/person for foreigners
History of National Zoological Park
Carl Hagenbeck of the Zoological Garden of Hamburg was hired to draw the plans for the zoo. The plan, after undergoing some modifications, was approved by the Indian government in 1956. The National Zoological Park was inaugurated in the year 1959. Its name, at first, was just Delhi Zoo. Only in 1982, was it renamed to be National Zoological Park. It was done in the hopes that it would stand as a model for other zoos in India.
Major Attractions in and Around National Zoological Park
1. The NRI Birds
These bright and colourful birds are a sight for sore eyes and a must-visit for bird lovers. Right from Australian native birds to the African region ones, this place houses them all.
2. African Elephant
The famous African elephant named 'Shankar' is a gift to the former President Shankar Dayal Sharma by the Zimbabwe government.
3. The White Tiger
The six white tigers in the zoo, definitely steal the show with their beauty and roars. These white tigers, the major attraction of the zoo, will leave you lovestruck with the beauty that nature has bestowed upon them. Out of all the people, 50 per cent of them come here to see them.
4. Hog Deer
The adventurous Hog Deer is one of the most interesting animals in the zoo. You can see several hog deer roaming around in their zone.
5. Python and Indian Cobra
There is also a section where Snakes are kept. In this section, one can see a variety of snakes including Python and Indian Cobra.
6. Khan Market
An elite market for the wealthy! Right from the top brands to best eating joints, this place has it all and much more.
7. Asia Tea House
A paradise for the tea lovers! This amazing tea house is only about a mile away from the zoo. Here, you will get to taste different organic teas originating from India’s favourite regions, Darjeeling and Assam.
How to Reach National Zoological Park
Delhi is situated at a distance of about 1,424, 1,534, 2,178 km from some of the prominent metropolitan cities like Mumbai, Kolkata, and Bengaluru respectively. Check out the details on how you can reach here by the following means of public transport.
By Air
The nearest airport is Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi situated just a few kilometres away from the park. The airport is well-connected to other major cities of India as well as overseas. Once you reach the airport, you can hire a bus, taxi, metro (Pragati Maidan Station on Blue line) or auto for the park.
- From Patna - Board Spicejet, IndiGo, Go Air flights from Patna Airport. The airfares start from INR 5,000-6,000
- From Kochi - Board Spicejet, Vistara, Air India flights from Kochi Airport. The airfares start from INR 5,000-6,000
- From Surat - Board IndiGo, Spicejet flights from Surat Airport. The airfares start from INR 3,000-4,000
Popular Domestic Flights to Delhi
By Rail
The nearest railway station is New Delhi Railway Station which is well-linked to other major cities of India and has frequent train services across the country. Once you reach the station, you can hire a bus, auto, or taxi to reach the park.
By Road
Delhi has advance roadways that are well-connected to other neighbouring cities of states like Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, and Punjab. If you want to go by your own vehicle, choose two roadways Rao Tularam Marg and Thimayya Marg which will take 40-49 minutes to reach the park.
- From Amritsar - 464 km via NH44
- From Agra - 207 km via Taj Express Highway
- From Aligarh - 138 km via Yamuna Expressway
You can plan your trip and create your own route to the city with Adotrip’s technically driven circuit planner. Click here
