The 10 Largest Zoos in India

If you’re traveling to India, you’re highly likely to see all types of wild animals right on the street. Monkeys running around and cows passing by restlessly are common sights.

But if you take the time to visit some of the biggest zoos in India you can also see rare exotic animals such as the white tiger and elephants.

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10. Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park

If you like poisonous animals such as snakes, this is the best zoo in India to visit. Just recently inaugurated, this zoo only has 2 decades of existence and a name for itself as an attraction for snake fans.

It even has a dedicated area of the zoo (about one-third of its surface) for the snakes. But when you’re a bit overwhelmed by snakes, you can easily transition to the rest of the zoo to see other animals as well.

9. Mysore Zoo

If you’re visiting Mysore Castle, you also need to make time to visit the Mysore Zoo. This is the place where you can see elephants and monkeys. More than 100 animal species are found here.

But many westerners are intrigued by the zoo’s business plan. It sells trees for a profit which ensures its continuity offering it the money to take care of its beloved animals. The zoo is an entire small ecosystem.

8. Sanjay Gandhi Jaivik Udyan

This zoo has a small surface but it has plenty of animals to see. If you’re traveling with children, you can stop here and admire the white Asian tiger.

A few zebras are also found here. Rhinos can be seen in the zoo’s areas with plenty of mud and water where they like to sit and relax in the sun.

7. National Zoological Park

This zoo is one with a strategic role in India. If you’re in Delhi, you need to set a day aside to visit it. The zoo comes with over 1.000 species of animals and it runs like a park. This means animals here are free to roam around and you’ll have to walk a lot to see where they live.

But this also means animals here have the best life in comparison to other confined zoos. Inaugurated more than a few decades ago, this historic zoo also runs a successful breeding program for endangered species.

6. Sakkarbaug Zoological Garden

This Gujarat zoo is the first to be established in India. Its historic role has been seen over the years as it offers various animals to other zoos as a result of overpopulation and successful breeding programs.

Hundreds of species of birds are found here and you can enjoy seeing them in real life if you take the time to walk the zoo which is made up of hundreds of little enclosed spaces to keep the species separated.

5. Nehru Zoological Park

This large zoo has an equally impressive population of animals and birds. It is also one that organizes tours for visitors so that you can get up close and see these animals with your eyes.

It has been established a few decades ago and since then, it still gets mostly public funds to survive. If you’re a fan of lions, reptiles, and tigers, it can be the right zoo for you.

4. Assam Zoo

It would take more than a full day to see everything there is to see at the Assam Zoo. Tourists who venture into the Northern part of India can visit this zoo themselves. The good problem to have here is that there’s a large Assam Botanical Garden to see here as well.

While the animal population is lower than at the Nehru Zoological Park, the Assam Zoo complex is one that isn’t truly rivaled in outdoor experiences by many other zoos in the world since you can spend a few days here admiring flora and fauna with your family.

3. Alipore Gardens

Unlike Assam Zoo, Alipore Gardens is mostly run by private funds. This zoo is one that impresses those who want to see thousands of animals. This zoo is also one of the oldest in the world since it already passed its 100th birthday. But you mostly come here to see animals native to India such as the Indian elephant that has been featured in so many Bollywood movies.

You can also see other large animals here running around just as in-state parks but the care they get here tends to be a bit better.

2. Gandhi Zoo

Sanjay Gandhi Zoo and Botanical gardens also offer a top combination of outdoor activities for the entire family. You mostly see exotic animals here. We highly recommend getting a guided tour to find out more about these animals.

But these tours can also teach visitors a few things about the best breeding programs and how the Gandhi Zoo acts as a breeding ground for species of alligators and bears which can even be sent over to other zoos in India once grown.

1. Arignar Anna Zoological Park

First opened to the public in 1855, this is also one of the oldest zoos in India and the world. Planned like a park and not like a zoo, this is the place where animals feel right at home. It now has nearly 1600 species of birds, animals, and fish. This makes it the largest in India for the population of animals but it is also the largest when it comes to the surface it covers.

The gigantic zoo with a total surface of over 6 square kilometers allows kids to get close to certain types of animals. If you’d like to photograph rhinoceros in their natural habitat, this is the best place to do it. Some specific types of Indian plants and trees are also grown here so that you can get a better understanding of how these animals would act out in the wild.

Since its excellent airport proximity, this zoo is an excellent layover idea as well. A visit to Chennai city is also highly recommended for those in the area.