Bhubaneswar & beyond · White tigers & Asia's first tiger safari
Nandankanan Zoological Park
A 400-hectare zoo-in-a-forest famous for white tigers, a walk-through aviary, lion & tiger safaris, botanical garden and Kanjia lake boating.
History & legend
Nandankanan ('Garden of the Gods') opened on 29 December 1960 inside the Chandaka forest beside Kanjia lake after animals meant for a Delhi exhibition were housed here. It made zoological history in 1980 when white tiger cubs were born to normal-coloured parents, founding a lineage now spread to zoos worldwide, and it was the first Indian zoo to breed the gharial in captivity (1980), the melanistic tiger and the pangolin. In 2009 it became the first Indian zoo to join the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums, and its white tiger safari, opened in 1991, was India's first.
Timings
7:30 AM – 5:30 PM (Apr–Sep) · 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Oct–Mar) · Closed Mondays
Best time to visit
Weekday mornings, October–February
Entry fee
₹50 adults · ₹10 children · Safari ₹100–200
Approx. cab from Puri (one way)
₹1,875 · 75 km × ₹25/km
Don't miss
- White tiger safari
- Reptile park
- Kanjia lake boating
- Botanical garden
Local tip: Closed on Mondays. Buy safari tickets first — they sell out by noon.
On the map
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