Amidst lush green forest along the banks of Kanjia lake, lies Nandankanan Zoological Park which together with lake and Botanical garden is declared as sanctuary (4.4. sq. km.).

The park is set in a beautiful natural setting and is one of the finest parks in the country with natural enclosures unlike other conventional zoos. It has an open Lion Safari and first zoo in the world, where gharials have bred in captivity.

It boas;s of a beautiful botanical garden too. Other items of tourists attractions, nocturnal animal house, reptile toy train ride, rope-way ride across a natural lake and facilitiesitor boating in the lake. As it is located in just 15 km. away from Bhubaneswar, it remains crowded throughout the year.

The Reptile park’s cave like entrance is guarded by a lifesize tyrannosaurus inside numerous species of crocodiles, lizards,turtles and snakes share the park with natural ease.

67 kinds of mammals

18 varieties of reptiles

81 species of birds coexist in the deeply forest boundaries.
The zoo enjoys an excellent reputaion ,internationally,for successfully breeding black panthers , gharial crocodiles and white tigers in capitivity.

Gharial

For the first time ever , a captive breeding centre was created for Gharial crocodilies . This important task was also facilitate by the gift of an adult male from the FRANKFURT ZOO.

White Tiger

One of the rarest creature in the World , the regal white tiger ,received the new lease of life with the important reaserch and concereted efforts initiated to try and breed then in the natural invirons of Nandankanan . 1980 on a day full exitement and jubilation, the first litter of White tigers were born to Deepak and Ganga , to twany tiger . Subsiquent litters of white tigers have been distributad to zoos both at home and abroad.Currently, Nandankanan is home to over 34 white tigers.

Safari

The White Tiger Safari , established in 1991,offers visitors the heady exitement of viewing the rare white tigers from specially designed protected bushes. The lion safari offers an adventurous zing to the trip to Nandankanan.

The lion safari first of its kind in the world spalws over forested land of 20 hectares with a 3km. motorable road.That’s make a visit to the park more interesting. The 620 metres long aerial rope -way transports the visitors across the lake to see botanical garden having many rare and endangered species of flora from different parts of the world.A first of its kind in any indian zoo. Disabled and elderly person who cannot move through the large park on foot ,find it very interesting to use this pollution and noise free transport system which goes round the park. The white tiger safari spreads over an area of 12 hectares with motorable roads inside .The visitors move inside the park in protected vehicles of authority.It takes you straight into the prides of lions and right in front of the majestic tigers.

Picnic

Nandankanan’s beatifully versatile environs offer the tourists a great opertunity to be advanturous or laid back……If you donot feel like tearing aroud sighting animals and watching the birds,you can settle down to a leisurly picnic and mid-afternoon nap under the trees .If you feel a little more energetic you can meander along one of their nature trail.

Boating

Boating in Kanjia lake on paddle or row boats in the clear blue waters is an exhilarating experience. Unique is the 50 hectars of beautiful water lake spread area named ” kangia ” which attracts large numbers of resident and migratory birds like whistling teal, cotton teal, darter, purple moorhen, herons, jacana etc. Boating in lake in the clear blue waters is an exhilarating experience.

How To Reach:

Air : The nearest airport is situated at Bhubaneswar, 20 kms away.
Rail : Bhubaneswar is the nearest railhead.
Road : Bhubaneswar is 25-kms from the zoo, on the way to Odisha