Visiting a zoo comes with a lot of nostalgia, right? I guess all of us must have visited the zoo when we were kids. And now that a lot of us have kids and children in the family, it’s time to go back there again. Zoos are amazing places to visit and to stay amidst nature. With animals and birds and natural beauty this can be the ideal spot to enjoy a full day with your own family. The adults and senior citizens can reminisce their childhood memories. And the children will create new memories for themselves. This is something that you surely cannot miss out on. And if you are in Mysore then the Mysore Zoo should be a must visit place for sure.
No matter if you are staying in Mysore or visiting there, the Mysore Zoo should be a part of your itinerary. This is an old zoo and is popular as a tourist destination. The authorities had taken a lot of care in maintaining this zoo to its best. You will surely be able to have a good time if you are visiting here. Keep on reading this article as here I will mention all the information about Mysore Zoo. You can check out the Mysore Zoo photos and you would know exactly why you should visit this beautiful location. So read this article so that you can plan a successful trip to this location as soon as you can.
Mysore Zoo
Location of Mysore Zoo: Indiranagar, Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens, Mysore, Karnataka
Mysore Zoo timings:
The Mysore Zoo opening time is 8:30 am in the morning and it remains open till 5:30 pm in the evening on all days from Wednesday to Monday except Tuesdays. Tuesdays are closed days.
Mysore Zoo entry fee:
The Mysore Zoo ticket price differs on weekdays and weekends. On weekdays the ticket price is Rs. 50 per person for adults and Rs. 20 per person for children from 5 years to 12 years of age. However on weekdays and public holidays the ticket price is Rs. 60 per person for adults and Rs. 30 for children of 5 years to 15 years of age. Kids below 5 years old are free.
Also there is an additional charge for still cameras which is Rs. 20. And for video cameras the charge is Rs. 150.
Along with that there are additional charges for your vehicles as well. For cycles the charge is Rs. 5, for two wheelers the charge is Rs. 10. And for four wheelers like Jeep, Car and auto rickshaw the charge is Rs. 30. For a mini bus or a tempo the charge is Rs. 50 and for a bus it is Rs. 70.
How to reach Mysore Zoo
The Mysore Zoo is located at an accessible location so it would be quite easy to reach here actually. From the Mysore bus stand the zoo is only at a 3 km distance. You can easily take buses from nearby locations or cities to reach here. Also the Mysore Zoo is only 2 km away from the Mysore Palace. You can even club your visit to the zoo with the Mysore Palace as well. Auto rickshaws are also a convenient mode of transport to travel within the city itself so you can even opt for that. You can also hire a car or drive through your own vehicle to reach here as well. In case you are taking a trip in your private vehicle parking facilities are available at the entrance of the zoo itself. So parking would not be a hassle.
Best time to visit Mysore Zoo
The ideal months to visit here would be from October to March which are the cooler months. Even though this is an all year round destination, the winter months would still be more favourable for a visit here. You will be able to explore the place well if you are visiting during this time. And when it comes to the time of the day then there are some specific best times too. If you are especially interested in exploring the varieties of birds or in bird watching, then the ideal time to visit would be early in the morning. The morning time is the time of the day when the birds are most active. However the mammals are more active in the later part of the day in the evening.
However during the afternoon the animals usually prefer to rest so that might be a bad time to spot more animals. Also avoid visiting during the afternoon during the peak summer months. During this time most of the animals and birds stay hidden to save them from the sun. If you are visiting here during warmer months ideally the best time would be before 10:30 am and after 3:30 pm. So plan your visit accordingly.
History of Mysore Zoo
At first the Mysore Zoo was popular as Khasa Bangle or Private Bungalow. This zoo was not always this huge. Primarily the area of this zoo was spread over only 10 acres. Mostly this area was popular for housing varieties of birds. In 1892 the zoo came under the control of different rulers and their rule. However it mostly flourished under the rule of Mysore ruler Chamarajendra Wadiyar Bahadur. It was also popular with the name Palace Zoological Garden. In 1907 additional 6.22 acres of land merged with the zoo and later it again increased. Later in 1909 it was named as Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Garden. This was a way to show respect and give tribute to the then king of Mysore Raja Chamarajendra Wadiyar Bahadur. It was under his maximum efforts that this zoo flourished.
During the visits of the king to various countries of Europe and Africa he would bring along animals that he loved. From Giraffe, to Bears, Chimpanzee, Antelope, Primates he brought a lot of animals here. This zoo has always been a home to many rare animals as well and has created a niche for itself. Some of the Mysore Zoo animals that had been here in the past are California Sea Lion, American Bison, Guanaco, Secretary Bird, Polar Bear, Penguin, Kangaroo and White Elephant.
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What’s more?
Gradually with time the zoo flourished more and more. Both the Rajas of Mysore along with the Government took extra effort in maintaining and sheltering more animals here. In 1948 the Horticulture Department got the official control of this zoo from the Royalty. Later in 1972 the Forest Department gained official control. In 2001 all the zoos in the state came under the direct control of Zoo Authority of Karnataka. After the initial area of 10. 3 acres of the zoo, 6.22 acres merged and later it increased to 45 acres and then to 80 acres. And all of that happened over the course of time.
Fauna at Mysore Zoo
Mysore Zoo is especially popular for its huge variety of faunal population. And what makes it even more special is the fact this zoo also houses a variety of rare species as well. One of the major attractions here is the presence of all three species of Rhinos here. This is the only Indian zoo that houses all the three varieties of Rhino namely white, black and the Indian Rhino. Other than that you will also find Sloth Bear, Nilgiri Langur, Brown Bear, Brown Lemur, Himalayan Bear, Chimpanzee, Orangutan etc here.
The Mysore Zoo is also popular for the tigers as well. It is one of the centers popular for the fast multiplication in the population of tigers. A lot of animals here are names in the list of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources.
Another great feature of this zoo is the way it follows the adoption and rearing of the animals here. A lot of endangered species find this zoo as their home for their conservation and protection. A lot of exotic animals stay here in the natural environment to create awareness about their protection. First time in India in 1977 a pair of Orangutans, Gorillas and some Chimpanzees came. This zoo has also successfully raised young cubs of leopards, calves of elephants and tigers as well.
In 1986 a pair of Giraffes came here, and also the authorities brought a pair of Red Kangaroos from Washington. Along with that rare species like Red Ibis, Hanuman Langurs, Indian Rhinoceros, White Peafowl etc were a part of this zoo.
At present you will find animals like Zebras, Giraffes, White Deer, Bears, African Elephants, Porcupines, Tapir, Otters etc here.
Birds
Among birds you will find Silver Pheasant, Gold Pheasant, Blue Peacock, and White Peacocks here. Also Hornbill, Ostrich, Spoonbill, Sarus Crane, Pelican, Painted Stork, Love Birds, varieties of Eagles, Parrots, Vultures etc are found here.
Reptiles
The zoo also houses reptiles like Python. King Cobras, Cobras, Crocodiles, Alligators and Star Studded Turtles etc.
Flora in Mysore Zoo
A lot of exotic species of plants are present at this zoo which are major attractions here. The zoo presents a vast range of ornamental plants and trees here. Some of them are native while some of them are brought from outside the country as well. Almost around 85 different species of trees are present here. Along with that there are 35 varieties of ornamental plants. The flora in the zoo does not only beautify the location. In a way the flora here also helps in building a favourable environment that further helps the sustenance of the animals and birds here.
Wrapping Up!
The Mysore Zoo is one of the most popular tourist places in Mysore. This zoo records a footfall of over 2 million visitors in a single year. So now you can already understand how popular this zoo is. And after reading this article I am sure you have understood the reason behind its popularity too. The zoo in Mysore is popular for the way it maintains the animals and raises them. It is one of the best zoos that you can visit not only in the country but also in the world.
The Mysore Zoo should surely be a part of your itinerary if you are ever visiting Mysore. You will surely love spending a whole day here with your friends and family. So let me know if this article on the zoo is helpful for you in planning a trip to this beautiful location. Also let me know when you are planning a visit to this zoo.
