Alipore Zoological Garden
Opened 1876 — India’s oldest formally constituted zoological park, on 18.8 hectares.
Alipore Zoological Garden
The Alipore zoological garden opened to the public on 6 May 1876 and is India’s oldest formally constituted zoological park — as distinct from the royal and colonial menageries that came before it. It covers 18.8 hectares in south Kolkata, which makes it a garden as much as a zoo, and for much of the twentieth century its best-known resident was not a big cat but Adwaita, an Aldabra giant tortoise reputed to have been over 250 years old when he died in 2006. It is a civic institution that the city uses heavily, particularly in winter, and it is at its best early in the day before the crowds and the heat arrive.
Explore Alipore Zoological Garden on the map
City locations, drawn from our published destination data. Attractions, hotels and restaurants are not mapped yet.
What to see
A nineteenth-century garden layout with the collection set into it.
The grounds
- The mature garden planting and the lake, which are the reason it reads as a park.
- The older enclosure architecture, which is part of the site’s own history.
The collection
- Indian mammals and birds make up the core of what is on show.
- Adwaita, the Aldabra giant tortoise who died here in 2006 at a reputed age of over 250, remains the animal the zoo is known for.
Getting there
In Alipore, south of the Maidan.
By metro and road
- The metro reaches south Kolkata; the zoo is a short ride from the nearest stations.
- Taxis and app cabs go directly to the gates.
- It is a straightforward pairing with Kalighat or the Victoria Memorial on the same side of the city.
Best time
Winter mornings, and not on a public holiday.
When to go
- October to February is both the comfortable season and the busiest.
- Early morning is when the animals are active and the grounds are quiet.
- Public holidays and Sundays in winter are extremely busy; a weekday is a different visit.
Visitor intelligence
Practical notes for a civic zoo rather than a wildlife park.
Practical
- Check the weekly closing day before planning around it.
- The grounds are large and shaded in parts; comfortable shoes matter more than anything else.
- Feeding animals is prohibited, as is entering with single-use plastic in many Indian zoos — check at the gate.
Nearby
South Kolkata, within a short ride.
Frequently asked
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