Zoos hold a special position in many of our lives. And if you have been to zoos in your childhood then I am sure they remain as a nostalgic memory in your mind as well. So if you are in Mumbai then you can simply reminisce all those old memories by visiting the Mumbai Zoo Park. Also if you have children in your family you can create some new memories with them by visiting the Mumbai Zoo. The Mumbai Zoo Byculla is one of the oldest zoos and one of the richest too. So if you are ever visiting Mumbai then you must plan a visit to this zoo. Keep on reading this article as here I will mention everything that you need to know about the Mumbai Zoo. This will surely be a helpful read for you if you are planning a visit to the Mumbai Zoo.
Mumbai Zoo Park
Address: The Mumbai Zoo address is 91 A Lalbaug Flyover, Byculla East, Near Railway Station, Mazgaon, Mumbai, Maharashtra
Timings: The Mumbai Zoo timings are from 9 am to 6 pm on all days except Wednesday. Wednesday is closed day
Entry fee: Mumbai Zoo ticket price is Rs. 100 per person for adults. This includes a visit to the Humboldt Penguins Room. For children from 3 years to 12 years of age the entry fee is Rs. 25 per person. With valid ID cards the senior citizens will get a free entry. Also if you are visiting in a group there can be some discounts which you need to check at the ticket counter itself. And for Camera there is an additional charge of Rs. 100. Mobile photography is free of cost.
How to reach
By air
If you are traveling by air then the nearest airport to reach here would be the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport. From the airport the Zoo is located at a distance of 15.2 km. And it would take about 45 minutes to reach the zoo from the airport.
By train
If you are travelling by train then the nearest railway station to reach the zoo is the Mumbai Central Railway Station. From there the zoo is located at a distance of 3.4 km and you can reach there in about 15 minutes. Another major railway station to reach the Mumbai Zoo Park is the Chhatrapati Shivaji Railway Terminus which is 5.9 km away. And it would take around 17 minutes to reach the zoo from the station. And in case of local railway stations the Byculla Railway Station is the closest railway station to reach the zoo. From the Byculla Railway Station the zoo is located at a distance of 850 meters and you can reach there in just 3 minutes. You will get cabs from all the railway stations to reach the zoo.
By road
The location of the zoo is in an accessible area so you can travel from anywhere to reach the location. If you are travelling within the city itself then you can opt for the city buses. There are multiple private as well as public buses to reach the zoo. Also if you are travelling from nearby major locations then also buses are a convenient mode of travelling that you can opt for as well. You can get regular buses from locations like Pune, Nashik, Nagpur, Ahmedabad etc to reach here conveniently. The nearest bus stop to reach the Mumbai Zoo Park is the Mumbai Central Bus Depot which is one of the major bus stops.
However if you wish to travel by your own vehicle you can do that as well. There are multiple ways to reach there via cabs or you can take a car as well. From various locations of the city it is possible to take hired cars or you can opt for app cabs as well to reach there. Even if you are travelling from various locations the roadways are well connected.
Best time to visit
The ideal time to visit a location like a zoo would always be cooler months from November to February. This would ensure that the weather is comfortable and in turn you would be able to explore the whole area well. The visit to the zoo moreover will include a lot of walking as well so if the weather is comfortable obviously it would be more helpful. You can come here during the evening to avoid major crowds. Also keep in mind that mostly the weekends are the most crowded days for a visit here. Comparatively the weekdays are better in terms of crowd. So plan your visit to the Mumbai Zoo accordingly.
Overview of Mumbai Zoo
The Mumbai Zoo Park is one of the most popular locations to visit in Mumbai with your whole family. And if you are searching for one such spot that your little one would surely love a lot then nothing can beat this location. The official Mumbai Zoo name is Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan. Located in the Byculla area very close to the Byculla railway station the Mumbai Zoo is also one of the oldest zoos in the country. Also popular as the Rani Baug Zoo, the establishment of the zoo goes back to 1861 and it is one of the most fascinating locations that an animal lover can visit. Other than regular birds and animals which are common in many zoos one of the specialities here is the Penguin in Mumbai Zoo which the authorities introduced very recently.
The Mumbai Zoo Park has a great collection of swamp deers, hyenas, tigers and much more. However other than the animals this zoo is also famous for its floral variety as well. You will find a very impressive and sprawling botanical garden here that spreads across an area of 50 acres. The complex also houses a museum inside its premises as well. This is a popular location to visit in Mumbai. However for both locals as well as tourists this is a popular spot in the city. Especially if you have children in your family then they will definitely love a visit to this zoo. To witness the animals in their most natural habitat this is a perfect location. So if you are in Mumbai then definitely include the Mumbai Zoo Park in your list of must visit places.
History of Mumbai Zoo
At first the establishment of the Mumbai Zoo came up with the formation of a Botanical Garden. After the establishment of a Botanical Garden in 1861 the official name of the garden was Victoria Gardens. However later the residents of the area started calling the park as Ranichi Bagh, which is the Queen’s Garden. After 30 years the park extended its area to become the Mumbai Zoo Park. A Jewish businessman David Sassoon handed over his own private zoo to the government. And therefore that took the form of the zoo. But there were a lot of renovations and revamping later and finally the present form of the zoo came up. Even after the official name of the zoo being Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan people still call this zoo as Rani Baugh or Rani Bagh. However the zoo is also popular as the Byculla Zoo and Mumbai Zoo.
Things to enjoy at Mumbai Zoo
Explore the Zoo Campus
The Zoo campus here is one of the major attractions and the visitors love exploring that too. You will find a mix of both common animals and rare breeds here. From sloth bears to jackals, swamp deers to crocodiles the variety here is huge. You will also find elephants, hyenas, leopards and hippos in the zoo here as well.
Aquatic Bird’s Aviary
This is yet another major highlight of visiting the Mumbai Zoo Park. Also this aviary is one of the latest creations in the zoo and is one of the popular attractions too. There is a wooden bridge here where you can take a walk. Along with that you can spot various birds here, interact with them and click pictures too. The chirping colourful birds create a very beautiful ambiance here and you are surely going to like it. The variety of birds here includes flamingos, pelicans, cranes, herons, albino crows, storks etc.
The Penguins’ Room
This is yet another newest addition in this zoo and is one of the most unique things to enjoy here as well. There are 7 beautiful Humboldt Penguins here which are from Seoul. To keep them in the zoo the authorities had made special arrangements here. They have kept these penguins in cool chambers so that it can feel like their natural habitat which is mostly on the cool side.
Botanical Garden
This is a beautiful section of the Mumbai Zoo Park with more than 3000 trees, flowering plants, shrubs, bushes etc. For a nature lover it would be alluring to visit here and explore the varieties of plants here. You will find a huge collection here including Tree of Heaven, Indian Banyan, Rose from Venezuela, Flame of the forest or Palash, Beggar’s Bowl, Cannon Ball and a lot more.
Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum
This is a museum located inside the premises of the zoo and is also one of the oldest museums in the city. Earlier popular as the Victoria and Albert Museum this is a rich museum when it comes to the exhibits here. Named after Dr. Bhau Daji Lad the museum was renamed to honour his contributions in 1975. Here you will find a great variety of historical photographs of the city, archeological artifacts and statues etc. Moreover the museum also houses the famous Kala Ghoda statue. Along with that you will also find the rock cut elephant statue here from the Elephanta Caves.
Other than all of these there are still a lot of zones in the museum that you can explore. It has a 75 feet high Clock Tower which is 75 feet high. It is built following the Italian style of architecture. Along with that you will also find a statue of Shivaji Maharaj and his mother Jijjabai here as well.
Wrapping Up!
So that was all about the Mumbai Zoo Park and now you simply need to plan a visit here. It would be a whole day of fun that you can enjoy amidst animals, birds as well as nature. So when are you planning a trip to the Mumbai Zoo? And also do not forget to let me know if this article is helpful for you in planning a trip to this Zoo in Mumbai.
