Darjeeling’s Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park – Things to know
Address: Darjeeling - Jorethang Rd, Near Birch Hill Resort, Jawahar Parbat, Darjeeling, West Bengal 734101
Opening time: During summer 8.30 am – 4.30 pm, winter 8.30 am – 4.00 pm (Closed on Thursday)
Entry Fee: INR 100 (extra for the camera – still or video)
Famous for: Scenic beauty and chance to see stunning Himalayan cats
How to reach: On-call taxi or auto-rickshaws could be hired to reach the place
Located on the steep Himalayan mountain ridges, Darjeeling is also fondly referred to as the Queen of the Hills. Surrounded by gorgeous tea plantations and giant mountains, this small hill town is a popular tourist spot of West Bengal. The architecture belonging to the British era, beautiful mural clad Buddhist monasteries, and the romantic toy trains are some of the popular attractions of this quaint little hill station.
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The Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park in Darjeeling is among the popular tourist destinations of the city. Recognized as one of the well-maintained zoological parks of India, the institution works towards preserving the Himalayan flora and fauna. Established in 1958, the place is home to animals like the Asiatic black bear, Himalayan wolf, and the rare red panda. The institution is also known as Darjeeling Zoo among locals. Being close to the important landmarks of the hill town, the institution is frequently visited by locals as well as tourists.
Here is an ultimate guide to exploring the institution.
History of the Himalayan Zoo
Spread in the area of 67.56 acres, the zoo is one of the largest high altitude zoological parks of India. Established in 1958, the objective of the Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park was to study and protect Himalayan wildlife from the dangers of poaching and hunting. In the 1970s, the institution was renamed after Smt. Padmaja Naidu, an important Indian freedom fighter and politician.One of the prized exhibits of the zoo is the pair of Siberian tigers gifted to the Government of India by then-Soviet Premier in the 1960s. Apart from these gorgeous cats, the institute is home to stunning snow leopards, gorals (mountain goat), and several endangered birds.
Among some important achievements, the Darjeeling Zoo has successfully undertaken captive breeding of several Himalayan wildlife animals. As a prime institution, the zoo is working towards educating and increasing awareness among visitors towards protecting the Himalayan Eco-system.
Exploring the Darjeeling zoo
Darjeeling’s Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park is an interesting place that emulates the natural habitat condition of the resident alpine animals. Close to the entrance gate, the aviary section of the zoo houses several beautiful and colorful aviary birds like Hill Mynas, Blue Gold Macaw, Ring-Necked Pheasants, and Rose Ring Parakeets.From the aviary section, several roads diverge in different directions offering visitors a chance to pick their preferred route. The straight road uphill would take the tourists to stunning Himalayan Black Bears that are found in the mountains of Nepal, India, Tibet, and China.
Past the bears' enclosure, lies the Himalayan Yaks. As the tourists move further, the paved path takes them to the Himalayan cats like Snow Leopards, Indian Tigers, black leopard, and rare Siberian Tigers. Also, the Tibetan Wolves could be found in the given enclosure.
Some of the popular exhibits of this beautiful zoo are Blue Sheep, Sambhar Deer, Barking Deer, Himalayan Tahr, Goral, and Musk Deer. Also, the cute Red Pandas are one of the popular attractions of the given institution. In addition, huge collections of amphibians and reptiles could be found in the Darjeeling Zoo.
Things to Remember While Visiting the Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park in Darjeeling
1. Plastic is harmful to the environment and it is strictly forbidden to enter the zoo with non-bio degradable materials.2. Disturbing the animals is a complete no-no
3. Petting the wild animals could be dangerous and strictly prohibited
4. Refrain from entering the animal enclosure
What Next?
After a memorable trip to the zoo, you can enjoy the rest of the exploring the different landmarks of Darjeeling. Some of the must-visit places of this hill town include:1. Darjeeling-Rangeet Ropeway
It is an interesting way to observe the mesmerizing beauty of Darjeeling, a cult favorite among tourists. The ropeway runs between the North Point of Darjeeling to Singla, providing the stunning view of the emerald-green Bijanbari valley.2. Lloyd's Botanical Garden
It’s is A popular tourist destination of Darjeeling, well known for its stunning landscape and breathtaking view. Named after the owner of the Lloyd Banks, William Lloyd, the place attracts nature lovers.Some other popular attractions of the area include:
• Tenzing and Gombu Rock
• Batasia Loop
• Observatory Hill
• Natural History Museum
More Attractions in Darjeeling:
Darjeeling Ghum Monastery Where You Can Overlooking the Himalayas