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Label : Top Attraction

Tags : Zoo

Time Required : 3-4 Hrs

Timings : February to April - 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM
May to July - 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM
August to October - 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM
November to January - 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM
Closed Every Monday

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Nawab Wajid Ali Shah Zoological Garden, Lucknow Overview

Located in the River Bank Colony, the Lucknow Zoo is a famous attraction in the city. Also known as the Nawab Wazid Ali Shah Prani Udyan, it was originally known as The Prince of Wales Zoological Gardens. The Lucknow Zoo is home to numerous mammals, birds and reptiles, the most famous ones being the royal Bengal tiger, white Bengal tiger, Himalayan black bear and Asiatic lion.

Established in 1921 by Nawab Nasiruddin Haider, this 71.6-acre zoo was established to celebrate the visit of the Prince of Wales to Lucknow. Housing over a thousand animals of hundred different species, the Lucknow Zoo also has a couple of activities such as a toy train ride through the zoo. The State Museum also displays Awadh artefacts at the Lucknow Zoo. Besides, several events such as Wildlife Week and Children's Day are celebrated here as well.

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Lucknow Zoo Ticket Prices

Above 12 years of age
1. Entrance Ticket (including Entry Ticket, Aquarium House, Nocturnal House, Nature Interpretation Centre): INR 60 (Ticket Window), INR 54 (Online)
2. Package ticket (including Entry Ticket, Aquarium House, Nocturnal House, Nature Interpretation Centre, Bal train, Battery Operated Vehicle): INR 100 (Ticket Window), INR 90 (Online)

5-12 years of age
1. Entry ticket ( including Entry Ticket, Aquarium House, Nocturnal House, Nature Interpretation Centre): INR 30 (Ticket Window), INR 27 (Online)
2. Package ticket (including Entry Ticket, Aquarium House, Nocturnal House, Nature Interpretation Centre, Bal train, Battery Operated Vehicle): INR 50 (Ticket Window), INR 45 (Online)

Entry below 5 Years of age: Free

Video Camera Ticket: INR 50
Morning Walk Pass: INR 100 (Monthly), INR 500 (Yearly)
10% concession on groups above 50 students is also available

Exhibits in Lucknow Zoo

The zoo is home to 463 mammals, 298 birds and 72 reptiles. It is one of the only two zoos in India to exhibit an orangutan (the other being the Kanpur Zoo). The other animals here are as follows:-

1. Carnivores: Bengal Tiger, White Tiger, Asiatic Lion, Wolf Indian, Leopard/Panther, Jackal , Common Fox, Himalayan black bear, Sloth bear, Leopard Cat, Fishing Cat, Palm Civet Cat, Hybrid Lion, Jungle Cat and Hyena. 
2. Herbivores: Black buck, Swamp deer, Chinkara, Indian Rhino, Giraffe, Hippopotamus, Zebra , Hog deer, Spotted deer, Sambar deer and Barking deer.
3. Primates: Hoolock Gibbon, Macaque Bonnet, Macaque Stump tailed, Rhesus Monkey, Common Langur, Lion tailed Monkey, Hamadryas baboon, Japanese Monkey and Chimpanzee.
4. Rodents: Indian Giant Squirrel, Flying Squirrel and Indian Porcupine.
5. Birds: Kalij pheasant, White peacock, Hill Myna, Indian Griffon, Spoon bill, Barheaded Goose, White Stork, Painted Stork, White Necked Stork, Black Necked Stork and Grey Heron among others. 
6. Reptile: Crocodile Marsh, Ghariyal, Indian Python, Indian Cobra, Viper, Rat Snake,Sand Boa, Earth Snake and Turtle.
7. Aquarium: Albino Tiger Shark , Albino walking cat fish, Albino Red Tail, Alligator gar, Angel, Black Widow Terata, Blue Gourami, Calico Gold, Common Corp, Common Gold, Crocodile fish, Fire Mouth, Flowerhorn, Golden Gourami, Kissing Gourami, Milan Corp and Molly among others. 
8. Nocturnal House: Barn Owl, Eagle Owl, Mottled Wood, Owlet Jungle, Indian Porcupine, Palm Civet Cat and Albino Porcupine.

Attractions at Lucknow Zoo

Toy Train
The toy train takes visitors into a safari-like experience as it tours through the entire zoo. Besides this train is also a great photo op and its recent renovation is an exclusive magnet for both children and adults. The revamped version of this toy train runs on an engine with 4 compartments

State Museum
One of the most interesting attractions of here is the Uttar Pradesh State Museum which houses an exhaustible collection of artefacts centred around the customs, habits, mythology and contemporary objects of Awadh, along with excavations related to the life of Lord Buddha.

Items such as Awadh's sculpture, bronzes, paintings, natural history & anthropological specimens, coins, textiles and decorative arts can be found here as well. An Egyptian Mummy and wooden sarcophagus, an inscribed wine jar bearing the name of Aurangzeb Alamgir, a jade Chamakali with the name Jahangir and the date 1036 AD, a 16th-century painting of a scene from the Kalpasutra are major attractions as well.

Vintage Train
A replica of the British times, the Vintage Train which was initially a dysfunctional 1924 artefact in the Laxmipur forest was further brought into the Lucknow Zoo. However, this train is not part of the rides here but is instead a historic exhibit from the colonial time. 

Butterfly Park
Inaugurated in 2018, the Butterfly Park is relatively a newer addition into the Lucknow Zoo. With over 28 vibrant species alongside a beautiful park, this park also offers educational information about these colourful creatures. However, the butterfly park would need an extra entry fee. 

Nature Interpretation Centre
This centre of the Lucknow Zoo is a mini version of a biological museum, as it houses informative pieces from an animal mapping system to well-preserved ostrich, emu and macaw eggs.

There are also different species of tiger cubs, along with a display of different forms of animal fur and skin, including that of lions, tigers, deers, pandas, snakes and other animals. The Nature Interpretation Centre also has a preserve of pugmarks of different rare and endangered animals including different tiger species.

How to Reach Wajid Ali Shah Zoological Garden

Situated just about a kilometre from the Lucknow city centre, the Lucknow Zoo is just an 8-minute walk. Besides autos, cabs and CNG buses, shared autos and cycle-rickshaws turn out much cheaper. The Hazratganj metro station is the nearest metro head, just about a 20-minute walk from the Lucknow Zoo.

History of Lucknow Zoo

The Prince of Wales Zoological Gardens was established in 1921 to commemorate the visit of His Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales to Lucknow. Generous donations were made for the purpose by prominent landlords and the leading citizens of the State, who donated resources for the construction of animal houses and cages. Moreover, animals were also donated by the elite which were then placed in the exhibition as well. 

To look over the proceedings, a committee was formed which constituted of the donors and other prominent citizens. Colonel Fanthorpe, Commissioner of Lucknow was appointed as the first President and Sheikh Maqbool Husain as first Secretary of the Commission. The Committee was registered under the Societies Registration Act on 17 August 1926. The layout of the zoo was designed by Mr. Lintle Bogla and 26 buildings along with cages were constructed at a total cost of Rs. 2,08,800.

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