Odisha’s Nandankanan gears up to host tourists for Christmas and New Year

Bhubaneswar: Festive seasons are a time when people want to spend quality time with loved ones while setting aside the wintry weekends for picnics and family outings.

In tune with the festive spirit, Nandankanan Zoological Park is also busy making arrangements to handle the increasing footfall during this time of the year. Keeping this in view, additional ticket counters have been opened and extra police forces, fire extinguishing services and medical aid stationed at the zoo to ensure safety of sightseers.

Furthermore, general public is prohibited from using plastic materials, polythene bags and cooked food on the premises. Guests are also forbidden from teasing the residents of the zoo and throwing food into their enclosures. A special squad has been positioned to keep an eye on pickpockets and snatchers.

Here’s a peek into the pricing and facilities at Nandankanan Zoological Park and Botanical Garden:

Parking fees

Additional area of 400 sq feet have been allotted as parking space for tourists during this season. Two and three-wheelers will be charged Rs. 30, four-wheelers Rs. 100 and heavy motor vehicles like buses and trucks Rs. 200.

Entry fees

Entry fees for international and local tourists have been fixed at Rs. 100 and Rs. 40, respectively. Similarly, the ticket to access Botanical Garden is priced at Rs. 20. While children below 12 years need no tickets in Botanical Garden, Rs. 10 has been affixed for admission into the zoo.

Picnic reservations

Nandankanan has a spread of 12 small picnic pindis, 54 large pindis, 9 special pindis and 8 picnic sheds in the Botanical Garden area, priced at Rs. 300, Rs. 550, Rs. 1300 and Rs. 1600, respectively. Furthermore, four cottages in the same location are rated at Rs. 2600 each.

Other charges

A handycam is allowed into the zoo and Botanical Garden with a payment of Rs. 100. Similarly, video recording is permitted after depositing an amount of Rs. 500. Two-seater paddle boat can be booked at Rs. 35, 4-seater paddle boat at Rs. 70 and family boat at Rs. 120, for a duration of 30 minutes. While battery-operated vehicles can be hired at Rs. 50 for each individual, an 8-seater can be hired for Rs. 500 and 14-seater for Rs. 750.