The Nandan Kanan zoo in Bhubaneswar is located around 15 km away from the main city of Bhubaneswar. The word Nandankanan means "Celestial Garden" in literal terms. It came into existence in the 1960s with its beautiful surroundings to amaze the tourists. Though it may seem and sound strange, the idea of the Zoo came up after an event occurring in Delhi.

History Of Nandan Kanan Zoo

In the 1960s, in Delhi, during the World Agricultural Fair, there was a huge display of animals from the state of Odisha. The display was quite prominent on its own. After the display was over, the sense of realization occurred that these animals needed a home of their own. And after all the hassles and selection for a specific area to build the location of the home, this site was selected. The area of Jujhagarh Forest block was selected for this Zoo. If you are planning to visit the Nandankanan zoo in the beautiful city of Bhubaneswar, follow this guide. You can go for our guide so that it is easy for you to choose your desired Bhubaneswar Tour Packages for places to visit in bhubaneshwar.

Nandan Kanan Environment

Nandan Kanan Zoo is in the natural setting of the environment. It is inside the forest area to provide a sense of natural habitat to the animals that are to be kept inside the Zoo. The natural setting makes it more appealing and gives a better look to the animals. The replication of the forest environment in the Zoo makes it easy for the animals to settle down, believing the space to be real and their own. They can easily feel at home in the environment. This aspect of Nandankanan makes it stand apart from the rest of the zoos. It helps the animals lead a healthy and homely life. 

The Nandan Kanan is prominent on its own due to various other achievements regarding the Zoo. We consider it is famous for especially white tigers and is the host house for them. The Nandan Kanan is also the first to keep the Gharials that were endangered species. They helped to create a breeding house for the endangered captives. 

Things To Do in Nandan Kanan Zoo

The zoo authority conducts several programs in the Zoo for little children. Schools have taken initiatives to bring children to explore the Zoo. They participate in various other competitions, such as drawing and naming the wildlife. It helps to develop the kids with the idea of animals that are in the Zoo. The awareness among children is also necessary to build their knowledge about the surroundings they live in. 

Odisha has opened new doors for these kinds of parks. The same thing attracts tourists to visit the beauty of the wild. The dense forests surrounding Nandankanan Park make it more beautiful. The attractive thing about this Zoo is its natural habitat and surroundings. It has also been referred to as the Garden of Pleasure. It is also known for exploring flora and fauna. These specifications make the Nandankanan more popular among tourists in Odisha. Among the special attractions, there are Bear Safari, Lion Safari, and the rare White Tiger Safari.
Botanical Garden

Another notable mention is the adjacent Botanical Park which was opened in 1963. The Botanical Garden has made itself the house for rare plants and trees. It complements the zoological park adjoining the area, showcasing both flora and fauna in the beautiful state of Odisha.