Five ways to see Nandankanan — from a safari bus in lion territory to a slow boat across Kanjia Lake.
Ride through open enclosures shaped like their native sal forest and meet the park's most famous residents — bred here since the 1980s.
Reserve a slotRoll past Asiatic lions on one loop, then swap onto an open trail shared by spotted deer, blackbuck, and sambar.
Reserve a slotCross the lake by cable car to reach the botanical garden — the only aerial crossing at any Indian zoo.
Reserve a slotOne of eastern India's largest freshwater and marine collections, tucked beside the reptile park.
Reserve a slot
Nandankanan runs one of the world's most closely studied white tiger breeding programmes, and in 2007 became the first zoo anywhere to successfully breed the melanistic (black-striped) tiger.
Every safari ticket funds that work — habitat upkeep, veterinary care, and a species recovery programme run jointly with the Odisha Forest Department.
Feeding times and keeper talks change with the season — this is a typical weekday running order.
| 10:00 AM | Gates open |
| 11:00 AM | Reptile Park keeper talk |
| 12:30 PM | White Tiger Safari — first departure |
| 1:30 PM | Elephant enclosure feeding |
| 3:00 PM | Aquarium tour |
| 3:45 PM | Ropeway — last crossing to botanical garden |
| 4:30 PM | Last entry to safaris |
| 5:00 PM | Park closes |
Open daily, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Last entry at 4:30 PM. Closed on select government holidays.
Chandaka forest range, off NH16, about 15 minutes from Bhubaneswar city centre and Biju Patnaik Airport.
Carry water and light cottons; safari queues move fastest before noon. Wheelchairs available at the main gate.
A few words from people who made the trip to Chandaka forest.
The white tiger safari alone is worth the drive from the city — we saw four tigers in under twenty minutes.
Crossing the lake by ropeway to reach the botanical garden was unlike anything we'd done at a zoo before.
Well shaded, well signed, and the keeper talk at the reptile park kept our kids engaged for a full hour.
Unlimited entry for a year, priority safari booking, and a standing invitation to keeper talks and conservation open days.
