Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Zoo

The zoo is located on an area of ​​about 19 hectares and is perfectly maintained. Officially known as Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan, the Mumbai Zoo is located in the Byculla area. It is the only zoo in Mumbai and one of the oldest zoos in India.

Mumbai Zoo started as a botanical garden in 1861. Back then, it was called Victoria Garden. After that, residents started calling it Ranichi Bagh (Queen's Garden). It expanded into a zoo 30 years later. David Sassoon, a Jewish businessman, handed over his private zoo to the government, and after much development and remodeling, the new Mumbai Zoo took the shape it is today.

Even after it was renamed Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan, people still call it Rani Baugh (or Bagh) or Byculla Zoo. This zoo has a wide variety of birds and animals, including penguins, the zoo's most popular tourist attraction. They are kept in an on-site building, which has cooled chambers to recreate their natural habitat in South America.

Hyenas, swamp deer and tigers have also been brought to the park in recent years.

Newly built aquatic aviary, visitors can walk on the wooden bridge, interact with birds such as pigeons, flamingos, albino crows, cranes, herons, storks, ...

Mumbai Zoo Park is also a botanical garden with more than 3000 trees, herbs and flowering plants. In a recent study, researchers found the Indian banyan tree, Xu Xuan (native to Myanmar) and Dao Tien among more than 800 other species. Flowering plants such as Venezuelan Roses, Ham Rong flowers and Neighbors (Palash, in Hindi) are also included in this garden.

The Dr Bhau Daji Lad Museum is also one of the oldest museums in the city, formerly known as the Victoria and Albert Museum. Dr. Bhau Daji Lad contributed to the renovation of the museum, and therefore the museum was renamed Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum in 1975. The museum contains many archaeological artifacts, statues and historical photographs. of Mumbai. It also has the original Kala Ghoda and stone elephant statues from the Caves of Elephanta Island. A separate entrance fee applies to the museum.

In addition to those interesting points, this Mumbai zoo also has a 23m high David Sassoon Clock Tower at the entrance. The building is built in the Italian architectural style with decorative stones and bricks from England. A statue of Shivaji and his mother Jijabai is the center of attraction in the garden.

Opening hours: 09:30 – 18:00 (Thursday – Tuesday)