Everyone in the world wishes to travel and explore new places, but not everyone can fulfill this due to family and job commitments. Though I have been in Chennai for 10 years, I haven't visited many places around, especially the local tourist spots. Recently, I visited the 'Arignar Anna Zoological Park,' one of the largest zoos in India, also known as 'Vandaloor Zoo.' Unlike a jungle, where we can't see animals in their habitats up close, this zoo allows us to enjoy watching various species and endangered animals with only a small wall or iron net separating them from us.
One fine Saturday, my friend and I started our journey from Egmore to Vandaloor by train. As it is the technology era, I usually Google places to know "how to go, where to go, procedures, and the do's and don'ts" before visiting somewhere new. While exploring Google Maps for the route to Vandaloor, I noticed that there is just about 1 km between the Vandaloor railway station and the zoo entrance, which can be covered by walking or taking an auto. Without hesitation, we started walking to cover the 1 km. On the way, near the railway station, even some families asked us for directions to the zoological garden. We guided them, thanks to Google Maps and smartphones.
We reached the entrance at 12:00 PM and saw a few sellers offering food items to visitors. Upon entering after buying tickets, we noticed that the zoo security checked visitors' bags and removed any food items packed in plastics.
Entry tickets cost Rs. 30.00 per adult. Additionally, we paid Rs. 25 for a still camera, whether it is a DSLR, point-and-shoot, or mobile camera. However, they charge more for candy cameras. For more information about ticketing, it's better to refer to their website as the fee structure may change frequently.
There are three options for transportation inside the zoo:
By walking.
By bicycle.
By battery-operated vehicle carrying around 8-10 persons.
The battery-operated vehicle is suitable for older people or groups of around 10. However, it has limitations on stops inside the zoo and operates on an hourly basis. The best way to explore the zoo is by walking or renting a bicycle. Bicycle rent is Rs. 10.00 per hour with an advance of around Rs. 100.00. We decided to walk around the zoo and started from the bird section. There are white arrow signs on the road guiding visitors from one spot to another. To fully explore the zoo, it will take a full day, so it's better to arrive around 9:00 AM and finish before 5:00 PM, the zoo's closing time. For lunch, visitors need to return to the Tamil Nadu Tourism Hotel located at the entrance.
It is good to carry water as we have to walk many kilometers inside. At the entrance, there is a Tamil Nadu Tourism Hotel, the only place offering food. Inside the zoo, there is a 'Tea Shop' selling snacks, samosas, and tea, and several water tanks to quench our thirst.
There are sufficient toilets available, but they are not in good condition and are pay toilets.
The spaces allotted for all species and animals are really small, which is sad. Animals like tigers and cheetahs live in small, isolated areas that are not enough for them. The only creatures with ample space are the lions and the free-roaming Sambar deer.
An annoying thing we observed was some visitors making noise to attract the animals. There were no forest guards or officials nearby to control this. Additionally, many couples used the zoo as a lovers' park, creating an embarrassing environment for families and children.
After exploring most areas, we skipped the aquarium to go for the Lion Safari. The ticket costs Rs. 30.00 per person. We were transported in a covered mini-van. The van reached the entrance of the safari gate in 5 minutes. There are two gates at the entrance, with a space for the van to stand between them. The guards opened the first gate, let the van in, then closed it and opened the second gate into the lion habitat. The van driver acted as a guide and took us to a yard where we saw around 8-10 lions, most of them lean, older, and inactive. Visibility from the van was not good due to the glass doors and iron nets on the windows.
After waiting around 10 minutes, the van left and returned to the safari office. As it was 4:30 PM, we decided to end our exploration and walked towards the hotel, taking photos of flowers and greenery with my mobile.
After refreshing ourselves with dosa and poori (good taste but a bit costly), we headed home.