World's Most Natural Zoo - Nandankanan

Nandankanan means "Garden of Gods ". Nandankanan zoo is considered as the world's best natural zoo, where animals are not kept in cages instead they are confined in open area with four sides surrounding with water trench. Nandankanan which is situated 11 kilometers away from Bhubaneswar, Orissa's capital. Nandankanan is every child's first choice in their summer holidays.

Why I have chosen to write about Nandankanan zoo
Ever since my childhood my first choice in summer holiday was Nandankan, I adored and waited for summer holidays to come so that I could visit Nandankanan. Nandankanan is such a zoo where one could see animals in natural environment. So now that I have started writing articles , I thought why not write one article on Nandankanan , and enrich my friends about the natural zoo and the most beautiful place where children will enjoy their summer vacation as well as learn and enrich their knowledge about birds, animals, reptiles and gain ecological interesting facts .

Nandankanan zoo - Safari
My articles title itself suggests that Nandankanan is build keeping, natural environment in view. Nandankanan is probably one of its kinds where a zoo consist not one but two Safari's. Nandankanan has one white tiger's safari and other one is Lions safari. There are more than one dozen White tiger's in white tiger's safari. Interesting part is that white tigers are rare at Nandankanan premises. Nandankanan staff and doctors have specialized in raring white tigers, which helped them to have a separate white tiger's safari. White tiger's are exported to other zoos within India as well as on exchange programme white tiger's are sent to different counties. Visiting the safari the authorities of Nandankanan have made an excellent arrangement which takes care of comfort as well as security of the visitor's.

Nandankanan zoo - Other species
Nandankanan zoo consists of 67 kinds of mammals, 18 varieties of reptiles and 81 species of birds co-exist. Nandankanan contains some of the rare kind of Indian Crocodile, Asiatic Lion, Nilgiri Langur, mouse deer, pangolin, numerous birds, reptiles and fishes. Nandankanan also has in its credit of breeding Black Panther.

Nandankanan zoo - Entertaining children
Nandankanan has a toy train for children, which also takes ride around the zoo, children love Toy train. It also contains 620 meters long aerial rope(Rope way) which connects the main zoo with its Botanical garden. Nandankanan also has boating on Kanjia Lake which children love to go around. Nandankanan is opened every day except on Monday from 7.30am to 6 pm in summer and 8 am to 5 pm in winter. The best season to visit Nandankanan Zoo is from October to March.

HOW TO GET THERE

Air:
The nearest airport is situated at Bhubaneswar, capital of Orissa
Rail:
Bhubaneswar is the nearest rail station.
Road:
Bhubaneswar is 11 to 12 kilometers from the zoo, on the way to Cuttack