National Zoological Park

Located 7 km from New Delhi Railway Station and 3.5 km from India Gate, the National Zoological Park is situated near Purana Qila in Delhi. It is one of the best zoos in India and one of the main tourist attractions of Delhi. The park was officially opened on November 1, 1959, by Mr. Punjab Rao Deshmukh, the Minister of Agriculture of India in the first cabinet. The park was initially known as Delhi Zoo and was renamed the National Zoological Park in 1982 with the idea of becoming a model zoo for the country. Occupying a large area of 176 acres, the park is an ideal place for breeding endangered species. Considered one of the best zoos in Asia, the National Zoological Park was established in 1959 and provides habitat for around 1,500 species of animals and birds. The abundance of wildlife on display is representative of all continents, including numerous examples from Africa, Australia, and Asia. Particularly noteworthy are the zoo's numerous chimpanzees, as well as hippopotamuses, spider monkeys, zebras, hyenas, deer, jaguars, and tigers.