Vandaloor zoo or more officially called the arignar anna zoological park is located on the outskirts of Chennai. It is around 6 Kms from Tambaram. This is my attempt to review this place as I hapenned to visit it recently.
Getting there:
Getting there is very easy, though on the outskirts it has very good connectivity.
By Rail, one can catch the local train and get down at Vandalur station. The station is 1 Km from the zoo and can be reached by walk or auto. Though I would not recommend walking as there is lot of walking to be done inside and one should not get tired even before starting. Auto charges around 50 rupees which is high considering the short distance. One can also cross the road from the railway station and catch any bus that goes and get down at the next stop. This would work out cheap.
Best time to get there:
It is always better to go early. 9;30 to 5:30 is the timings. If you plan to go to the zoo on a holiday, it is most likely that there are many people like you. Irrespective of the amount of time you plan to stay, unless you plan to walk 10kms, it is good to be there before 10.
How to see around:
There are multiple ways. walk would be best if you want to see everything but one needs lot of energy and packed food for doing that. It also depends on time you have to go around.
2 hrs: Go early and book the battery car ticket. It goes around for 1 hour or so covering major areas and stopping for main attractions (white tiger, tiger, snakes, hippo). Then one can go around attractions near the gate (varieties of monkeys/baboons etc, aquarium)
4 hrs: Do the battery car and also book the lion safari or hire a cycle and go around
full day: do all of the above maybe walk too
Food:
Better to take own food but plastics are not allowed, they pack them outside in paper and give it to you. Have not heard good about canteens there but near entrance some food is available
Latest update (5-Jun-13) : Outside food is not allowed as a deer died after eating a plastic bag. Not sure if this will change in future.
cost:
Not much entrance, bus, safari all cost 30 rupees each.
cons:
1. Its great to see animals roaming in free area but not in a cage. However they seem far away and need zoom lens for good photos. Small Kids may not be so excited as they are far away.
Otherwise the best and cheapest way to spend ur day with kids
Getting there:
Getting there is very easy, though on the outskirts it has very good connectivity.
By Rail, one can catch the local train and get down at Vandalur station. The station is 1 Km from the zoo and can be reached by walk or auto. Though I would not recommend walking as there is lot of walking to be done inside and one should not get tired even before starting. Auto charges around 50 rupees which is high considering the short distance. One can also cross the road from the railway station and catch any bus that goes and get down at the next stop. This would work out cheap.
Best time to get there:
It is always better to go early. 9;30 to 5:30 is the timings. If you plan to go to the zoo on a holiday, it is most likely that there are many people like you. Irrespective of the amount of time you plan to stay, unless you plan to walk 10kms, it is good to be there before 10.
How to see around:
There are multiple ways. walk would be best if you want to see everything but one needs lot of energy and packed food for doing that. It also depends on time you have to go around.
2 hrs: Go early and book the battery car ticket. It goes around for 1 hour or so covering major areas and stopping for main attractions (white tiger, tiger, snakes, hippo). Then one can go around attractions near the gate (varieties of monkeys/baboons etc, aquarium)
4 hrs: Do the battery car and also book the lion safari or hire a cycle and go around
full day: do all of the above maybe walk too
Food:
Better to take own food but plastics are not allowed, they pack them outside in paper and give it to you. Have not heard good about canteens there but near entrance some food is available
Latest update (5-Jun-13) : Outside food is not allowed as a deer died after eating a plastic bag. Not sure if this will change in future.
cost:
Not much entrance, bus, safari all cost 30 rupees each.
cons:
1. Its great to see animals roaming in free area but not in a cage. However they seem far away and need zoom lens for good photos. Small Kids may not be so excited as they are far away.
Otherwise the best and cheapest way to spend ur day with kids
Nice and well written post about Vandalur Zoo in Chennai. Thanks for sharing this post in this blog. Love to visit this place with my friends during weekend. Everyone can enjoy at this place. Want to visit Chennai then book bus tickets in Hebron Travels.
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