Thiruvananthapuram Zoo

Thiruvananthapuram Zoo is one of the oldest and largest zoos in India. The zoo is spread across 30 acres of green land in the heart of Kerala's capital city, Thiruvananthapuram. Established in 1859 by the then Maharaja of Travancore, it was originally set up as an added attraction to the neighboring Napier Museum to draw more visitors to the area. Today it attracts close to 14 lakh visitors every year and is one of the most visited tourist places in Trivandrum. If you are planning a trip to Thiruvananthapuram, the zoo is an absolute must-visit.

The zoo is home to 1,025 animals belonging to 98 different species. Its collection ranges from large meat-eating animals like lions, Royal Bengal tigers, and leopards to rare primates from the Western Ghats such as the Lion-tailed Macaque and the Nilgiri Langur. The reptile section houses species like the Green Anaconda, King Cobra, and Indian Rock Python. An impressive variety of exotic birds including Scarlet Macaws, Palm Cockatoos, ostriches, and Rosy Pelicans adds more color to the experience.

Beyond the animal enclosures, the zoo has a natural lake inside its grounds that supports 93 species of free-roaming birds, including several species that visit seasonally. A butterfly garden within the zoo is home to about 120 species of butterflies. Over 100 varieties of trees, shrubs, and flowering plants line the paths throughout the area, making a walk through the zoo feel like a nature trail. The zoo campus is shared with the Napier Museum and the Sree Chithra Art Gallery, all of which can be covered in a single visit.

Quick Information – Thiruvananthapuram Zoo

History and Background of Thiruvananthapuram Zoo:

Thiruvananthapuram Zoo was established in 1859 during the rule of the Travancore royal family. The zoo came up as part of an effort to make the Napier Museum complex more attractive to the general public, by creating a live animal collection that visitors could see alongside the museum's art and natural history displays. At the time, the zoo was small and primarily served a recreational purpose.

Over the decades that followed, the zoo grew steadily in size and in the variety of its animal collection. After Indian independence, the Department of Museums and Zoos, Kerala, took over management of the institution. Since the 1990s, a major modernisation programme has been under way — old iron-barred cement cages have been progressively replaced with open, ditch-surrounded, naturalistic enclosures that give animals more space and allow visitors to observe them more comfortably. This work is carried out with the technical guidance of the Central Zoo Authority of India.

The zoo also participates in the Conservation Breeding Programme for the Lion-tailed Macaque, a critically threatened primate found only in the rainforests of the Western Ghats. A dedicated zoo hospital provides healthcare for animals, and the facility also takes in rescued and orphaned wild animals. Visitors planning a trip to Trivandrum can combine the zoo with a visit to the nearby Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple, which is one of the most significant Vishnu temples in India and is just 4 km from the zoo entrance.

Why Thiruvananthapuram Zoo is Famous?

Thiruvananthapuram Zoo in Kerala is famous for its rare animal collection, its lush green campus with a natural lake, and its role as a conservation and education center for wildlife from the Western Ghats and beyond.

• One of the oldest zoos in India — established in 1859
• Lion-tailed Macaque and Nilgiri Langur — rare Western Ghat primates on display
• Royal Bengal Tiger and African Lions — the zoo's most popular residents
• Exotic bird collection — Scarlet Macaws, cockatoos, ostriches, Rosy Pelicans, and more
• Green Anaconda and King Cobra — highlights of the reptile section
• Natural lake inside the zoo grounds with free-roaming migratory birds
• Butterfly garden with about 120 species
• Battery car service available for senior citizens, families, and differently abled visitors
• Located on the same campus as the Napier Museum and Sree Chithra Art Gallery

Things to Do at Thiruvananthapuram Zoo:

1. See the Big Cats

The lion and tiger enclosures are the most popular sections in the zoo. The Royal Bengal Tigers and African Lions are housed in open, naturalistic enclosures that allow for good viewing. Early mornings are generally the best time to see the cats active and moving around.

2. Watch the Lion-tailed Macaques

One of the highlights of this zoo is the Lion-tailed Macaque enclosure. This critically endangered primate is endemic to the Western Ghats and rarely seen in the wild. The zoo participates in a conservation breeding programme for this species and has one of the better populations in Indian zoos.

3. Visit the Exotic Bird Aviary

The exotic bird section has colourful residents like Scarlet Macaws, Blue-and-Yellow Macaws, Green-winged Macaws, Palm Cockatoos, and African Grey Parrots. Ostriches, emus, and rheas roam in

separate enclosures. The water bird aviary has glass viewing panels that let visitors watch spoonbills, pelicans, painted storks, and herons up close without barriers.

4. Explore the Reptile House

The reptile section is one of the more impressive in South India. It has Green Anacondas — the heaviest snakes in the world — along with Spectacled Caimans, Green Iguanas, King Cobras, Indian Rock Pythons, and several tortoise and turtle species. The displays are informative and well lit.

5. Walk Around the Natural Lake

The zoo has a natural lake inside its grounds that is home to 93 species of free-roaming birds, including several species of migratory birds that visit seasonally. A walk around the lake in the early morning is a pleasant experience, with birds like herons, egrets, and kingfishers visible on the water's edge.

6. Discover the Butterfly Garden

The butterfly garden within the zoo campus has host plants and nectar plants specially selected to support about 120 species of butterflies. It is a peaceful and colorful corner of the zoo that is especially enjoyable in the morning hours when butterflies are most active.

7. Take a Battery Car Ride

A battery-operated vehicle service is available within the zoo for those who prefer not to walk the full distance. This is particularly useful for senior citizens, small children, and visitors with mobility concerns. Adults can ride for Rs. 70 and children for Rs. 30.

8. Visit Napier Museum and Sree Chithra Art Gallery

The zoo campus is shared with the Napier Museum — a 19th-century heritage building housing bronze idols, royal artefacts, ivory carvings, and a temple chariot — and the Sree Chithra Art Gallery, which has works by Indian and South-East Asian artists. A combined visit covers all three institutions in a single trip.

Thiruvananthapuram Zoo Ticket Price:

Entry fees at Thiruvananthapuram Zoo are among the most affordable for a zoo of its size and quality in India. The ticket counter closes at 4:30 pm even though the zoo remains open till 5:15 pm. Children below the age of 15 years get free entry on all Sundays.

For Indian Nationals:

For Foreign Nationals:

Battery Car:

Other Charges:

Thiruvananthapuram Zoo Timings:

Thiruvananthapuram Zoo is open from Tuesday to Sunday. The zoo gates open at 9:00 am and close at 5:15 pm. Tickets are sold only until 4:30 pm, so visitors must enter before that time. The zoo remains closed every Monday.

The Napier Museum on the same campus has a lunch break from 1:15 PM to 2:00 PM on its open days (Tuesday to Sunday, closed Monday). The zoo itself has no scheduled break for visitors.

Best Time to Visit Thiruvananthapuram Zoo:

The best time to visit Thiruvananthapuram Zoo is from October to March. During these months the weather in Trivandrum is cooler and more comfortable, with temperatures ranging between 22°C and 32°C. This makes walking around the 30-acre campus much more pleasant than in the hot and humid summer months. Many animals are also more active and visible during the cooler part of the day in this season.

The zoo is busiest on Sundays, public holidays, and during school vacation periods — typically May, October, and December. If you want a quieter visit with smaller crowds, plan for a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday morning. The first hour after the zoo opens (9:00 am to 10:00 am) is particularly good for seeing the animals before the afternoon heat sets in and before large school groups arrive. April through June can be quite hot and humid in Trivandrum, which makes a full walk through the zoo tiring, though the animals are still viewable.

Places to Visit Near Thiruvananthapuram Zoo:

Thiruvananthapuram makes an excellent base for exploring southern Kerala. Visitors often combine the zoo with a morning darshan at the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple and a coastal evening at Kovalam. For a broader Kerala trip, many visitors extend to the backwaters at Alleppey or the wildlife sanctuaries at Thekkady.