Alipore Zoo

Kolkata (Calcutta)


Kolkata’s 16-hectare zoo opened its doors in 1875 as one of British India's showpiece zoological gardens, but has gradually dropped in stature and standards over the years. The spacious lawns and lakeside promenades are very popular with weekend picnickers (hence all the rubbish). Avoid visiting between Christmas and New Year as the place is swamped by locals. You'll find toilets and stalls selling snacks and bottled water within the premises.

The zoo has had its share of critics in recent times, who have questioned its facilities and the overall quality of its animal program. Predictably, tigers, lions, bears and leopards draw the biggest crowds, while hippos, giraffes, zebras, rhinos and innumerable other birds, reptiles and mammals idle away their days in caged or moated enclosures.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Kolkata (Calcutta) attractions

1. Curzon Mansion

0.21 MILES

Directly south of the zoo's entrance, the access road to the National Library loops around the very regal Curzon Mansion, once the colonial viceroy's…

2. National Library

0.32 MILES

Located directly south of the entrance to the zoo is the (private) access road to the National Library, which houses India’s biggest archival collection…

3. Horticultural Gardens

0.59 MILES

A hidden island of tranquillity in the heart of Kolkata, this delightful garden complex offers visitors an opportunity to acquaint themselves with…

4. VM South Gate

0.73 MILES

Day-time entry tickets to the park and Victoria Memorial museum are sold here, but there's no access to the sound and light show.

5. Victoria Memorial

0.88 MILES

The incredible Victoria Memorial is a vast, beautifully proportioned festival of white marble: think US Capitol meets Taj Mahal. Had it been built for a…

6. Academy of Fine Arts

0.95 MILES

Several bright, ground-floor gallery rooms in this 1933 building feature changing exhibitions by local artists. It's a good place to check out young-and…

7. VM East Gate

0.97 MILES

By day you can exit the Victoria Memorial park from the east gate but not enter this way. From 5pm, a ticket booth here starts issuing tickets for the…

8. VM North Gate

1.01 MILES

Day-time entry tickets to the park and Victoria Memorial museum are sold here, but there's no access to the sound and light show.

  • placement: superzone
  • path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],
  • targeting:
    {
      "url": "india/kolkata-calcutta/attractions/alipore-zoo/a/poi-sig/410834/356356",
      "destination": "Kolkata-(Calcutta)",
      "continent": "Asia",
      "country": "India",
      "city": "Kolkata-(Calcutta)",
      "position": "superzone"
    }