Magical Mumbai

Town Hall- Asiatic library of Mumbai

Ritesh Sapra — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 04:58:44 +0000

Constructed somewhere near 1830, Town Hall (Colloquially Called Tondal in the 19th Century) has been profoundly influenced by Greek and Roman styles of architecture. Comprising a portico with eight Doric pillars, the building can be reached by taking a flight of 30 steps. In praise of this grand structure, Sir John Malcolm – the Governor of Bombay said “It is the most magnificent structure that taste and munificence combined have as yet erected in India”.
Town Hall is conceivably the most imperial structure amongst the heritage buildings of Mumbai. Housing the Asiatic Society of Bombay, Town Hall is located in the Fort area of South Mumbai. Colonel Thomas Cowper, one of the Bombay Engineers, was the designer of the Town Hall, which is 200 feet long and 100 feet deep. Its entrance stands adorned with Ionic columns. The material for its construction was brought from England and the total cost of building came to somewhere about 500,000 pounds in the year1830. Designed as per the neo-classical style. The pillared monument is even more significant for its exquisite edifice that has old wooden floor, spiral staircases, wrought iron loggias and superb marble statues of late benefactors of the Island City of India. The Asiatic Society consists of city’s largest library with a collection of 8,00,000 antique volumes. The main aim of Town Hall-Asiatic Library is to encourage research and sustain oriental arts, sciences and literatures.

Amongst the anthology, Dante’s first edition copy of “Inferno” is one of the inestimable reserves. The Society’s museum has a remarkable numismatic compilation of above 1,000 ancient coins and a rare gold coin belonging to Akbar – the Mughal Emperor. Permission is required to take a glance of these treasures. However, the public library is open to everyone and generally attracts scores of senior citizens, who come to read the local newspapers.
The Asiatic Society of Mumbai, a learned society in the field of Asian studies, is based in Mumbai, India. It can trace its origin to the Literary Society of Bombay which first met in Mumbai on November 26, 1804, and was founded by Sir James Mackintosh. It was formed with the intention of “promoting useful knowledge, particularly such as is now immediately connected with India”. After the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland was established in London in 1823, the Literary Society of Bombay became affiliated with it and was known as the Bombay Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society (BBRAS) since 1830. The Bombay Geographical Society merged with it in 1873, followed by the Anthropological Society of Bombay in 1896. In 1954, it was separated from the Royal Asiatic Society and renamed the Asiatic Society of Bombay. In 2002, it acquired its present name. It is funded by an annual grant from the Central Government of India.
Are there any membership charges?

Its one of the paid membership libraries in Mumbai with Annual membership fees of Rs. 1000 to 1500 and Rs.10,000 to 15,000 for life time membership with a refundable security deposit of Rs.500/- only. Members are allowed to borrow total of fifteen books and three magazines.

Where is it located?

Housing the Asiatic Society of Bombay, Town Hall is located in the Fort area of Horniman Circle, near reserve bank of india, South Mumbai.

Contact information
Tel. +912222660956
http://http://asiaticsociety.org

What are the timings?

10:30am- 5:30pm from Monday to Saturday.

Navi Mumbai Nature Park (NMNP)

Ritesh Sapra — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 04:50:53 +0000

Navi Mumbai has a picturesque setting of hills on one side and water clinging along its lenght on the other. Importance of Parks, green spaces and trees is more than the `lungs of the city’ as they affect our every day moods, activities and emotional health. They can improve the quality of our life in ways that are often underestimated. Nature in the form of undulating hill slopes and rolling landforms , water streams and ponds adjacent to city is proposed to be brought under the umbrella of ‘Navi Mumbai Nature Park’. NMNP spreads over an area of 2000 hectares across nodes from kharghar to nerul. The plans are at conceptual stage. Bombay Natural History Society ( BNHS) has been appointed for studying the biodiversity of the area and accordingly prepare master plans for the development of NMNP.
BNHS has recently submitted their observations on bio diversity survey in Nature Park. Based on their submitted guide lines, CIDCO proposes to prepare a Master Plan for the NMNP.

The six hills house several varieties of mammals like hanuman langur, black-naped hare, many species of rare birds, fishes, flowers, plants, butterflies, and reptiles which need to be preserved, the study says.

The survey suggests that the hills, host to several flowering plants and ponds, butterfly gardens and lily ponds, could be the attraction of the valley.

Altogether 487 plant species and 550 animal species were found and the pocket-wise study shows that Artiste Village, Valley Park and Kharghar hills are rich in terms of biodiversity. A part of the Western ghats, these hills of basalt rocks in the Sahyadri ranges host moist deciduous forests on the borders of Thane and Raigad districts.

A senior Cidco official said a plan of action to develop the park is yet to be evolved, adding it was the duty of agencies like the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation and the collectorate, to check quarrying and the brick kilns. But considering that Cidco itself has done precious little to check such activities which have been there long before the NMMC or the collectorate came into existence, it will be a job easier said than done.

Chatrapathi Shivaji Terminus, CST (VICTORIA TERMINUS)

Ritesh Sapra — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 04:45:51 +0000

Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus, formerly Victoria Terminus, and better known by its abbreviation CST or Bombay VT, is a historic railway station in Mumbai which serves as the headquarters of the Central Railways. It is one of the busiest railway stations in India, and serves Central Railway trains terminating in Mumbai as well as the Mumbai Suburban Railway.
CST is built in a style that combines Gothic and Indian influences . It was completed in 1887, constructed by Frederick William stevens the building commenced in 1878. It took ten years to complete and was named “Victoria Terminus” in honor of the Queen and Empress Victoria; it was opened on the date of her Golden Jubilee in 1887. During its construction, British architects worked with the Indian craftsmen, exchanging notes to give a new look and style to Bombay.
This famous architectural landmark in Gothic style was built as the headquarters of the Great Indian Peninsular Railway. Since then, the station came to be known as Mumbai VT. This Italian gothic building has a frontage of over 1500 feet. the administrative offices form three sides of a rectangle enclosing an ornamental garden , the entrance gate guarded by a massive lion and tiger made out of stone. the most prominent feature of this building is a 160 feet dome crowning the centre . On top of the giant dome is a figure of a woman with a torch held aloft to symbolize progress. there are also intriguing figures of peacocks, snakes monkeys and rats. marble columns support the entrance facade. The main entrance has four great doorways which open to the booking offices. The internal arrangements were designed to afford a maximum of convenience.

About one thousand trains and two million commuters pass through the terminus, Mumbai’s largest train station. The local electric trains that ferry in and out of the city leave every three -four minutes. On the other side of the building the trains pulled by heavy diesel or steam locomotives depart to different cities and towns.

In 1996, in response to demands by the Shiv Sena and in keeping with the policy of renaming locations with Indian names, the station was renamed by the state government after Chatrapati Shivaji, the famed 17th century Maratha king. On 2 July 2004, the station was nominated as a World Heritage Site by the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO.

How to reach Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus?

CST is the first station on the harbour / central line. It is located in South Mumbai.

Central park in Navi Mumbai

Ritesh Sapra — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 04:37:12 +0000

Central park is a large scale open space at the centre of Kharghar Node in Navi Mumbai. Central park spreads over an area of around 80 hectares in sector 23, 24 and 25 and is a link between the hills dotting Kharghar and the creek. a Natiral channel runs from the hills to the creek with trees and vegetations.
The picturesque park also has joggers tracks, botanical gardens, amphitheatre and theme parks and a full fledged sports stadium. It is still under construction.

How to reach Central park?

You can get down at Kharghar railway station (harbour line) and take a rickshaw towards the park.

Brown water kayaking in Mumbai – Water sports

Ritesh Sapra — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 04:31:14 +0000

So you thought water sports were an option only in Goa. Think again, there’s plenty you can do in Mumbai too. Reha and Rajiv Bhatia of Rae Sports, an adventure sports company that sells kayaks online, began teaching children how to kayak . Soon they realized that parents were more wide-eyed about kayaking than their children and the Bhatias began sessions for adults too.
The course is neatly packaged — Rs3000 for 16 sessions. Of these, 6 sessions are instructive and the remaining 10 are for practice. The enthusiasts assemble at Chowpatty beach on weekends at 7.30am and go into the water with instructors in tow.

What is kitesurfing?
Kitesurfing or kiteboarding is a surface water sport that uses wind power to pull a rider through the water on a small surfboard or a kiteboard . Generally kiteboarding refers to a style of riding known as freestyle
or wake-style, whereas kitesurfing is more “wave-riding” oriented. These two styles usually require different boards and specific performance kites.

What is a kayak?
A kayak is a boat derived from the traditional hunting and fishing boats of the Eskimos, which is maneuvered with a paddle consisting of two streamlined blades on either side. The difference between a kayak and a canoe is that a kayak paddle has two blades where as the paddle of a canoe comes with one. Kayaks may take one, two or three people, and come in two basic variants:

Sit on tops are usually used by beginners and easy paddlers. These are recreational kayaks with exceptional stability. The single seater sit-on top is perfect for surfing.

Sit-ins are generally used by more serious paddlers and are best suited for longer distances and expeditions.
Where can you paddle a kayak?
You can ride your kayak on almost any water body, be it the sea, lake, river or a nearby canal. Kayaking does not need licensing, is not dependant on the breeze, nor the waves or currents. It is a sport which only requires simple access to the water and can be enjoyed like a pleasant bicycle ride in the evening. For the more adventurous it can provide a fabulous upper body work out with plenty of Vitamin D thrown in. The kayaking fraternity is present in Goa, Kerela, Tamil Nadu, Pune, Bangalore and Mumbai.

What is Rae sports?

Rae Sport is a Mumbai based adventure sports company introducing eco-friendly water sports in India. Rae Sport is the exclusive Indian distributor of the revolutionary Feelfree kayaks along with their wide range of accessories, the famous Peter Lynn kites, Kite boards and buggies.
Where is Rae sports located?

807, Dalamal Tower
‘A’ Wing, Nariman Point, Mumbai – 400 021,
Tel: + 91 22 3294 7111
Fax: + 91 22 6625 6161
E-mail : sales@raesport.in

Mumbai Mint – minting coins, medals etc..

Ritesh Sapra — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 06:26:28 +0000

Mumbai Mint is one of the oldest mints of the Country. It has got the capacity of minting coins, medals & further, it is also taken care of refining of Gold and Silver and other metals.The India Government Mint, Mumbai is one of the four mints in India and is situated in the city of Mumbai (formerly Bombay).

Both the mint and the town hall with their pillars and Grecian porticos were built in the 1820′s. The Mint was sanctioned by the East India Company in 1823. An inscription on the building shows it was designed by Major John Hopkins of Bombay Engineers. The construction commenced in 1824 and was completed in 1827. The site was originally reclaimed from the sea. Initially governed by the Governor of the Bombay Presidency, it was transferred to the Government of India on 18 May 1876 through a Finance Department Resolution 247. In 1918, a branch of the Royal Mint of London was set up to issue British sovereigns. In April 1919, after manufacturing 12.95 lakh (1.295 million) coins, it was shut down.

The main activity of the mint is in the production of commemorative and development-oriented coins. The mint is situated just opposite the Reserve Bank of India in the Fort area of South Mumbai.

Besides coins, the Mint also produces medals of various types, for Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Home Affairs, educational institutions, social service institutions, badges etc. It is also a centre for the issuance of gold ingots in exchange of unrefined gold tendered by licensed dealers. The institution also has a separate department that makes official weights and measures such as metric weights, capacity, and linear measures for state governments, laboratories and the Bureau of Indian Standards.

Contact Details:
India Government Mint,
Shahid Bhagat Singh Marg,
Fort, Mumbai
Pin-400023 India
Ph. No: 91-22-22703184/ 22661735
Fax No: 022-22661450
E-Mail: mumbaimint@gmail.com
Web: www.mumbaimint.in

Jehangir Art gallery, Mumbai

Ritesh Sapra — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 04:26:22 +0000

The Jehangir Art Gallery is Mumbai’s most famous art gallery and a tourist attraction. The art gallery is managed by the Bombay art society. The two highly sought after wings in the gallery are rented out to the artists at low rates for a brief period. The annual show is a major event and virtually all the art talent in the city has one time or another been represented at the Bombay art society’s annual exhibition. It is a major platform for the artists from different places to exhibit their works.

It was built by Sir Cowasji Jehangir at the urging of K. K. Hebbar and Homi Bhabha. It was built in 1952. The entire cost of this mansion was donated by Cowasji Jehangir.
This gallery is situated at Kala Ghoda, behind the Prince of Wales Museum, in South Mumbai near and has four exhibition halls. The gallery was designed by G.M.Bhuta for G.M. Bhuta & Associates. A mammoth institution in itself, its history is linked with the renaissance of Indian art. The complex also has the popular cafe of Samovar, which is reminiscent of the 70′s socialist culture.Samovar restaurant offers great taste of Indian coffee It also houses Natesans, the country’s oldest licensed antique dealers.
This art gallery can be called as the uncrowned Mecca of art in Mumbai city. Tourists can get the precious artifacts of India from the antique shop associated with the art gallery.

How much does it cost to enter the art gallery?

No cost involved. Entry is free.

Phone number: 022-284 3989
What are the Timings?
Daily, 11 am to 7 pm

Panchgini, a hill station close to Mumbai

Ritesh Sapra — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 04:20:56 +0000

Panchgini is tucked away in Satara district. It is best approached from Pune. The way to Panchgani from Mahabaleshwar, which is 18 kms, is absolutely spectacular. This is an ideal base for some good trekking. Situated at an altitude of 1334m, it gets its name from the five hills around it. The Krishna River that meanders through the farms, ravines and hamlets on one side and the coastal plains on the other side has a special charm. Panchgani displays architecture of Old British buildings and Parsi houses.

Horses are the best mode of travelling, which will gently gallop you through the thick, lush green trees, to unmarked routes, to the caves and the Kamalgad fort. The bazaar is also a place worth visiting. For long distances though taxis are available, bicycles and horses are the best mode of transport. Panchgini is situated about 285 km, 100 km and 18 km, respectively, from Mumbai, Pune and Mahabaleshwar.

What is the temperature in Panchgini?
The temperature in Panchgini is around 12C during the winter, and sometimes reaches 34C during the summer; however the humidity level is very low.

Scenic Panchgani was discovered by the British as a summer resort, and was founded by a Brit named John Chesson who was placed in charge of the hill station in the 1860s. He is credited with planting many plant species from the western world in Panchgani, including silver oak and poinsettia, which have flourished since then in Panchgani. John Chesson surveyed the hills in this region and the vicinity of the five villages:Dhandeghar, Godavli, Amral, Khingar, and Taighat. The place was named Panchgani, and Chesson was made Superintendent. To develop the infrastructure, Chesson encouraged various professionals – tailors, dhobis, butchers,vegetable vendors, building contractors etc to also settle in Panchgani. The area below the bazaar was allotted to them, and is known as the gaothan. Chesson is buried in the St. Peter’s Church graveyard.

Is Panchgini a plateau?

The five hills surrounding Panchgani are topped by a plateau, which is the second highest in Asia after the Tibetan plateau. These plateaus, alternatively known as “table land”, are a part of the Deccan Plateau and they were raised by pressure between the earth plates. The area has high seismic activity, with an epicenter near Koynanagar where the Koynanagar Dam and a hydroelectric power plant have been built.

What are the points in Panchgini worth visiting?

Sydney Point: This point is situated on a hillock facing the Krishna Valley. One can see from here the glittering waters of the Dhom Dam, and Pandavgad and Mandhardeo.
Table Land: This flat large expanse of laterite rock is the second longest mountain plateau in Asia. Some spacious caves including the “Devil’s Kitchen” are visible from here.
Parsi Point: This scenic point is situated on the way to Mahabaleshwar, and overlooks the Krishna valley and the blue shiny waters of the Dhom Dam.
Devil’s Kitchen: Situated at the south of the table land, the Devil’s Kitchen has a mythology associated with it: It is believed that the Pandavas of the Mahabharat epic had stayed here for a while. Pandavgad Caves (near Wai) are also said to be built by them then.
Dhom Dam: Water sports is one more amazing attraction for tourists which is 21 kms away from Panchgani. A beautiful boating spot. Here one can enjoy with Scooter boats and Speed boats.

What is the best time to visit Panchgini?

Panchgani attracts many tourists throughout the year especially from September to February, mainly from Mumbai on weekends. A well-known Ganesh Temple is located close by in Wai. Panchgani’s famous ‘table land’ has been the location for many Indian Movies.

What else is Panchgini known for?
New Era School is probably the biggest school in Panchgani. Panchgani is known for its many boarding schools established since the late 1800s. They attract students from the nearby cities of Mumbai and Pune, and also from abroad. The high standards maintained by these schools encouraged others to set up schools as commercial ventures. As a result the number of schools in Panchgani is almost forty. Some are very good. Some not so good. but all appear to be thriving.
The fresh air and invigorating climate of Panchgani made it a good place for convalescence, especially for those suffering from tuberculosis. Thus Panchgani became famous as a health resort. A well known TB specialist from Bombay, Dr. Rustom Billimoria set up the Bel Air Sanatorium, also known as Dalkieth as a centre for the treatment of Tuberculosis, with the help of his son, Dr. Bomy Billimoria, an eminent surgeon. Till the advent of antibiotics, Dalkieth was the premier place for the treatment of tuberculosis in the whole of the Bombay Presidency.

How to get to / reach Panchgini?

Panchgini is 98 kms from Pune, 266 kms from Mumbai via Mahad 20 kms from Mahabaleshwar

The nearest airport is Pune.

Matheran, a hill station close to Mumbai

Ritesh Sapra — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 03:32:50 +0000

Matheran is a wonderful hill station close to Mumbai. It’s proximity to the three Metros makes it a popular weekend getaway for urban residents. The name Matheran means either “forest on top” or “mother forest”. It is a hill station on the western ghats, in karjat tahsil just 104 km away from Mumbai and 120km from Pune. It is the smallest hill station in India situated 803m above mean sea level. This hill station is seen at its best in the winter months of November-January.

Matheran was discovered by Hugh Poyntz Malet, the then district collector of Thane district in May 1850. Lord Elphinstone, the then Governor of Bombay laid the foundations of the development as a future hill station. The British developed Matheran as a popular resort to beat the summer heat in the region.

Matheran is an eco-sensitive region, declared by the Ministry of Environment and Forest, Government of India. It is one of the few places in the world where vehicles are not allowed, which makes the place different from others. The only form of automobile allowed in Matheran is an ambulance operated by the Municipality. No private automobiles are allowed. Within Matheran transport facilities available are horses (Rs 150-200 on rent) and hand-pulled rickshaws.
Because of vehicles being banned in Matheran, the place is quite peaceful despite the thousands of visitors coming to visit throughout the year. Matheran has a reasonably dense forest cover.
There are around 38 designated look-out points in Matheran, including the Panorma Point that provides a 360 degree view of the surrounding area and also the Neral town. From this point, the view of sunset and sunrise is breathtaking. The Louisa Point offers crystal clear view of the Prabal Fort. The other points are the One Tree Hill Point, Hart Point, Monkey Point, Porcupine Point, Rambgh Point, and more.

How is Matheran’s climate?

Matheran lies in an elevated region, enjoys a cooler and less humid climate which makes it popular during the summer months. Temperatures range from 32 °C in summers to 16 °C . Matheran has a huge number of medicinal plants and herbs. The town also has a large monkey population, including Bonnet Macaques and Hanuman Langurs. The nearby Lake Charlotte is the main source of Matheran’s drinking water.
There are a lot of Parsi bungalows. Beautiful old British-style architecture is preserved in Matheran. The roads are not metalled and are made of red laterite earth.

What is the nearest airport?

The nearest airport is in Mumbai that is located around 100 km away from Matheran.

How to reach Matheran by Road?
Set off on the old Mumbai-Pune road (NH-4) through Dadar, Chembur, Navi Mumbai. Get on to the Mumbai Pune Expressway at Panvel (Near McDonalds). Get onto the expressway to avoid the congested road through Panvel. Take the first exit (Shedung/Khopoli Exit) that comes less than 5 minutes after you get onto the expressway at McDonalds. (Here you will need to Pay a Toll at the toll-booth for using the expressway).
This exit gets you back onto the Old Mumbai-Pune Road. Follow directions to proceed towards Pune. Once again you will have to pay a toll for using the old Bombay Pune Road. (Toll in both places is about Rs.25 each). Follow the old Mumbai-Pune road for approximately 10 km. This will bring you to a crossing where a big green sign asks you to turn left for Karjat/Matheran. (Do not miss this crossing as otherwise you will end up in Khopoli. There is a large statue of Hindu god Shiva on right side of the old Mumbai-Pune Highway which can be seen from a long distance. The left turn about 50 metres before the statue). 9 km after turning left you reach another crossing called Charphata Karjat where you need to turn left towards Neral. 11 km after turning left, you will reach the bottom of the Matheran Hill ghat road. Turn left here and climb 7 km to the Matheran Dasturi Car park.
Matheran Ghat
It is a steep and narrow road but well surfaced for the most part. When you reach the car park find a parking space in the designated area and park your car. The parking entrance fees and daily parking fees need to be paid here.

Matheran Entrance
No vehicles are allowed beyond this point. Matheran center is a 40-minute walk from Dasturi Car Park. Before you enter the limits of Matheran, Matheran Municipal council charges a fees of Rs 25 per adult and Rs 10 for children.
Once you enter, red dusty pathways welcome you to the nature. Porters are available to carry luggage. You can enjoy the walks through the red pathways or ride on horse. Manual ‘rikshaws’ are also available, each riskhaw is ‘driven’ by a couple of operators.

What is famous and close to Matheran?

Mount Berry is a popular tourist destination that is located 5+ km from Matheran. It offers a bird’s eye view of Neral. The major attraction is the slow train that chugs up the hill in the midst of pristine natural beauty. Matheran peak is visible from here.
Charlotte Lake: Also called the Sharlott Lake, Charlotte Lake is one of the most picturesque spots in Matheran. On the right side of the lake, there is the ancient Pisarnath Temple. The two picnic spots Louisa point and Echo point are located on the left side of the lake.
King George Point: King George Point is one of the major tourist attractions in Matheran. Best season to visit this place is monsoon. Tourist can experience the scenic view of waterfalls.
Valley Crossing: A very great activity like Valley crossing by a rope can be experienced at HoneyMoon Point. It seems to be risky and dangerous but it is not as we are tightly hold by TWO safety belts and the adventure group conducting this activity does take care of us. You should experience this. Simply awesome!!!

Beautiful Lake in Matheran
There are altogether 28 points, 2 lakes, 2 parks, 4 major worship places and a racecourse to visit inside Matheran. If you want to see all of them then you may need 2–3 days on your feet. One can move around on foot or horseback, but it is recommended moving on feet to take the best glimpse of nature. If you are on Horse back you may not be able to spend your desired time on the points. All the points’ gives a unique view and you can’t miss them.There are many walking paths for a leisurly walk.

What are the famous points to see in Matheran?

Alexander Pt.
Rambag Pt
Little Chowk Pt
Chowk Pt
One Tree Hill Pt
Belvedere Pt
Olympia Race Course
Lords Pt
Charlotte Lake
Cecil Pt (Actually a water fall mouth)
Echo Pt.
Porcupine Pt (Sun Set Pt)
Panorama Point (Sun Rise Pt)
Khandala Pt
Madhavji Garden & Point
Matheran Railway Station
Louisa Point
Mayor Pt

How to reach Matheran?

Matheran is linked to Mumbai by rail and road. The train reaches Neral in about 2 hours. From Neral visitors must board a delightful toy train upto the top of the hill.

Victoria Gardens (Jijamata Udyan – zoo)

Ritesh Sapra — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 17:53:51 +0000

Jijamata Udyan is popularly called Rani Bagh. In july 1862, work commenced on laying the gardens on 33 acres of land at byculla. The victoria gardens were first open to public in November 1872 by lady frere. Since then 15 more acres have been added to the gardens. Apart from the beautiful flora and fauna the gardens has some interesting architecture to display. Also, situated in the Gardens is the Bhau Daji Lad Museum (formerly Victoria and Albert Museum), mainly of industrial and agricultural interest. A large stone elephant, brought originally from the elephanta caves, once stood on the shores of elephanta island now stands guard at the entrance to the Victoria gardens. At the main entrance to the gardens is a clock tower, reminiscent of Italian Renaissance, but the clock has stopped ticking a long time ago. The gardens boast of scores of trees, some of which are really old.
Highlights include an ornamental gateway, an arched architectural screen and a museum building in the Greco-Roman style. the zoo houses many endangered species of animals and birds.There are a number of wild animals that can be spotted at Jijamata Udayan Zoo that include tigers, lions, elephants, bears and monkeys.

What are the timings of Jijamata Udayan zoo?

The zoo is open from 9am to 6pm on all days except Wednesdays.