Birdwatching at the Alipore Zoological Gardens

Built on the lines of the London Zoo, the Alipore Zoological Gardens is the oldest zoo in the country, opened for public viewing way back in the May of 1876. It goes without saying that the zoological garden is a major tourist attraction of Kolkata and draws tourists in thousands almost every day. During Christmas and New Year it records nearly a million footfalls.
The zoo is not only known for its expansive collection of birds and animals but also for its conservation activities. One of the most famous specimens in the park happens to be Adwaita—a giant Aldabra tortoise that lived for 250 years till its death in 2006. It is said that Adwaita was brought from Seychelles by Lord Clive’s seafarers. The zoo is home to more than 1000 species of birds, mammals and reptiles.

Admire the pride of lions and the Royal Bengal Tiger as they roam about in their respective enclosures. Feed the elephants, the giraffes and the hippopotamus at their spaces and capture in your lenses some colourful birds such as crested serpent eagle, Openbill stork, Quaker parakeet Red-breasted parakeet and many more. The reptiles stationed in the zoo such as the marsh crocodile and the Indian Cobra are another spectacular sight to behold.
During winters, when the influx of tourists is at its height, the zoo transforms into a picnic spot with families spending their entire day in the premises. Do not forget to explore the Calcutta Aquarium stationed right opposite the zoo. The zoo can be reached easily from the Rabindra Sadan Metro Station. A tour of Kolkata is incomplete without a trip to the Alipore Zoological Gardens.