Quick answer: Nehru Zoological Park, popularly called the Hyderabad Zoo, is a 380-acre zoo in Bahadurpura, beside the Mir Alam Tank, run by the Telangana forest department’s Zoos and Parks Authority. It opened to the public on 6 October 1963 and is known for its lion and tiger safaris, nocturnal animal house, butterfly park and dinosaur park. As of October 2026, the zoo’s official website lists timings of 8:30 am to 4 pm (closed on Mondays) and an entry fee of ₹120 for adults and ₹60 for children aged 3 to 12.
Nehru Zoological Park at a glance
| Detail | What the zoo states (checked October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Location | Near Mir Alam Tank, NH 44, Bahadurpura, Hyderabad 500004 |
| Timings | Tuesday to Sunday, 8:30 am to 4:00 pm |
| Closed on | Mondays |
| Entry fee: adults (above 12) | ₹120 (weekdays, weekends and holidays) |
| Entry fee: children (3 to 12) | ₹60 |
| Still or video camera | ₹500 each |
| Area | 380 acres, next to the 600-acre Mir Alam Tank |
| Time needed | Half a day; a full day if you take the safari and buggy |
Charges for rides and attractions
| Attraction | Adults (above 12) | Children (3 to 12) |
|---|---|---|
| Lion and tiger safari | ₹110 | ₹110 |
| Battery-operated vehicle (buggy) | ₹135 | ₹75 |
| Toy train | ₹90 | ₹45 |
| Fish aquarium | ₹25 | ₹25 |
These are the charges on the zoo’s official website (nzptsfd.telangana.gov.in) in October 2026. Tickets can be booked online through the website or the zoo’s app, or bought at the gate. Tickets cannot be moved to another date, cancelled or changed once issued. The zoo notes that the waiting time for the buggy and the safari is at least an hour, so plan for queues.
An earlier version of this article gave much older charges: ₹50 for adults and ₹30 for children, with ₹50/₹30 for the safari, ₹60/₹40 for the buggy and ₹20/₹10 for the toy train. It also gave timings of 8 am to 5 pm. All of these have changed.
History of the Hyderabad zoo
According to the zoo, Nehru Zoological Park was started in 1959 by moving the animals of the old zoo in the Public Gardens in Hyderabad to a much larger site at Bahadurpura. It was inaugurated on 6 October 1963 and was named after Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first Prime Minister. (An earlier version of this article called Nehru the country’s first “head of state”; he was its first Prime Minister.)
The zoo says it was the first in India to display animals in zoological order in open enclosures, using wet and dry moats instead of cages wherever possible. It has around 159 enclosures. The adjoining Mir Alam Tank, with its unusual bund of 24 arches built about 200 years ago, attracts migratory and resident birds.
Several firsts followed. According to the zoo, the Lion Safari Park, opened in 1974 on 40 acres, was the first of its kind. The Tiger Safari followed in 1988 on 35 acres, and the Bear and Bison Safaris in 1992. The Butterfly Park, also established in 1988, made Hyderabad the first zoo in the country with a park dedicated only to butterflies.
Animals and attractions
The zoo’s website says it houses nearly 193 species of birds, animals and reptiles. Among them are Indian animals such as the Indian rhinoceros, Asiatic lion, Bengal tiger, leopard (panther), gaur, Indian elephant, slender loris and python, as well as deer, antelopes and many birds. The zoo is known for breeding Asiatic lions and Bengal tigers, and it runs breeding programmes for the mouse deer and vultures.
An earlier version of this article said the zoo had “more than 1,500 species”. That figure was wrong; the zoo itself gives nearly 193 species.
Lion and tiger safari
The safari takes visitors by vehicle through large enclosures where lions, tigers and other animals live in more natural surroundings. It is the most popular attraction, so expect a wait.
Nocturnal animal house
In the nocturnal house, day and night are reversed artificially, so that animals active at night, such as bats, lorises, civets, owls and small wild cats, are awake during visiting hours.
Butterfly park
The butterfly park, set up in 1988, has butterflies that can be seen through the year.
Jurassic Park
A favourite with children, the Jurassic Park has life-size models of dinosaurs, including Brontosaurus, Triceratops, Stegosaurus and Tyrannosaurus, with information about each species.
Natural History Museum and aquarium
The Natural History Museum has displays on biodiversity conservation, animal calls, pug marks and feathers, and taxidermy models. The aquarium has both freshwater and marine fish.
Toy train and buggy rides
Battery-operated vehicles run a hop-on, hop-off service with six halt points, which is the easiest way for older visitors and families with young children to see the zoo. The toy train is popular with children but does not stop on the way, and in quiet periods it may wait up to half an hour or more to fill up before leaving.
Facilities and rules
- Plastic-free zone: visitors may not carry plastic bags or packets inside. Any plastic must be handed to the security staff at the entrance gate.
- Parking: a designated parking stand for two-wheelers and four-wheelers, with parking tickets from the security staff.
- Amenities: lawns and shelters, a multi-cuisine food court and cafeteria, RO drinking water, toilets, a zoo shop, first aid, a cloakroom at the main entrance, free Wi-Fi, a help desk and wheelchairs for visitors with disabilities.
- Your belongings: the zoo says valuables are carried at the owner’s risk.
How to reach Nehru Zoological Park
- Location: the zoo is on NH 44 at Bahadurpura, near the Mir Alam Tank, on the edge of Hyderabad’s Old City.
- By road: city buses, auto-rickshaws and app cabs go to the zoo. Parking is available on site.
- Enquiries: the zoo lists its office landline as 040-2447 7355 and a WhatsApp help number, 92810 07836 (messages only).
Tips for visiting
- Do not go on a Monday, when the zoo is closed.
- Arrive soon after opening. Animals are more active in the morning, and safari queues are shorter.
- Leave plastic at home, carry a refillable water bottle and wear comfortable shoes; the zoo is large.
- Decide on the buggy or toy train early in the day, as both can involve long waits on busy days.
- Do not feed or tease the animals.
Places to visit near the zoo
The zoo is close to the Old City. Combine it with Charminar and Laad Bazaar, or the Salar Jung Museum on the Musi. Remember that the zoo closes on Mondays and the museum on Fridays. For more family days out, see our guides to Wonderla Hyderabad and the Jalavihar water park.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Hyderabad zoo open on Mondays?
No. Nehru Zoological Park is closed every Monday. From Tuesday to Sunday it is open from 8:30 am to 4 pm, according to the zoo’s website.
What is the Nehru Zoological Park entry fee?
As of October 2026, the zoo lists ₹120 for adults above 12 and ₹60 for children aged 3 to 12, on weekdays as well as weekends and holidays. The safari, buggy, toy train and aquarium cost extra.
How much does the lion and tiger safari cost?
The zoo lists ₹110 per person for the lion and tiger safari, for both adults and children, as of October 2026.
How big is Nehru Zoological Park?
The zoo covers 380 acres and adjoins the 600-acre Mir Alam Tank.
Can I carry plastic bags into the zoo?
No. The zoo is a plastic-free zone, and any plastic bags or packets must be handed over at the entrance gate.
Details checked in October 2026 against the official website of Nehru Zoological Park (Zoos and Parks Authority of Telangana): timings, tariff, history, special attractions and visitor amenities. Charges and timings can change, so check before you visit.
