Patna Zoo: timings, tickets and what to see
Patna Zoo is the 153-acre zoo and botanical garden on Bailey Road in Patna, Bihar, right beside Jay Prakash Narayan International Airport. It opened in 1973, was called Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park from 1981, and got its old name back in April 2026. Locals call it Patna Chidiya Ghar. It is closed on Mondays.
पटना चिड़ियाघर (पटना ज़ू), बेली रोड, पटना। सोमवार को बंद। मंगलवार से रविवार सुबह 8:30 से शाम 5:30 बजे तक खुला, अंतिम प्रवेश शाम 5 बजे। टिकट: वयस्क ₹50, बच्चे ₹20, तीन साल से छोटे बच्चों के लिए निःशुल्क।
- Where
- Bailey Road, Patna, Bihar, next to the airport
- Open
- Tuesday to Sunday, 8:30 am to 5:30 pm; last entry 5 pm. Closed Monday.
- Entry
- ₹50 adult, ₹20 child, under 3 free
- Size
- About 153 acres (62 hectares)
- Animals
- Over 800 animals of more than 100 species
- Plants
- Over 300 species of trees, herbs and shrubs
- Run by
- Government of Bihar; Central Zoo Authority member
- Official site
- patnazoo.bihar.gov.in, phone 0612-2217758
Timings and tickets
| Tuesday to Sunday | 8:30 am to 5:30 pm, last entry 5:00 pm |
|---|---|
| Morning walk (pass holders) | 5:30 am to 9:00 am |
| Rhino Breeding Centre | 10:00 am to 4:00 pm |
| Monday | Closed, unless it is a public holiday |
| Ticket | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult | ₹50 |
| Child (under 3 free) | ₹20 |
| 1 January, adult / child (counter only) | ₹150 / ₹60 |
| School groups, per person | ₹10 |
| College groups, per person | ₹30 |
| Machali Ghar aquarium, adult / child | ₹20 / ₹10 |
| Boating, 30 minutes, 2-seater / 4-seater | ₹100 / ₹120 |
| Shishu Udyan children's park, adult / child | ₹20 / ₹10 |
| Parking, two-wheeler / car | ₹15 / ₹40 |
| Still camera / video camera | ₹300 / ₹100 |
Timings and prices are as published on the zoo's official website on 9 September 2026. The zoo's own pages list slightly different closing times for different seasons, and tickets are valid only on the day of purchase, so confirm on patnazoo.bihar.gov.in before you travel. Online booking is on the same site.
What to see
- Rhino Breeding Centre. The zoo's signature. Patna has bred the greater one-horned rhinoceros for decades, and the dedicated centre opened in 2019 reports 13 calves born by 2025. Open 10 am to 4 pm in the eastern section.
- Big cats and bears. Royal Bengal tigers, an Asiatic lioness, leopards, a clouded leopard and Himalayan black bears.
- Elephants, hippos and giraffe. Asian elephants are the visitor favourite; there are also hippopotamus, giraffe, zebra, sambar, spotted deer and blackbuck.
- Gharial pond and snake house. Gharials have bred here since 2001 and now number in the dozens; the snake house holds several native species.
- Machali Ghar. The fish-shaped aquarium with about 35 species of fish.
- The lake. Pedal boating at the centre of the park; the most popular stop on winter afternoons.
- Toy train, 3D theatre and Shishu Udyan. The children's circuit, all charged separately.
- The gardens. A rose garden, orchid house, fern house, medicinal plant garden and a nature library. The park started life as a botanical garden and still has over 300 plant species.
- Birds. Peafowl, hill myna, emu and, in the trees, enough wild birds to draw Patna's birders.
How to reach Patna Zoo
The entrance is on Bailey Road, near Raj Bhavan. The zoo shares its boundary with Jay Prakash Narayan International Airport, so from the airport it is only a few minutes by taxi. From Patna Junction railway station it is about 8 km, or 20 to 30 minutes by auto-rickshaw or taxi along Bailey Road. City buses run along Bailey Road and stop at the zoo gate. In map apps, "Patna Zoo" and "Patna Chidiya Ghar" both work.
There is parking at the gate for more than 200 vehicles, with separate space for buses. The main paths are paved, with ramps, accessible toilets and reserved parking near the entrance.
Rules worth knowing
- Last entry is one hour before closing, and a ticket does not allow re-entry.
- Single-use plastic bottles, alcohol, drones, pets and large bags are not allowed inside. Food is sold at the Mayur Canteen and stalls.
- Photography is allowed without flash; commercial shoots need a permit, and there is a camera fee.
- Feeding or teasing animals, and damaging property, carries a fine of ₹500.
A short history
The park began in 1969 as a botanical garden on 34 acres given from the Governor's House campus. In 1972 the Public Works and Revenue Departments added enough land to reach today's 153 acres, and in 1973 it opened to the public as a zoo. In 1981 the Government of Bihar renamed it Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park, a name that never displaced "Patna Zoo" in everyday use. The land was declared protected forest in 1983.
In April 2026 the Bihar cabinet restored the name Patna Zoo. The zoo is a member of the Central Zoo Authority and ranked fourth among Indian zoos in the authority's 2022 management effectiveness evaluation. It is Patna's most visited picnic spot: the zoo reports 45 to 55 lakh visitors a year, and 36,000 people came through the gates on New Year's Day 2022 alone.
Questions people ask
What are Patna Zoo timings?
Patna Zoo is open Tuesday to Sunday from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm, with last entry at 5:00 pm. Morning-walk pass holders can enter from 5:30 am to 9:00 am. Hours shift slightly with the season, so check the official site before you go.
Is Patna Zoo closed on Monday?
Yes. Patna Zoo is closed every Monday, except when a public holiday falls on a Monday.
What is the Patna Zoo ticket price?
Entry is ₹50 for adults and ₹20 for children; children under 3 enter free. On 1 January tickets cost ₹150 for adults and ₹60 for children. The aquarium, boating and the children's park are charged separately.
How do I book Patna Zoo tickets online?
Online booking is available through the zoo's official website, patnazoo.bihar.gov.in, under Book Tickets. Counter tickets are also sold at the gate. On 1 January tickets are sold only at the counter.
Where is Patna Zoo?
On Bailey Road in Patna, Bihar, next to Jay Prakash Narayan International Airport and near Raj Bhavan. It is about 8 km from Patna Junction railway station. In map apps, search for Patna Zoo or Patna Chidiya Ghar.
What is Patna Zoo famous for?
Its greater one-horned rhinoceros breeding programme, one of the most successful in India, along with tigers, elephants, gharials, a large lake with boating, a toy train and a botanical garden with over 300 plant species.
Is Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park the same as Patna Zoo?
Yes. The zoo was named Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park (Sanjay Gandhi Jaivik Udyan) from 1981 until April 2026, when the Bihar cabinet restored the name Patna Zoo. Locals also call it Patna Chidiya Ghar.