VANAMCOVE 
Zoo and botanical park
Why this weekend?
The day-by-day plan
Day 1 · The zoo park
- Tiger visit
- Lion safari
- Aviary walk
- Lake boat
- Return
Geography & terrain
Nandankanan lies in the Khordha district of Odisha, 15 km from Bhubaneswar and 20 km from Cuttack — the zoo park of the region, its white tigers, the safari and the lake set on the Chandaka forest's edge.
History & culture
The park's story runs with the 1960 zoo founding — the Nandankanan of the botanical garden and the zoo of the 1960, with the park's modern role as the family stop of the Bhubaneswar circuit and the home of the white tigers and the 1974 white tiger cub (the first in the captivity); the park's history of the 1987 safari and the 2000 rescued animals, gives the park its zoo character.
Where to stay
Budget
₹1,500–3,500/night
Mid-range
₹3,500–7,000/night
Comfort
₹7,000+/night
Things to do
- White tigers
- Open safaris
- Bird aviaries
- Lake boats
- Botanic trails
Eat & drink
- Pakhala with fried fish
- Dalma
- Rasagola
- Chenna poda
Getting there
- Fly
- Bhubaneswar (BBI)
- Train
- Bhubaneswar & Cuttack junctions
- Road from Bhubaneswar
- varies by district — 40–400 km
- Getting around
- Autos and city buses
Budget snapshot
- Total
- ₹6,000–12,500 (1 days)
- Per day · Stay
- ₹1,500–7,000/night
- Per day · Food
- ₹600–1,000
- Per day · Transport
- ₹1,200–1,600
- Per day · Activities
- ₹2,500–2,900
Month by month
- Jan · Best
- 9–27°C · None rain
- Feb · Good
- 12–31°C · None rain
- Mar · Hot
- 17–36°C · None rain
- Apr · Hot
- 23–41°C · None rain
- May · Hot
- 26–42°C · None rain
- Jun · Monsoon
- 27–38°C · Heavy rain
- Jul · Monsoon
- 25–32°C · Heavy rain
- Aug · Monsoon
- 25–31°C · Heavy rain
- Sep · Monsoon tail
- 24–33°C · Moderate rain
- Oct · Good
- 18–32°C · Light rain
- Nov · Best
- 12–29°C · None rain
- Dec · Best
- 9–26°C · None rain
Practical info
- Language: Odia (English understood in tourist spots)
- Best window: Oct–Mar
- Connectivity: good 4G in towns
- UPI/cards widely accepted; keep small cash for hill and market stops
Practical tips
- The season (Oct–Mar) holds the park's calm
- The safari asks the ticket hours
- The mornings hold the animals' life
Frequently asked questions
What is Nandankanan?
The zoo park of the white tigers.
What is there to do?
The tigers, the safari and the lake.
How long is the visit?
A full day.
Zoo and botanical park
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