Mysore Zoo

Mysore Zoo is one of my favourites of all time. The official website of the zoo is http://mysorezoo.info/
The article covers the following information

• Location
• Fees and Online booking
• Time 
• Blast in past
• Favourites
• Pictures

Location

Located in Mysore, Karnataka, India bank opposite the famous Mysore Palace. It has been added to our itenary whenever we cross Mysore just like the Ranganthittu Bird Sanctuary.

Fees

Fees of the Zoo are available at the Mysore Zoo Webiste
The tickets are now also available online nowadays.

Time

The zoo opens at 9:00 am and its best time to see the animals.
The parking lot in front of the zoo is relatively empty and its easier to get slot.
If you reach the zoo later half of the day, its difficult to get parking. Then its advisable to park the car in your hotel and come by local transport - auto rickshaw preferably.
You cannot beat the nature, as the animals take a nap in afternoon. So chances of spotting animals active and in action is less.

Blast in past

I had chance to visit the Mysore Zoo while I was child along with my cousins way back in 1989. I always cherished fond memories of my Zoo visit. I was keen to take my son to the zoo when moved to Bangalore, India.

Back in 1989 - this zoo was one of the few zoos in India which had the concept of keeping the animals in open captivity and not in cage. It was and is treat to all kids. Its well kept and maintained zoo. Has lot of variety of animals.

For those who are not aware of the open captivity zoo concept.

The carnivorous and other huge animals are not kept in the cage bars. The animals are kept in open ground. This ground is surrounded by deep trench at least 10 feet wide. This protects the animals from escaping the open captivity.

Some of my favourites are

• Giraffes at the entrance
• Tigers followed by the giraffes - one can skip the birds section
• Monkeys sections - Gorilla forms major attraction for all
• Rhino and Zebras are placed opposite each other
• Elephants - post the Rhinos one can quickly skip the deer section and head towards the Elephants
• Lions / Cheetahs - these are however kept in the caged environment due to various safety reasons.
• Alligators / Crocodiles/ Storks - enclosed in the captivity in which you can walk through.

Sometimes pictures are more worth then words.