Last updated: October 2026
Patna Zoo, officially the Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park, is the city’s most popular family outing. It combines a zoo, a botanical garden, a boating lake and a toy train across about 153 acres on Bailey Road. Entry fees went up in April 2025, so many older guides now show the wrong price.
Quick Facts
| Official name | Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park (Sanjay Gandhi Jaivik Udyan) |
| Popularly called | Patna Zoo |
| Location | Bailey Road, near Raj Bhavan, Patna |
| Area | About 153 acres |
| History | Botanical garden from 1969, opened to the public as a zoo in 1973 |
| Weekly off | Monday |
| Timings | 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM, last entry 5:00 PM |
| Entry fee | Adults Rs, 50, children Rs. 20 (revised April 2025) |
| Animals | 800+ animals, roughly 90 to 110 species |
| Time needed | 2 to 4 hours |
Patna Zoo Ticket Price (Revised April 2025)
From 1 April 2025, Bihar’s Department of Environment, Forest and Climate Change raised the entry fees at the zoo.
| Category | Entry fee |
|---|---|
| Adults | Rs. 50 (was Rs. 30) |
| Children | Rs. 20 (was Rs. 10) |
| Student groups (10+ school students) | Rs. 10 per student (was Rs. 5) |
Three more things to know:
- The authorities also raised the boating fee, the children’s park fee and the morning-walk pass. I couldn’t find the new amounts, so confirm them at the counter.
- The toy train, battery car and 3D theatre cost extra.
- The zoo lists a separate, higher rate for 1 January. Avoid that day if you can, because the crowds are huge too. More than 36,000 people visited on New Year’s Day in 2022.
Check the official zoo website for the latest prices before you go. Fees at government parks change often.
Patna Zoo Timings and Weekly Off
The zoo is closed every Monday. Every source I found agrees on this.
On the other six days, the zoo’s website lists 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM for ticketed visitors, with last entry at 5:00 PM. Some older guides say it opens at 8:00 AM, so arrive early if you want to beat the heat.
Morning walkers follow a separate timetable. The zoo publishes a morning-walk window of roughly 5:30 AM to 9:00 AM for pass holders. Older guides said entry was free before 8 AM. The 2025 revision changed the pass prices, so confirm the current rules at the gate.
One more tip: check the zoo’s website before a long trip. Earlier in 2026, it carried a notice closing the park to all visitors until 7 March 2026 as a bird-flu precaution. Closures like this can happen with little warning.
What You Can See at Patna Zoo
The zoo holds more than 800 animals, according to Wikipedia and Tripadvisor. Visitors regularly mention:
- Tigers, including Royal Bengal tigers. The zoo has also received a white tiger from Nandankanan Zoo in Odisha.
- Indian one-horned rhinoceroses
- Hippopotamuses. The zoo reported its first hippo birth in 2001, and several more since.
- Elephants and giraffes
- Leopards, deer and many birds
- Reptiles. The snake house holds about five species.
- Fish. The aquarium holds roughly 35 species.
The botanical garden adds more than 300 tree species, which makes the long walks pleasant.
Things to Do Inside the Zoo
- Toy train. It loops through the park about every 30 minutes and covers the whole zoo.
- Boating. The lake sits in the middle of the park. Two-seater boats cost Rs. 80 before the 2025 revision.
- Battery-powered car. It stops at intervals along the route and costs extra. It helps if you’re travelling with small children or older relatives.
- 3D theatre and interpretation centre. It screens wildlife films several times a day.
- Aquarium and reptile house. Both are quick stops for children.
- Children’s park and rose garden. Both work well for a rest between enclosures.
- Food. A canteen and a food court are available inside.
Expect to walk for at least an hour. Wear comfortable shoes and carry water.
A Short History
The Government of Bihar started the park as a botanical garden in 1969. It opened to the public as a zoo in 1973. Since then, it has combined both roles, which is why officials call it a biological park. The state later named it after Sanjay Gandhi.
How to Reach Patna Zoo
The zoo sits on Bailey Road near Raj Bhavan. Older guides give these approximate distances:
- Airport: about 5 km
- Railway station (Patna Junction): about 7 km
- Bus stand: about 9 km
Most visitors arrive by auto, cab or private car.
Best Time to Visit
October to March is the most comfortable season. Go on a weekday morning for smaller crowds, and avoid Mondays (closed) and 1 January (very crowded). Summer visits work best right after opening, before the heat builds.
Nearby Content on Beauty of India
- Eco Park Patna (Rajdhani Vatika)
- Buddha Smriti Park, Patna
- Patna Planetarium (Taramandal)
- Top 20 Best Places to Visit in Patna
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Patna Zoo ticket price? Since April 2025, adults pay Rs. 50 and children pay Rs. 20. Groups of 10 or more school students pay Rs. 10 each. Boating, the toy train and the battery car cost extra, so check the official site for current rates.
Is Patna Zoo closed on Monday? Yes. The zoo is closed every Monday and open Tuesday to Sunday.
What are the Patna Zoo timings? The zoo’s website lists 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM, with last entry at 5:00 PM. Some older guides give 8:00 AM, so confirm before you travel.
What is the full name of Patna Zoo? Its official name is Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park, also called Sanjay Gandhi Jaivik Udyan.
How much time do you need at Patna Zoo? Plan on 2 to 4 hours. The park covers about 153 acres, and most visitors walk for at least an hour.
Which animals can you see at Patna Zoo? Visitors mention tigers, one-horned rhinoceroses, hippopotamuses, elephants and giraffes, plus an aquarium and a snake house. The animals on display change over time.
Is there a toy train or boating at Patna Zoo? Yes. A toy train runs about every 30 minutes, and you can go boating on the lake inside the park. Both cost extra.
Is Patna Zoo open right now? The zoo’s website posts closure notices. Early in 2026, it was closed to visitors until 7 March as a bird-flu precaution. Check the site before a long trip.
पटना ज़ू: अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले सवाल
पटना ज़ू का टिकट कितने का है? अप्रैल 2025 में बढ़ी दरों के अनुसार वयस्कों का टिकट Rs. 50 और बच्चों का Rs. 20 है। 10 या उससे ज़्यादा स्कूली छात्रों के समूह को प्रति छात्र Rs. 10 देने पड़ते हैं। बोटिंग और बच्चों के पार्क की दरें भी बढ़ी हैं, इसलिए काउंटर पर पूछ लें।
पटना ज़ू किस दिन बंद रहता है? पटना ज़ू हर सोमवार को बंद रहता है। यह मंगलवार से रविवार तक खुला रहता है।
पटना ज़ू का टाइमिंग क्या है? चिड़ियाघर की वेबसाइट के अनुसार टिकट वाले पर्यटकों के लिए यह सुबह 9 बजे से शाम 5:30 बजे तक खुला रहता है। आख़िरी एंट्री शाम 5 बजे तक होती है। कुछ पुरानी गाइडों में सुबह 8 बजे का समय मिलता है, इसलिए जाने से पहले एक बार पुष्टि कर लें।
पटना ज़ू कहाँ है? संजय गांधी जैविक उद्यान, यानी पटना ज़ू, बेली रोड पर राजभवन के पास है। पटना जंक्शन से इसकी दूरी लगभग 7 किलोमीटर है।
पटना ज़ू में क्या-क्या देख सकते हैं? यहाँ बाघ, गैंडे, दरियाई घोड़े, हाथी, मछलीघर और साँपों का घर है। इसके अलावा टॉय ट्रेन, झील में बोटिंग और बच्चों का पार्क भी है।
