Arignar Anna Zoo Park: a practical visitor guide

Arignar Anna Zoo Park is in Vandalur, on the outskirts of Chennai. The main entrance is on the eastern side of National Highway 45, also called Grand Southern Trunk Road, near the intersection with Vandalur–Kelambakkam Road.

Vandalur railway station is about 1 km from the zoo’s main entrance. The zoo is also about 6 km from Tambaram and about 15 km from Chennai Airport. Vandalur Reserve Forest is another nearby nature area, with a different setting from the zoo’s managed grounds.

Ticket booking closes at 4:30 p.m., so plan to arrive with time to enter and make your visit.

Opening hours

• Monday and Wednesday to Sunday: 9:00–17:00
• Tuesday: closed

Last checked November 2026. Hours can change on holidays and for special events.

The zoo tariff gives an entry price of ₹200 for adults and ₹50 for children above 5 and below 12; children below 5 enter free. It also provides free entry for differently abled visitors and applies to Indian and foreign visitors.

Online entry-ticket booking is available, and the zoo recommends booking online to avoid queuing. Safari tickets are available online or offline; the zoo has 20 offline booking counters.

Add-on fares are ₹150 for adults and ₹50 for children above 5 and below 12 for the zoo-round vehicle, and ₹150 for adults and ₹30 for children in the safari.

Camera charges are ₹350 for a handy camera, including camera, SLR or DSLR, and ₹750 for a video camera. Tariffs and operating details can change, so check the official site before you go; the zoo is operated by the Tamil Nadu Forest Department.

From Tambaram, the zoo is about 6 km away. Vandalur railway station is about 1 km from the main entrance, so you can use the suburban rail network and continue from the station to the zoo. For local connections and onward travel, the Tambaram station guide covers the station’s exits and links.

If you are travelling by car, the zoo entrance is near the meeting point of National Highway 45 and Vandalur–Kelambakkam Road.

Parking is available near the entrance on Kelambakkam Road and in an additional area beside the zoo rescue centre; a free shuttle connects that additional parking area with the entrance. Parking charges range from ₹40 for a two-wheeler to ₹200 for a bus. Bicycles and cycle rickshaws are free.

Allow for a large site: the zoo covers 602 hectares. Battery-operated vehicles and bicycle rentals are available as ways to tour the grounds; allocation for battery-operated vehicles is first come, first served. The zoo-round vehicle and safari have separate fares, so consider those costs alongside entry when planning your day.

The wider Vandalur area also has natural surroundings beyond the zoo. The Vandalur Reserve Forest guide focuses on access to the forest and nearby nature, rather than the zoo visit.

The zoo has RO drinking-water points, restrooms, seating benches, rest shelters and a designated space for mothers to feed babies. Dining areas and cloakrooms are at the entrance; luggage and personal belongings can be left in the entrance cloakroom free of cost. Restaurant and food-court outlets are operated by Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation, Aavin and TANTEA.

Wheelchairs are available on the premises for visitors with disabilities. You may bring a non-motorized wheelchair without a fee, but motorized wheelchairs are not permitted inside the zoo. Check current facility arrangements with the zoo before your visit.

The zoo estimates an average visit at 4 to 5 hours. It estimates 3 to 4 hours for a walking visit, 2 to 3 hours by bicycle, and 45 minutes to 1 hour by battery-operated vehicle. Those estimates can help you choose a touring option and decide how much of the day to set aside.

The zoo is about a 19-minute drive from Hotel Grand Parkway. Build your schedule around the zoo’s closing time and your chosen way of touring.