Lucknow Zoo, the century old hangout of the city

There is perhaps hardly anyone in the city who hasn’t a childhood memory associated with the Lucknow Zoo. The Banarsi Bagh, as it is still popularly known, has been the most favourite place of visit for the school Children’s Day activities or a sunny winter morning outing with the family. As the Nawab

Wajid Ali Shah Zoological Garden

or

Lucknow Zoo

completes 100 years of its existence in the city next month, we explore what’s special about the zoo.
From the Bal Rail to the Baradari, the Hukku Bandar and the deer park, many a mornings and afternoons have been well spent at the zoo by almost everyone in the city. And making it special this year is the centenary celebrations of the zoo with a series of activities planned.

The celebrations kick off with the installation of a Centenary Pillar in the premises,” informs RK Singh, the Director. “Standing tall as a testimony to the zoo's long journey, the pillar will have inscriptions on both its sides. While the history of Lucknow Zoo will be carved on one side, the other side will have its inauguration date,” he says, adding, “A postage stamp replicating the design of the zoo logo will also be released on the occasion. We will also release, special memorabilia comprising of pictures clicked by the visitors from the past and the present. So, would like to urge to city folk that they too share their recommendations about the things that can be a part of the memorabilia.”

What’s in a name: From

Banarasi Bagh

to Nawab Wajid Ali Shah Zoological Garden
Irrespective of the name, the Lucknow Zoo has been a favourite haunt over the years. Its sprawling gardens with the tall palm trees and the museum with it mummies has been an attraction for both the young and the old. Developed as a mango orchard in the 18th century by Nawab Nasiruddin Haider, the then Nawab of Awadh the place was named Banarasi Bagh during those times, and is still referred to by the same even today.

In 1921, the garden was transformed into an animal shelter, based on the ideas of Governor Sir

Harcourt Butler

. Later, the name was changed twice. While the Prince of Wales Zoological Gardens Trust was renamed to Lucknow Zoological Garden in 2001, it got the recent name Nawab Wajid Ali Shah Zoological Garden in 2015.

Historical Baradari
Many of us would recall munching on our tiffins or goodies packs during the Children’s Day celebrations while sitting in the cool Baradari. An older us may also remember swinging around the marble pillars humming a song or two or just twirling around like a filmy dancer. That is the

Nagardi Baradari

in the zoo. Built around 1828 by Nasiruddin Hyder, the second Nawab of Awadh as a centre of entertainment, the Baradari has also been part of a few film shoots. Like the song Inn Aankhon Ki Masti Ke from the Rekha starrer, Muzaffar Ali directed Umrao Jaan.

Toy Train

One of the main attractions for children and other visitors alike is the Toy Train, also known as Balrail. Started for the first time on 14 November 1969 and the station was named Chandrapuri Station, the new Balrail and railway track was inaugurated in February 2014. Taking the passengers on a whole tour of the 29 acres of the zoo, the train also passes the main animal enclosures in the zoo.

Paddle boating
Another major attraction in the zoo is paddle boating. In winters, people in large numbers turn up to enjoy boating in the lake around the birds' enclosures.

A first in the state:

Butterfly Park

The recent must-see addition to Lucknow Zoo is the butterfly park, which is also the first butterfly park of the state, and was inaugurated in April 2018. The park is built in two acres and hosts plants of more than 80 varieties for different types of butterflies. About 28 types of butterflies are presently seen in this butterfly park.

Coming of age with the digital revolution
According to the Zoo officials, Lucknow Zoo is India’s first zoological garden to introduce mixed reality with smart audio-guided tour of the park with the help of an app that helps one walk through the zoo using Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR).

A CLASS APART!

• Lucknow Zoo has 3 ISO certificates to its credit, which has made it the only zoological park in the country to have such an achievement in its portfolio
• Nawab Wajid Ali Shah Zoological Garden or Lucknow Zoo recently became a member of the

  World Association of Zoos and Aquariums

  (WAZA). Zoo officials said the membership will help in providing a special global platform to the zoo in attracting talent and knowledge on animal care and welfare from around the world. It will also help in international networks.
• A first of its kind, Zoo also installed Braille information boards for visually impaired children.