Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park, Wildlife park in Katraj, India
Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park is a zoo in the Katraj neighborhood of Pune, spreading over a large site with separate animal enclosures, a lake, and a reptile section. The grounds consist of several zones with paved pathways running through wooded areas, allowing visitors to observe animals in enclosures that mimic their natural environments.
The facility began as Peshwe Park in 1953 at a different location before moving to its present site in Katraj and reopening as Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park in 1999. The relocation allowed for a larger area and improved conditions for the animals housed there.
The park takes its name from Rajiv Gandhi, a former prime minister of India, and now serves as an educational destination for school groups from across the Pune region. Weekends draw families who picnic under shaded trees and use the wide pathways for leisurely strolls.
The park opens every day and can be explored in about three to four hours, with early morning visits offering more comfort before midday heat sets in. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended as the paths are long and include some inclines.
The grounds house several rescued and rehabilitated animals from the Western Ghats mountains that cannot return to the wild after injury or illegal captivity. The large lake also hosts free-living waterbirds that have settled there independently and use the site as a resting stop.
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