Jijamata Udyaan, Zoo in Byculla, Mumbai, India
Jijamata Udyaan is a zoo and botanical garden in Byculla that covers 20 hectares and includes enclosures for mammals, birds, and reptiles. Pathways lead through sections with trees and flower beds, while covered exhibition spaces display smaller animal species.
The park was founded in 1861 as Victoria Gardens under British administration, starting from a 13-hectare plot in the Mount Estate. After independence, it received its present name, which recalls the mother of a seventeenth-century ruler.
The name honors the seventeenth-century mother of Maratha ruler Shivaji, whose role in regional history remains visible here. Visitors also encounter the Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum, whose facade displays columns and arches in a European style.
The entrance lies in Byculla and opens from Thursday to Tuesday between half past nine in the morning and six in the evening. Visitors find shade under trees and can adjust their tour depending on interest in particular animal groups.
A climate-controlled enclosure houses eight penguins from South Korea, which stand out as an exception in the tropical city. This facility keeps temperatures low enough for animals from colder regions to live here.
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