Bannerghatta Biological Park sits on the forested edge of Bangalore, carved out in 2002 from the larger Bannerghatta National Park to create a dedicated zoo, safari, and rescue complex. What began as a simple picnic spot in the early 1970s has grown into one of South India’s most-visited wildlife destinations, drawing well over a million guests a year.
The park’s main draw is its lineup of drive-through safaris, where visitors ride in enclosed vehicles past free-ranging lions, tigers, bears, and herbivores rather than viewing them through static cages. Paired with a conventional zoo section and India’s first dedicated butterfly enclosure, Bannerghatta offers a broader cross-section of wildlife encounters than most urban parks in the country.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Bannerghatta, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
- Opened: 2002 (as Biological Park; site operating since 1971)
- Size: About 1,800 acres (732 hectares)
- Species: Around 137 species
- Annual Visitors: Over 1.6 million (FY2019-20)
- Famous For: Drive-through lion and tiger safaris
The Safari Experience
Bannerghatta’s safari zone is split into four separate circuits for lions, tigers, herbivores, and bears. The herbivore and bear sections were laid out back in the 1970s but didn’t open to public viewing until 2002, the same year the site was reorganized as Bannerghatta Biological Park. The park’s other two circuits opened earlier: the lion safari in 1979 and the tiger safari in 1987. Visitors tour each circuit in a caged bus, giving close-up views of Asiatic lions, Bengal tigers, and rescued sloth bears moving through naturalistic enclosures rather than enclosed pens.
The adjoining zoo rounds out the experience with species such as king cobras, crocodiles, panthers, and Thamin deer, while a separate rescue and rehabilitation centre cares for orphaned and injured wildlife recovered from across the region.
Butterfly Park and Beyond
Opened in 2007, the park’s Butterfly Park was India’s first dedicated butterfly enclosure, housing a glass conservatory that supports more than 20 butterfly species alongside an interpretation centre on pollinator biology.
Run by the Zoo Authority of Karnataka with research support from the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bannerghatta continues to expand its conservation role, making it as much a working rescue and breeding facility as a tourist attraction.
Explore more: more zoos and aquariums worth visiting.
Clips to a stroller, wagon or backpack strap. Quiet enough that it won't wake a napping toddler.
Cold water for the whole loop around the zoo, with a straw lid that doesn't leak in the bag.
A stick means no greasy hands. Reapply quickly between the penguins and the giraffes.
Bannerghatta Biological Park FAQs
What animals can you see at Bannerghatta Biological Park?
The park’s zoo and safari sections house around 137 species, including Bengal tigers, Asiatic lions, rescued sloth bears, panthers, crocodiles, king cobras, and Thamin deer.
How big is Bannerghatta Biological Park?
The park covers roughly 1,800 acres (about 732 hectares) on the southern edge of Bangalore.
When did the safari sections open?
The herbivore and bear safaris were laid out in the 1970s but didn’t open to the public until 2002, the same year the site was formally reorganized as Bannerghatta Biological Park. The park’s other two safari circuits opened earlier, with the lion safari starting in 1979 and the tiger safari in 1987.
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Photo: Ashwin06k / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.