Before you head to the Children’s Park in Guindy, call ahead. The park was shut to visitors on 20 March 2026 “till further notice” after nearly 40 birds in its aviary died and tests at the national laboratory in Bhopal confirmed H5N1 avian influenza, DT Next reported. Officials said it would reopen only when repeated tests came back negative. We could not confirm a reopening date as of 18 October 2026, so check with the Chennai Wildlife Division on 044 2235 1471 before you go.
The wider Guindy National Park, the Snake Park next door and the Children’s Park are three different things run by different hands, which confuses many first-time visitors. Here is what each one is, the most recent official fees and timings we could find, and what you can expect to see.
Three places on one campus
| Place | Run by | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Guindy National Park | Tamil Nadu Forest Department | About 2.7 sq km of protected scrub forest and grassland |
| Children’s Park | Forest Department, Chennai Wildlife Division | A 22-acre small zoo, recognised by the Central Zoo Authority |
| Chennai Snake Park | Chennai Snake Park Trust | Reptile park with snakes, crocodiles and tortoises |
The Children’s Park and Snake Park have their own gates on Sardar Patel Road, opposite the IIT Madras side and a short walk from Guindy railway and metro stations.
Guindy National Park: the forest itself
This is one of very few national parks inside a city. The area, about 270 hectares, was declared a national park in 1978, according to Down To Earth. Its history goes back to a private estate that the Madras Presidency government bought in 1821; it became a reserved forest in 1910, and the grounds of Raj Bhavan, the Governor’s residence, adjoin it. IIT Madras was carved out of the original area in 1961.
Tamil Nadu Tourism lists around 400 blackbuck and 200 spotted deer, along with jackals, snakes and tortoises, and more than 130 resident and migratory bird species. The vegetation is tropical dry evergreen scrub, thorn forest and grassland with seasonal streams. The core forest is not open for casual walk-ins; visits are generally arranged with the Forest Department, and you need permission to enter.
Children’s Park: fees, timings and what’s inside
Set up in 1959 and inaugurated by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, the park is a small zoo aimed at children. Its collection, according to the Central Zoo Authority’s 2019-20 annual report, includes blackbuck, spotted, barking and sambar deer, jackals, palm civets, porcupines, macaques, peafowl, pelicans, storks, parakeets, owls, emus, marsh crocodiles and tortoises.
The park was renovated for Rs 30 crore and reopened in August 2024. News Today reported the upgrade added:
- a walk-through aviary of about 30,000 sq ft, over 30 ft tall, with Vedanthangal-type waterbirds such as painted storks, pelicans, ibis, spoonbills and night herons;
- new enclosures for mouse deer, barking deer, blackbuck and gharial;
- an air-conditioned children’s library with about 1,000 books and a wildlife awareness centre;
- two cafeterias, new toilets, drinking water points, CCTV and QR-code ticket counters.
It was this aviary that was hit by the bird flu outbreak in March 2026.
Fees after the renovation: Rs 60 for adults and Rs 10 for children, as reported at the 2024 reopening. Weekly holiday: Tuesday, according to the CZA. The CZA’s information sheet lists visiting hours of 9 am to 5.30 pm; these may have changed since the renovation, so confirm before you go. The Forest Department introduced WhatsApp-based ticketing for the Guindy parks in January 2025.
Chennai Snake Park
The Snake Park is run by an independent trust, not the Forest Department, and sets its own fees and hours. It runs educational programmes for schools, including a wildlife career series launched in 2025. Like the Children’s Park, it has traditionally been closed on Tuesdays. Check the trust’s notice board or phone before visiting.
Tips for a visit
- Go early on a weekday. Weekends and school holidays bring long queues, especially around Pongal.
- Take the metro or suburban train to Guindy; parking on Sardar Patel Road is limited.
- Carry water and caps. Much of the walk is in the open.
- Do not feed the animals or tap on enclosures, and keep plastic out; the campus is a protected area.
- With bird flu in mind, wash hands after visiting and avoid touching bird droppings or feathers.
Quick answers
Is Guindy Children’s Park open now?
It was closed on 20 March 2026 because of avian flu. A reopening date could not be confirmed as of 18 October 2026; call 044 2235 1471.
What is the entry fee for Guindy Children’s Park?
Rs 60 for adults and Rs 10 for children, as reported when it reopened after renovation in August 2024.
Which day is Guindy Children’s Park closed?
Tuesday.
Can I walk into Guindy National Park?
Not freely. The forest is protected, and visits need Forest Department permission.
Information checked against official sources on 18 October 2026. Fees, dates and rules can change; confirm on the linked official pages before acting.
Sources
- Guindy National Park (Tamil Nadu Tourism)
- Children’s Park, Guindy: zoo information sheet (Central Zoo Authority)
- Annual Report 2019-20, Children’s Park Guindy (Central Zoo Authority)
- Stalin inaugurates renovated Children’s Nature Park (News Today)
- Dozens of birds die of avian flu, Guindy Children’s Park shut down (DT Next)
- Guindy National Park: from colonial game reserve to green lungs of Chennai (Down To Earth)
