An adult ticket to Arignar Anna Zoological Park at Vandalur now costs ₹200, children between 5 and 12 pay ₹50, and children under five and differently abled visitors go in free, according to the zoo’s official tariff page. The zoo-round vehicle and the safari round are charged separately, at ₹150 each for adults, so a family that wants the full experience should budget well above the gate price.
The park sits off the GST Road at Vandalur on the southern edge of Chennai and is run by the Tamil Nadu Forest Department. The zoo’s website puts its area at 602 hectares, including a 92.45-hectare rescue and rehabilitation centre, and says it holds about 2,600 animals. With the northeast monsoon under way since 15 October, here is what to know before you go.
What it costs, item by item
Every figure below is from the zoo’s own tariff page, which says the same rates apply to Indian and foreign visitors.
| Item | Adult | Child (5 to 12) |
|---|---|---|
| Entry ticket | ₹200 | ₹50 |
| Zoo round (vehicle) | ₹150 | ₹50 |
| Safari round | ₹150 | ₹30 |
- Concessions: Government school students and their teachers pay ₹20 each on entry.
- Cameras: ₹350 for a still camera, SLR or DSLR, and ₹750 for a video camera.
- Parking: ₹40 for a two-wheeler, ₹50 for an autorickshaw, ₹150 for a car or jeep, ₹170 for a van or mini bus, and ₹200 for a bus. Bicycles park free.
- Wheelchairs: Available free, but motorised wheelchairs are not allowed inside.
The zoo asks visitors to book online at tickets.aazp.in or through its mobile app. On busy holidays the gates may hold people back to control crowding, so online tickets save a long wait.
Days, hours and the Tuesday rule
Vandalur is closed on Tuesdays for maintenance. The Central Zoo Authority’s information sheet lists Tuesday as the weekly holiday and gives visiting hours of 9 am to 6 pm. The zoo occasionally opens on a Tuesday during school holidays; in May 2024, for example, it stayed open on a Tuesday for the summer break, DT Next reported. Such exceptions are announced a few days ahead.
The elephants are bathed between 3 pm and 4 pm, according to the zoo’s home page, and it is one of the easier sights to plan around with children.
Safari, rides and newer exhibits
The lion and deer safaris run inside fenced enclosures on zoo vehicles. They shut now and then for upkeep: this year both were closed from 18 to 28 March for repairs, News Today reported, while the rest of the zoo stayed open. If the safari is the main reason for your trip, check for a notice before setting out.
The collection keeps changing through exchanges with other zoos. In March 2026 a pair of Himalayan black bears and a pair of leopard cats arrived from Jambu Zoo in Jammu, with Vandalur sending two hippopotamuses in return, DT Next reported. New animals spend 21 days in quarantine before going on show. A 7D theatre that seats 32 people at a time was also opened at a ticket of ₹150, according to an earlier DT Next report.
Rain, cyclones and crowd days
The zoo is a forest campus with tall trees and an internal lake, which makes it vulnerable in heavy weather. After Cyclone Michaung in December 2023, it stayed shut for days while staff cleared about 30 fallen trees and repaired damaged compound walls, and the Otteri lake inside the campus overflowed, DT Next reported. No animals were harmed. During this monsoon, expect the zoo to close at short notice on red-alert days, and avoid visiting immediately after heavy rain when paths and enclosures are being cleared.
Crowds are the other risk. When the state offered free entry on 21 and 22 June 2026, all online slots were booked and people who arrived without bookings were initially turned away, until the Forest Minister directed officials to let them in, according to DT Next. On long weekends and festival holidays, book early and go on a weekday if you can.
Practical tips for the day
- Start early. The campus is large, and most animals are more active in the cooler morning hours.
- Carry water and a cap, and wear shoes you can walk several kilometres in.
- Do not feed or tease animals, and take your plastic back out with you.
- Vandalur suburban railway station and GST Road buses are close by, which saves the ₹150 car parking charge.
- Buy ride tickets along with your entry ticket online if you can, so you are not queueing twice.
Quick answers
Is Vandalur zoo open on Tuesday?
No. Tuesday is the weekly holiday, except on the occasional school-vacation Tuesday the zoo announces in advance.
How much is the Vandalur zoo ticket for adults?
₹200 for entry. The zoo-round vehicle and the safari round cost another ₹150 each for adults.
Can I book Vandalur zoo tickets online?
Yes. The zoo encourages online booking through tickets.aazp.in and its mobile app.
Does the zoo close during cyclones?
It can. The zoo was shut for several days after Cyclone Michaung in 2023. Check the zoo’s channels on heavy-rain days.
Information checked against official sources on 18 October 2026. Fees, dates and rules can change; confirm on the linked official pages before acting.
Sources
- Zoo Tariff (Arignar Anna Zoological Park)
- Arignar Anna Zoological Park home page (AAZP)
- Zoo information sheet: Arignar Anna Zoological Park (Central Zoo Authority)
- Shut after cyclone’s fury, Vandalur zoo to reopen for public today (DT Next)
- Vandalur zoo to remain open on Tuesday for summer vacations (DT Next)
- Lion, deer safari at Vandalur zoo closed from 18 to 28 March (News Today)
- Vandalur zoo opens gates to all visitors after forest minister’s intervention (DT Next)
- Vandalur Zoo to house Himalayan black bears, leopard cats from Jammu and Kashmir (DT Next)
- Minister launches new attractions at Vandalur zoo (DT Next)
