- Spread over 320.15 hectares, Nandanvan Jungle Safari has become a favourite destination for nature lovers and tourists.
- Dhananjay Rathore, Joint Director, Public Relations
- Ashok Kumar Chandravanshi, Assistant Public Relations Officer
Nandanvan Jungle Safari, Nawa Raipur offers a variety of exciting safari rides for tourists, including herbivore safari, tiger safari, bear safari, and lion safari. There’s also a small zoo (Nandanvan Zoo) here.
Located in Sector 39 of Nawa Raipur (Atal Nagar), the capital of Chhattisgarh, Nandanvan Jungle Safari is one of the state’s major tourist and wildlife conservation centers. Spread over an area of 320.15 hectares, this vast complex is a major center of attraction for nature lovers, wildlife enthusiasts, and tourists. Along with wildlife conservation, it offers tourists the opportunity to observe and learn about wildlife in its natural environment.
From Mini Zoo to Jungle Safari
Nandanvan was started in 1979 as ‘Nandanvan Mini Zoo’ in Raipur. It was developed as a rescue and relief centre for wildlife. In 2008, the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) officially recognized it as a ‘Mini Zoo’.
Subsequently, 320.15 hectares of land was allotted between 2012 and 2015 to develop a modern and spacious Jungle Safari in Naya Raipur. On November 1, 2016, on the occasion of the 16th Foundation Day of the State of Chhattisgarh, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the Nandanvan Jungle Safari.
Special emphasis on wildlife conservation and environmental education
The main objective of Nandanvan Jungle Safari is to conserve wildlife, protect and breed rare species and increase environmental awareness among people. Here efforts are made to provide safe and stress-free habitat to wildlife as per their natural environment.
Various environmental awareness programmes are also organised here to inform students and tourists about the importance of wildlife and biodiversity.
Five major safari zones are the centre of attraction
Nandanvan Jungle Safari has been developed in different zones keeping in mind the protection of wildlife and convenience of tourists.
Herbivorous Safari
In this zone spread over an area of 30.89 hectares, wild animals like Chital, Sambar, Nilgai and Black Buck roam in natural environment.
Bear Safari
The Bear Safari developed in an area of 20.03 hectares is a special attraction for the tourists. Here one gets the opportunity to see bears in their natural environment.
Tiger Safari
In the Tiger Safari spread over an area of 20.04 hectares, tourists get the thrilling experience of seeing the country’s national animal, the tiger, from close quarters.
Lion Safari
Asiatic lions are being conserved in the Lion Safari developed in an area of 20.01 hectares.
Zoo Zone
In the Zoo Zone spread over an area of 50 hectares, birds, reptiles and other wild animals of various species are the centre of attraction.
Conservation of rare and special wildlife too:
Many rare and special wildlife have been brought to Nandanvan Jungle Safari through animal exchange programme with various zoos. Wildlife like white tiger, hippopotamus, gharial and cloned wild buffalo ‘Deepasha’ are special attractions for tourists.
Tourists come from India and abroad.
Divisional Forest Officer Shri Thejas Shekhar said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Dev Sai and as per the wishes of Forest and Climate Change Minister Shri Kedar Kashyap, Nandanvan Jungle Safari is becoming increasingly popular among tourists. It is noteworthy that in the year 2018-19 itself, 1 lakh 74 thousand 611 tourists from India and abroad, 1 lakh 60 thousand 767 in the year 2019-20, 1 lakh 60 thousand 32 in the year 2020-21, 1 lakh 73 thousand 72 in the year 2021-22, 2 lakh 77 thousand 881 in the year 2022-23, 2 lakh 62 thousand 486 in the year 2023-24, 2 lakh 70 thousand 942 in the year 2024-25, more than 3 lakh 24 thousand 785 in the year 2025-26 visited the Jungle Safari. This figure reflects its increasing popularity. Various programs are organized on important occasions like International Biodiversity Day, World Tiger Day and Wildlife Week at Nandanvan Jungle Safari,
a center of awareness towards biodiversity conservation
. Through these events, people, students and tourists are made aware about wildlife conservation and environmental protection.
Easily accessible from Raipur,
Nandanvan Jungle Safari is located in Sector-39 of Nava Raipur (Atal Nagar). It is located at a distance of about 15 kilometers from Swami Vivekananda International Airport, Raipur and about 35 kilometers from Raipur Railway Station. Jungle Safari remains closed on every Monday.
Such a unique center of wildlife conservation and environmental education,
Nandanvan Jungle Safari has today become such a unique center of tourism, wildlife conservation and environmental education in Chhattisgarh, where along with getting close to nature and seeing wildlife, one also gets the message of their conservation.
