MYSORE
One of India's oldest and better-run zoos, but weekends are packed wall-to-wall with school groups and family picnics — go on a weekday morning right at 8:30am open
Founded in 1892 by Chamaraja Wodeyar X as a private royal menagerie called Khas Bangale (also nicknamed Thamasha Bangale), it was opened to the public and renamed Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens in 1909. It is the oldest zoo in India and among the oldest in the world, spread across roughly 157 acres about 700 metres from Mysore Palace. Today it houses more than 168 species and has played a significant role in captive breeding programs for endangered Indian wildlife.
