Bhubaneswar: Ahead of the New Year rush, the authorities of Nandankanan Zoological Park (NZP) have resumed boating services at Kanjia Lake, offering visitors an added attraction at one of Odisha’s most popular tourist destinations.
The boating facility, located inside the zoological park, was reopened on Friday after remaining suspended for nearly 16 months. The service had been halted on August 7 last year following the sighting of a crocodile in the lake, prompting safety concerns for visitors.
“The boating facility at Kanjia Lake had been suspended purely in the interest of visitor safety. After necessary assessment and safeguards, the service has now been restarted for tourists,” NZP authorities said in a statement.
Kanjia Lake is a key attraction within the zoo campus, and the resumption of boating is expected to enhance the visitor experience during the holiday season.
In recent years, NZP has been steadily reviving its tourism infrastructure. Two years ago, the zoo authorities relaunched the ropeway service in collaboration with a Kolkata-based private company, with an investment of ₹13 crore. The ropeway connects Nandankanan Zoological Park with the adjoining Botanical Garden, passing over the scenic Kanjia Lake.
The ropeway facility was originally introduced in 1994 and quickly became one of the zoo’s major attractions. However, it was discontinued after a mishap in 2011. Its revival has since added significant value to the park’s tourism offerings.
Nandankanan Zoological Park currently houses around 4,000 animals and birds belonging to nearly 160 species. These include 48 species of mammals, 77 species of birds, 30 species of reptiles and six species of amphibians, making it one of the most diverse zoological parks in the country.
