Check height before calculating the child ticket
The reduced rate uses height rather than a familiar under-twelve rule. Measure approximately before travelling, then let the counter resolve children near the published boundary.
Animals & wildlife
Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park Pune
Pune’s main zoo combines a substantial outdoor animal walk with its well-known reptile collection.
0–23–56–910–17 2–3 hours Outdoor ₹60 entry Checked 1 November 2026
Check before you go
The municipal zoo publishes current ₹60/₹20 admission, seasonal ticket cutoffs and Wednesday closure. Individual enclosures and battery vehicles remain subject to availability.
1 photo · Nikhil Ghadge · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Photos are representative and may not show current conditions. Credits →
Status check · 1 November 2026
What we know for sure, and what we don’t
Desk research, not a site visit. Re-check the official notice on the morning you travel.
The feel of the place
Why take the kids here?
Pune’s main zoo combines a substantial outdoor animal walk with its well-known reptile collection. The best family route gives children time to watch a few animals behave naturally, rather than racing between every enclosure. Height-based child tickets, separately charged battery vehicles and an entry cutoff earlier than final closing are the practical details that most affect a family visit.
Which ages it suits
Young children need an adult-led short route and breaks. The published reduced ticket uses height below 4 feet 4 inches, not a school-age category; ask about the exact boundary and infant exemption.
A manageable morning at Katraj Zoo
- Arrive near opening on a non-Wednesday and check the day’s open enclosures and vehicle availability.
- Choose one reptile section and two mammal or habitat stops that fit the youngest walker.
- Pause at a designated shelter for water, keeping deposit receipts with the family ticket.
- Use the remaining energy for one child-selected observation stop, then return before exhaustion makes the exit difficult.
From the parent perspective
Build the Katraj Zoo day around walking capacity
The low admission fee is only one part of planning. A manageable route, realistic sighting expectations and the possibility of an unavailable vehicle determine whether the visit feels comfortable.
Keep a walking-only version of the route
Battery vehicles cost extra and are not guaranteed. Choose a few priority enclosures close enough for your child so the visit still works without a ride.
Watch behaviour instead of collecting sightings
A sleeping animal or a hidden reptile can disappoint a child expecting constant action. Explain beforehand that quiet observation is the activity and some enclosures may be unavailable.
Choose habitats rather than a checklist of animals
The district administration describes mammals, birds and reptiles associated with the Western Ghats and Deccan plateau, organised around forest, grassland and aquatic ecosystems. This is a useful way to introduce the zoo to children: compare the cover, water and open ground in different enclosures, then ask how an animal uses that space. Choose a few priority stops at the entrance. A resting animal is still behaving naturally; calling, banging or trying to make it move does not improve the encounter.
Give the reptile collection time
The Katraj name is closely associated with the snake park, and reptiles can reward slower observation than children initially expect. Look for body patterns, the shape of a head and the place an animal has chosen to rest. Read the species label before making assumptions about venom or behaviour. Glass and barriers are there to protect both visitors and animals: keep hands away from the viewing surface and never treat a quiet animal as an invitation to tap.
Pune district: zoo habitats and facilities · Indian Express: revised tariff and proposed new animals
New arrivals are not a guaranteed sighting
News of animal additions can create unrealistic expectations. November 2025 reporting described planned new enclosures and species, while October 2026 reporting described two newly arrived tigers entering quarantine before possible public display. Neither a future development announcement nor an arrival establishes that a particular animal is visible today. Ask at the gate which sections are open and let children choose an alternative priority if their favourite animal is off display.
Indian Express: revised tariff and proposed new animals · October 2026 tiger arrivals and quarantine
Calculate admission using height, then add the vehicle separately
The zoo’s current visitor page lists ₹60 for people above 4 feet 4 inches and ₹20 below that height, with ₹150 for foreign visitors. Two domestic adults and two children qualifying for the reduced tariff total ₹160. The battery vehicle adds ₹50 per adult and ₹30 per qualifying child, making that example ₹320 if everyone rides and a vehicle is available. Ask staff about a child exactly at the height boundary and any infant exemption; the current page does not clearly resolve those cases.
Camera fees and refundable deposits are separate
Published still-camera and video-camera charges are ₹50 and ₹200 respectively. Ask how staff classify a phone or specialist equipment rather than assuming every device attracts the same fee. Rules also describe a ₹10 refundable deposit for a permitted plastic bottle or item and a ₹100 refundable wheelchair deposit, returned with the item and receipt. Keep those receipts accessible. A refundable deposit is money needed during the visit, not necessarily part of the final cost.
Pune Zoo official visitor tariff and seasonal entry times · Pune Zoo official visitor rules
Arrive well before the ticket cutoff
Wednesday is the weekly closure. From 1 April to 15 June, ticketing ends at 17:30 and gates close at 18:30; from 16 June to 31 March, ticketing ends at 17:00 and gates close at 18:00. Final exit is not the last time to enter. A morning arrival gives a family more control over pace and breaks. Use the official municipal booking link from the zoo website if booking online, and check the selected date before paying.
Plan a route that works even without a battery vehicle
The district lists resting shelters, toilets, drinking-water points and wheelchairs. The zoo’s own rules explicitly say battery vehicles are not guaranteed and depend on availability. A child who can only manage a very short walk should therefore have a shortened enclosure plan from the beginning. Ask staff where the nearest usable facilities are and whether the vehicle service covers the stops you want; it should not be treated as an unlimited hop-on service without confirmation.
Pune Zoo official visitor rules · Pune district: zoo habitats and facilities
Food, plastic and re-entry rules affect the family bag
The rules ban plastic generally and require eatables in paper bags, while separately describing a deposit arrangement for permitted plastic items. Follow the gate’s current implementation and minimise packaging. Private vehicles and pets are not allowed inside. Once visitors leave, the entry ticket is no longer valid, so plan the meal and toilet sequence before stepping out. Keep children behind enclosure railings and use designated seating for breaks rather than entering restricted areas.
Useful once you’ve chosen
Make the visit work for you
- Hours
- Closed Wednesday. Entry 09:30–17:30 from 1 April–15 June, final exit 18:30; entry 09:30–17:00 from 16 June–31 March, final exit 18:00.
Before you go
What you pay
Domestic adult-height ticket₹60Published rate above 4 feet 4 inches; ask about the exact boundary.
Domestic child-height ticket₹20Published rate below 4 feet 4 inches; infant rules need confirmation.
Battery vehicle extra₹50 adult / ₹30 childSubject to availability and the zoo’s height categories.
Prices, access and programmes can change. Confirm with the operator before setting out.
Getting there
Find the right entrance
Pune–Satara Road, opposite Katraj Dairy, Katraj, Pune 411046
Search-based Google map. Confirm the public entrance before travelling; this is not a surveyed entrance pin.
Before you pack the bag
Questions parents ask
Does Katraj Zoo charge children by age or height?
The current published reduced tariff is based on height below 4 feet 4 inches. Ask the counter about the exact boundary and infants; do not substitute an assumed age band.
What does a family of two adults and two children pay at Pune Zoo?
If both children qualify for the domestic reduced ticket, admission totals ₹160. Adding published battery-vehicle fares for all four makes ₹320, excluding camera charges, parking and refundable deposits.
Is the battery vehicle included in the Katraj Zoo ticket?
No. The published extra fare is ₹50 for adults and ₹30 for qualifying children. The rules state that availability is not guaranteed.
Can we enter Katraj Zoo at 18:00?
No. The ticket cutoff is 17:00 from 16 June to 31 March and 17:30 from 1 April to 15 June. Later gate-closing times are for visitors already inside.
Which day is Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park Pune closed?
Every Wednesday according to the official visitor page. Check for exceptional notices as well when travelling a long distance.
Are the newly arrived tigers definitely visible?
No. October 2026 reporting says the new arrivals first undergo quarantine and health checks. Ask which animals and enclosures are available on your visit date.
Can we leave Pune Zoo for lunch and return on the same ticket?
The official rules say the ticket loses validity after exit. Re-entry requires another ticket, so organise food and breaks accordingly.
Are wheelchairs available at Katraj Zoo?
The zoo publishes wheelchair availability with a ₹100 refundable deposit. Confirm stock and the practical route on arrival; availability does not prove every viewing point is step-free.
May children bring a plastic water bottle into the zoo?
Rules discourage plastic and describe a ₹10 refundable deposit for permitted plastic items. Follow the gate’s current procedure and retain the receipt for return.
Is the zoo currently closed because of an animal-disease report?
No current whole-zoo closure was verified. Historical disease or temporary incident reports should not be treated as today’s status; use current municipal notices and ask about any restricted enclosure.
From parents who went
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Evidence, not guesswork
Sources & photo credits
- PMC Zoo official visitor information ↗Desk checked 2026-11-01. Zoo confirms seasonal gate/counter windows, Wednesday closure, height-based₹60/₹20 domestic tickets,₹150 foreign entry and separately priced battery vehicles.
- Pune Zoo official visitor rules ↗
- Pune district: zoo habitats and facilities ↗
- Indian Express: revised tariff and proposed new animals ↗
- October 2026 tiger arrivals and quarantine ↗
Photo credits. Nikhil Ghadge · CC BY-SA 4.0. Via Wikimedia Commons, cropped for layout.
Desk-checked against linked primary sources on 2026-11-01; not a site visit. Ages, durations and suggested activities are editorial advice. Confirm date-specific access, prices and facilities before travel. Last checked 1 November 2026.
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