Byculla Zoo is also known as Rani Baug and Mumbai Zoo. Its official name is the Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan and Zoo, and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) runs it as the Mumbai Botanical Udyan and Zoo. This guide gives the published visiting hours, the Wednesday closure, the BMC ticket tariff, how to book, what to expect, and two ways to reach it by train from Navi Mumbai.
The BMC’s published figures are reference information, and prices, hours and notices change. Check your date and the current notices before you travel. This guide is independent and is not run by the BMC.
Byculla Zoo at a glance
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What is it? | A municipal zoo and botanical garden in Byculla, Mumbai. Map point (approximate): Byculla Zoo on the map. |
| Run by | The BMC. |
| Visiting hours | 10 am to 5 pm, according to the BMC online booking page. Last entry is not published, so do not plan around a cutoff. |
| Weekly closure | Wednesday. If a public holiday falls on a Wednesday, the BMC FAQ says the zoo opens that day and closes on Thursday instead. Check the notice for that holiday. |
| Tickets | See the BMC tariff below. Book online on the BMC’s official Mumbai Zoo ticket site. |
| Rail options | Byculla (Central line) or Reay Road (Harbour line). |
Timings and closures
The BMC’s online booking page publishes visiting hours of 10 am to 5 pm, with Wednesday as the weekly closure. An older BMC FAQ gave longer hours, which is why you may see other times online. Check the selected date and the current notices before you travel, particularly around public holidays.
Tickets
This is the tariff in the BMC’s published FAQ. It is a published reference figure and not a checkout verification for October 2026, so confirm the amount for your visit. Check the booking form for age bands, concessions and any add-ons, and do not assume that an older concession or a separate penguin charge still applies.
| Visitor category | Published BMC FAQ amount |
|---|---|
| Adult, above 12 years | ₹50 |
| Child, 3 to 12 years | ₹25 |
| Family: two adults and two children aged 3 to 12 | ₹100 |
| Foreign adult | ₹400 |
| Foreign child, 3 to 12 years | ₹200 |
How to book online
Book through the BMC’s official Mumbai Zoo ticket site, which says the zoo is managed by the BMC. The BMC form lists individual, family, foreign-tourist and school categories, with a visit date, visitor details and a booking summary.
- Choose the correct visitor category.
- Select the visit date.
- Enter the visitor details and the quantities.
- Review the applicable charges and conditions.
- Save the confirmation after a successful payment.
An online ticket does not promise queue-free admission or entry to every enclosure.
What to see
- Humboldt penguins are among the zoo’s attractions. Check the current zoo notices for any temporary enclosure closure before you plan a visit specifically to see them.
- A range of animals in enclosures, with signage that explains each species. Exhibits can change, so check what is open on the day.
- The botanical garden, with shaded outdoor walks.
- Educational displays and interpretation along the paths.
Getting there from Navi Mumbai
| Approach | How it works |
|---|---|
| Via Byculla | Change to a suitable Central line service and complete the journey from Byculla station. |
| Via Reay Road | The BMC lists Reay Road as the nearby Harbour line station. From a suitable Harbour line station, take a CSMT bound service to Reay Road, then arrange the final journey to the entrance. |
These are two route options and neither is always the fastest. Check the current timetable and any maintenance blocks on the Central Railway site, and see the Mumbai local train guide for tickets and crowds.
By road, these distances are from each station to the zoo map point, which is approximate and not a verified public entrance, from OpenStreetMap and the OSRM routing service, checked on 22 October 2026. They are road distances and not travel times, and the route shown is not necessarily the shortest or cheapest.
| Starting point | Road distance |
|---|---|
| Vashi railway station | About 26 km (route) |
| Airoli railway station | About 30 km (route) |
| CBD Belapur railway station | About 33 km (route) |
| Kharghar railway station | About 34 km (route) |
| Panvel railway station | About 39 km (route) |
If you drive via the bridge, see the Atal Setu toll guide, though not every visitor needs that route. Parking arrangements at the zoo are not published in the sources used here, so ask before you drive.
Planning a family visit
| Topic | Useful information |
|---|---|
| Visit duration | Plan roughly two to three hours as an editorial estimate. It varies with queues, your pace and which exhibits are open. |
| Walking | Much of the visit is outdoors, so wear comfortable footwear, carry water and plan rest breaks. |
| Children | Ticket categories depend on age (3 to 12 years is the child band). Carry age proof if you can. |
| Accessibility | Confirm the paths and any arrangements before you travel. |
| Food and water | Check the current zoo rules at the gate before you bring food. |
| Photography | Ask about any restrictions or camera charges. |
| Parking | Availability is not verified here. Ask before you drive. |
Nearby: Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum
The Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Mumbai City Museum is in the same Byculla area and is a relevant companion visit. It has its own visitor information and ticketing on the museum’s site, and zoo admission does not include it.
For other outings, the Nehru Science Centre guide and the Nehru Planetarium guide are separate trips that need their own travel and time. See also the Mumbai Darshan bus guide, the indoor play areas guide and the parks and gardens guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Byculla Zoo the same as Rani Baug and Mumbai Zoo?
Yes. Its official name is the Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan and Zoo, and it is also called Rani Baug, Byculla Zoo and Mumbai Zoo.
What are the Byculla Zoo timings?
The BMC online booking page publishes visiting hours of 10 am to 5 pm, with Wednesday as the weekly closure. Check the selected date and current notices, particularly around public holidays.
Is Byculla Zoo closed on Wednesdays?
Yes. The BMC FAQ also says that when a public holiday falls on a Wednesday, the zoo opens that day and closes on Thursday instead.
What is the Byculla Zoo ticket price?
The BMC FAQ publishes ₹50 for an adult, ₹25 for a child aged 3 to 12, ₹100 for a family of two adults and two children, ₹400 for a foreign adult and ₹200 for a foreign child. These are published reference figures, so confirm the amount for your visit.
Can I book Byculla Zoo tickets online?
Yes, through the BMC’s Mumbai Zoo online booking. The form lists individual, family, foreign-tourist and school categories. Online tickets do not promise queue-free admission or entry to every enclosure.
Can I see the penguins at Byculla Zoo?
The Humboldt penguins are among the zoo’s attractions. Check the current zoo notices for any temporary enclosure closure before you plan a visit specifically to see them.
How do I reach Byculla Zoo from Navi Mumbai?
By train, either change to the Central line and get off at Byculla, or take a CSMT bound Harbour line service to Reay Road, and then continue to the entrance. By road it is about 26 to 39 km from Navi Mumbai stations by a map estimate.
Sources and a note on accuracy
Reviewed on 22 October 2026: the BMC portal for the visiting hours, the Wednesday closure and holiday exception, the published ticket tariff and the booking categories; the Central Railway site for the Harbour line timetable; and the Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum site. The tariff is a published reference figure, and the last entry time is not published. Road distances are OpenStreetMap estimates to an approximate map point.
Featured photo: Mumbai Zoo by Gannu03, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons, cropped and resized.
NaviMumbai.com is an independent information site and is not affiliated with the BMC or the zoo.
