Often we all need a break from our work and would love to visit a place which is far from the hustle and bustle of city life. My friend, having the same thought, was planning to come down to Mangalore with her family.
She asked me to suggest a few places in Mangalore to take her son other than going to malls. I suggested to her that Pilikula Zoo in Mangalore is one such place that you can’t miss.
I thought there would be many others like my friend who come to visit Mangalore but are not aware of the places around. So here I’m writing about one such place called the Pilikula Zoo located in Mangalore.
I assure you that you will have a wonderful experience at the zoo. Here in this post, you will get information like the timings of the zoo, things to carry, the best time to visit, and all the relevant details on a single platform.
Pilikula Nisargadhama
Located in the outskirts, but not too far from the city, Pilikula Nisargadhama is one such tourist spot in Mangalore where a single day isn’t enough for
exploring the place completely.
Just a 20 min drive from the city and you will reach Vamanjoor on the eastern side of Mangalore where this integrated theme park is located. Spread over around 370 acres of land, with tropical forest and lake garden, there is a wide range of places to visit within the Pilikula Nisargadhama such as :
● Pilikula Zoo
● Botanical garden and Arboretum
● Manasa Amusement Park
● Swami Vivekananda Planetarium (3D)
● Pilikula Regional Science Centre
● Golf Club
● Children’s Park
● Boating
● Golf club
● Medicinal Garden
● RET garden
● Artisan’s village
● Heritage Village
● Parampara Outlets
About Pilikula Zoo, Mangalore
One of the best zoos in the country is the Pilikula zoo where animals are given a home-like habitat, protected and taken care of with medical facilities available within the premises. Let us understand the meaning of the word “Pilikula”. In Tulu language (which is one of the prominent languages spoken in Mangalore).
Pili: means Tiger
Kula: means Lake
Earlier tigers would come and drink water from this lake. Hence it got its name ‘Pilikula’. 🐯
The zoo is spread over 150 acres with thick vegetation having a wide variety of plants and trees. One can take a long walk amid the greenery and complete 5k steps while enjoying nature. 🚶
The park can be considered an educational hub for students of all ages to come and enrich their knowledge of wildlife. The zoo is also called Pilikula Biological Park.
Another important aspect of the zoo is that the animals look healthy, unlike other zoos which means that they are given the best care possible.
How to reach Pilikula Zoo from Mangalore?
The roads from Mangalore to Pilikula Zoo are well-connected and maintained. City buses at regular intervals are available to and fro to reach Pilikula from Mangalore. Below is the link if you want to make a note of the bus timings and route number.
https://www.pilikula.com/bus_timings.html
Once you reach Pilikula, there is an electric buggy vehicle that drops you off at different spots within Nisargadhama. The charge is Rs 30/- per head. The buggy can carry around 4-5 people. This is excluding Zoo rides. It’s environment friendly and fun ride for children and adults too
Pilikula Zoo Ticket Price
The Entry fee to the zoo is: Rs 80 per head
For children below 10 years of age: Rs 60 per head
For Video camera: Rs 500
For Camera: Rs 150
Pilikula Zoo Timings
From Tuesday to Sunday, the zoo is open from 10:00 AM To 5:00 PM. On Mondays, the zoo is closed.
Isn’t that a great thing that the zoo is open on Sundays too, so parents and children can make the best of their weekend? 🤠
If you want to cover other places inside Nisargadhama such as the heritage village or want to try boating, try to reach by 10:00 AM so that you make the most of it and you can avoid crowds. Also if you reach early, you can consider either of the below 2 options
purchase ALL IN ONE COMBO (without planetarium): Rs 150 per head
OR
purchase ALL IN ONE MEGA COMBO (with planetarium): Rs 200 per head
Disclaimer: The ticket prices mentioned in this article may vary over time.
Adoption of animals in Pilikula Zoo
You will be surprised to know that if you wish to, you can adopt an animal for a year.
One can sponsor an animal’s food, medical expenses, and other general maintenance. In return, the zoo will offer free entry for you and your family for an entire year.
Also, the donor’s name would be displayed on a sign board near the adopted animals’ enclosure. The cost of adopting each animal varies. Here is the link if you want to get more information on it.
https://www.pilikula.com/animal_adoption_cost.html
How many animals are there in Pilikula zoo?
Pilikula Zoo gives shelter to about 1200 animals of 120 species of mammals, reptiles, and birds.
Breeding of some endangered species of mammals, reptiles, and birds of the Western Ghats region happens here. It is the only zoo to breed the King Cobra in captivity. You can also spot a white tiger if you haven’t seen a real one before!
Best time to visit Pilikula Zoo
Reaching the place earlier is better, as I told you previously because Mangalore is a coastal region and hence very sunny during the day.
By noon it gets very hot if you are not used to walking in harsh sunlight. It’s best to visit Mangalore between October to February as it is cooler during these months than in summertime and you wouldn’t want to visit the zoo during monsoons
Things to carry
● Cap 🤠 ( It’s very sunny in Mangalore )
● Water bottle (Food Stalls are available but it’s always good to carry our own
bottle).
● Sunglasses 😎
● Binoculars to get a closer look at exotic birds, Camera 📷
● Your Purchased ticket. 🎫
● Carry some healthy snacks.
Do’s and Don’ts
● Spend some time observing animals 🐦 🦔
● Do not smoke or consume alcohol inside the zoo. 🚭
● Do not tease or feed food to animals. 😈
● Be safe by not crossing the barricades or animal closures. ❌
● Wear easy clothing and comfortable shoes 👟
● Use dustbins and keep the park clean. 🚮