Nawab Wajid Ali Shah Zoological Garden

An interesting sightseeing choice in Lucknow for kids is Nawab Wajid Ali Shah Prani Udyan. Popularly known as the Lucknow Zoo, Nawab Wajid Also Shah Prani Udyan was established to celebrate the visit of Prince of Wales of Lucknow in the year 1921. Formerly entitled as Prince of Wales Zoological Gardens, Lucknow Zoo is one of the oldest zoos in North India. The place is ideal to spend a day with friends and family. In total, this renowned tourist site in Lucknow covers a large area of 70 acres of land. Being a delight for all the wild buffs, the zoo houses hundreds of wild species including reptiles and birds. Besides wildlife, it's the 'Bal Rail' that lures the attention of visitors. It is a toy train that gives you a tour of the entire zoo through a ride. Along with that, this kid-friendly attraction in Lucknow also proffers the facility of paddle boating which is very much famous amongst families. There is also an interpretation center that allows tourists to have some useful information about wildlife. Adding a unique charm to this must-visit tourist place in Lucknow is the Children Park. It is a small area for children that houses various swings and slides. Inside the campus of the zoo, tourists can also visit the State Museum and Folk Arts Museum.

Attractions at Lucknow Zoo

Toy Train
The toy train takes visitors into a safari-like experience as it tours through the entire zoo. Besides this train is also a great photo op and its recent renovation is an exclusive magnet for both children and adults. The revamped version of this toy train runs on an engine with 4 compartments
State Museum
One of the most interesting attractions of here is the Uttar Pradesh State Museum which houses an exhaustible collection of artefacts centred around the customs, habits, mythology and contemporary objects of Awadh, along with excavations related to the life of Lord Buddha.
Items such as Awadh's sculpture, bronzes, paintings, natural history & anthropological specimens, coins, textiles and decorative arts can be found here as well. An Egyptian Mummy and wooden sarcophagus, an inscribed wine jar bearing the name of Aurangzeb Alamgir, a jade Chamakali with the name Jahangir and the date 1036 AD, a 16th-century painting of a scene from the Kalpasutra are major attractions as well.
Vintage Train
A replica of the British times, the Vintage Train which was initially a dysfunctional 1924 artefact in the Laxmipur forest was further brought into the Lucknow Zoo. However, this train is not part of the rides here but is instead a historic exhibit from the colonial time.
Butterfly Park
Inaugurated in 2018, the Butterfly Park is relatively a newer addition into the Lucknow Zoo. With over 28 vibrant species alongside a beautiful park, this park also offers educational information about these colourful creatures. However, the butterfly park would need an extra entry fee.
Nature Interpretation Centre
This centre of the Lucknow Zoo is a mini version of a biological museum, as it houses informative pieces from an animal mapping system to well-preserved ostrich, emu and macaw eggs.
There are also different species of tiger cubs, along with a display of different forms of animal fur and skin, including that of lions, tigers, deers, pandas, snakes and other animals. The Nature Interpretation Centre also has a preserve of pugmarks of different rare and endangered animals including different tiger species.