Guindy National Park

The Guindy National Park covers 2.82 square kilometers. It is India’s smallest national park. This park was formerly owned by the Gilbert Rodericks during the British rule in India. During the time of the British Raj, this served as a game reserve.

This is a protected environment and it is part of the Raj Bhavan, which is the official residence of the Governor of Tamil Nadu. It is situated on the outskirts of the southern part of Chennai, behind the Gandhi Mandapam, Kamaraj Memorial and Rajaji Memorial on Sardar Patel road. The rear area of the park adjoins Chennai’s prestigious IIT campus.

This ark covers an extensive area of this estate. It is surrounded with scenic places such as forests, scrub lands, lakes and streams. These features make a visit to this park very interesting. It has a rich natural diversity and is home to 350 different plant species, 24 different tree varieties, 14 mammal varieties, and a large variety of insects.

Arignar Anna Zoological Park

Vandalur Zoo or Arignar Anna Zoological Park is located in Vandalur which is a suburban area, situated 30 kilometers away from the city of Chennai. Named after Tamil Nadu political leader Arignar Anna, this zoo was the first of its kind public zoo in India. It was first exhibited in the year 1855. It houses around 170 species of mammals, birds and reptiles.

This zoo is open from 7.00 AM to 8.00 PM on all week days except on Tuesdays. Visitors can explore the park by walking along the entire 10 – 15 kilometers or else they can hire a battery operated vehicle, which is which can hold about 15 to 20 people. Since the beginning of 2008, elephant safari has been introduced in the zoo enabling visitors to take even elephant rides here.

Guindy Snake Park

The Guindy Snake Park is situated next to Chennai’s Guindy National Park. It houses a large variety of snakes such as Cobras, Pythons, Vipers and so on. It is a must-see for those who wish to know about the various snake varieties that are native to this region. It can also be a delightful knowledge tour for children and adults.

Children’s Park

This park has been carved out of 22 acres of the Guindy National Park. It is a fun place for children to come and enjoy themselves.