Alipore Zoological Garden

Opened in 1875, the Alipore Zoological Garden is India's oldest zoo with an official start date, and it remains one of Kolkata's most visited family attractions. It once housed Adwaita, an Aldabra giant tortoise believed to have lived for around 250 years before its death in 2006. Today the zoo holds Bengal tigers, zebras, giraffes, and a wide range of birds, spread across a fairly compact and walkable layout. Its central Alipore location, close to the Botanical Garden and Belvedere area, makes it an easy stop to combine with other South Kolkata sightseeing.