Bahawalpur Zoo is an old, tree-shaded zoological garden in the middle of Bahawalpur city, open daily from around 8 in the morning until sunset. Entry is cheap and the walk round takes two to three hours, which makes it an easy half-day stop for families in a city otherwise built around palaces and mosques. It is best known for lions, a legacy of the site's original name, Sher Bagh, "lion garden."
This guide covers the practical side: hours, tickets, what is actually worth seeing inside, and who it suits.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Where | Central Bahawalpur, near Dring Stadium and the general bus stand |
| Hours | Roughly 8am to sunset, daily |
| Time needed | 2 to 3 hours |
| Entry | A modest fee, less for children and students |
| Size | About 25 acres |
| Founded | 1942, as Sher Bagh |
When is Bahawalpur Zoo open, and what does it cost?
The zoo runs daily, opening in the morning and closing at sunset, so closing time moves earlier in winter and later in summer. Entry fees are modest and tiered: adults pay the most, children and students less, and there is usually a small extra charge to park a car or motorbike inside the grounds. Fees at government-run zoos in Punjab are revised from time to time, so treat any figure you read, including on this page, as a guide and expect to pay whatever is posted at the gate on the day.
If you are timing a visit around midday in summer, go early. There is shade from mature trees over much of the site, but Bahawalpur's summer heat is severe and the animals themselves are least active in the middle of the day.
Getting there
The zoo sits in the older part of Bahawalpur city, close to Dring Stadium and the general bus stand, a few kilometres from the railway station. It is easy to reach by rickshaw or taxi from any of the city's hotels, and there is no need to arrange transport in advance the way you would for Derawar Fort or the Cholistan desert. If you are combining it with the rest of a Bahawalpur day out, it fits naturally either side of a visit to Noor Mahal or the other city palaces.
A zoo built around lions
Bahawalpur Zoo was established in 1942 by the then Amir of Bahawalpur, Sir Sadiq Muhammad Khan V, and was originally named Sher Bagh. It has since grown into the fourth largest zoo in Pakistan, after the zoos in Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad, and it remains proudest of its lions. The zoo has bred Asiatic lions and Bengal tigers successfully over the years, and the newer enclosures for both are moated rather than barred, which gives a clearer view than the older cages elsewhere on site.
Like most zoos of this age in Pakistan, Bahawalpur Zoo is a mix of styles: some modern moated enclosures alongside older, smaller cages that have drawn criticism over the years for cramped conditions. It is worth knowing that going in, rather than expecting a fully modern facility throughout.
What else to see: deer, birds and reptiles
Away from the big cats, large paddocks hold blackbuck, hog deer, nilgai, chinkara and other deer species, several of which the zoo has bred for release or transfer elsewhere. A pond in the grounds is home to pelicans, cranes and geese, and there are enclosures for crocodiles, bears and a range of smaller mammals. For children, the deer paddocks and the birds around the pond tend to hold attention longest, since they are easy to see up close without waiting for an animal to move.
The museum and aquarium
The zoo also has a small aquarium and a zoological museum with taxidermied birds, reptiles and mammals. Among the exhibits is a specimen said to be the last lion shot in the wild in Punjab, a reminder of how recently lions survived outside captivity in this part of the country. It is a modest, old-fashioned museum rather than an interactive one, but it adds twenty minutes worth seeing on a hot day when shade matters as much as content.
Is Bahawalpur Zoo worth a visit?
For a family already in Bahawalpur for the palaces, Derawar Fort or the jeep rally, yes: it is cheap, close to the centre, and gives children something to do that does not involve another building or another fort. If wildlife is the main reason for your trip and you have already been to Lahore Zoo or a larger facility, this one will feel familiar rather than exceptional, and the older enclosures show their age. Treat it as a pleasant half-day addition to a Bahawalpur itinerary rather than a destination in its own right. If you are still working out how the zoo fits around Derawar, the desert forts and where to sleep, our trip-planning page is a reasonable place to start.
Frequently asked questions
What time does Bahawalpur Zoo open and close?
It generally opens around 8am and stays open until sunset, so closing time is earlier in winter. Hours can shift, so if you are planning a trip specifically around it, confirm by phone the day before.
How much does it cost to enter Bahawalpur Zoo?
Entry is inexpensive, with lower rates for children and students and a small separate charge for parking. Fees change from time to time, so expect to pay whatever is posted at the gate rather than an exact figure quoted online.
How long should we plan for a visit?
Most families need two to three hours to walk round the enclosures, the pond and the museum without rushing.
What animals can you see at Bahawalpur Zoo?
Lions and Bengal tigers are the main draw, alongside deer species such as blackbuck and hog deer, crocodiles, bears and a range of birds around the central pond.
Is Bahawalpur Zoo suitable for young children?
Yes. The paths are flat and shaded, the deer paddocks and pond are easy for children to see into, and the visit is short enough not to tire them out. Go earlier in the day in summer, when the heat is at its worst by midday.
Where is Bahawalpur Zoo in relation to the city's other sights?
It is in the older part of the city near Dring Stadium, a short taxi or rickshaw ride from Noor Mahal and the other palaces, so it fits easily into a wider places to visit in Bahawalpur itinerary.
