One of the most exciting new attractions in Thrissur, Kerala, is the Puthur Zoological Park – Asia’s second largest zoo spread over roughly 336 acres, and India’s first zoo purpose-built by the famous zoo architect Jon Coe from Australia on the zoo without bars concept. The park opened its gates to the general public on 28 February 2026 and offers a spectacular experience for the animal lovers, replacing the 140 years old Thrissur city zoo. The Puthur Zoological Park Ticket Price for entrance is surprisingly cheap, being priced around Rs. 100 per adult and Rs. 30 per child.

The huge size of the park, however, means that entrance fee is not the only cost involved in your visit to Puthur Zoological Park, you should pay for the electric bus ride through the park as well as camera fees. In this guide, you will find all the important information about visiting Puthur Zoo in Thrissur: entrance fee, electric-bus cost, camera fees, opening hours and Monday closures, zoo without bars concept, transportation and booking. Since the park is quite new, please be informed that some details might still change and we based our guide on the current information available. So if you plan to visit Puthur Zoological Park, here is everything you need to know.

Quick answer: Puthur Zoological Park Ticket Price is around Rs. 100 for adults and Rs. 30 for children, while the electric bus ride in the park costs around Rs. 50 for adults and Rs. 25 for children extra. Still cameras carry Rs. 350 fee and video cameras Rs. 750. The zoo is closed on Mondays. Being a relatively new park (opened on 28 February 2026), fees and booking procedures are being sorted out, please check the official Kerala museums and zoo website before you come.

Puthur Zoological Park at a Glance

About Puthur Zoological Park	Detail
Full Name	Thrissur Zoological Park, Wildlife Conservation and Research Centre, Puthur
Opened to Public	28 February 2026
Standing	Asia’s second-largest zoo; India’s first designer zoo
Area	Around 336 acres of forest landscape
Designed By	Jon Coe, the acclaimed Australian zoo architect
Concept	Zoo without bars; 14 natural-habitat zones
Location	Puthur, near Ollur, Thrissur, Kerala 680014
Adult Entry	Around Rs. 100 (electric bus extra)
Closed On	Mondays

Puthur Zoological Park Ticket Price: Full Breakdown

The entrance charges have been kept very reasonable in this zoo, but since it is such a huge place, you might want to budget in advance for your electric bus ride and also for your camera charges. Below is the detailed break-up based on recent available information.

Ticket / Charge	Adult	Child
Entry ticket	Around Rs. 100	Around Rs. 30
Electric bus ride (inside)	Around Rs. 50	Around Rs. 25
Still camera	Around Rs. 350	Same
Video camera	Around Rs. 750	Same
School groups	Educational discount	Apply via school

The entrance charges are about Rs. 100 for adults and Rs. 30 for children, one of the cheapest for any major tourist attractions in the country. The electric bus ride inside the zoo, which you will most definitely need because of the huge park, costs about Rs. 50 for adults and Rs. 25 for children. The still camera charges are about Rs. 350 and video is Rs. 750. So if you are planning a serious photography trip, please do make a budget for that as well (camera phone is another story).

Why the Electric Bus Is Almost Essential

This is the one absolute essential practical consideration prior to going that distinguishes Puthur Zoo from its predecessor. With a land area of 336 acres, the park is too big to be toured comfortably on foot, and hence eco-friendly electric buses shuttle visitors around the habitat zones. The bus fare (around Rs. 50 adult, Rs. 25 child) is additional to your entry ticket.

Take the bus into account while budgeting, and plan your route accordingly: Consider the bus fare an integral component of your actual ticket price, not an extra, since traversing the whole 336 acre park by foot is impractical, especially when visiting with kids or older visitors. Take the bus to get from one habitat zone to another, then explore on foot the walkways in each of the habitat zones. Buses are non-AC KSRTC electric buses. Plan your route in such a way that you visit all the zones you wish to see without crossing through other parts of the enormous zoo again.

Zoo Without Bars: What Makes Puthur Special

Puthur is not just a larger zoo, but a completely different type of zoo and the reason why people travel from all over South India to come see it. It was designed by an international zoo architect, Jon Coe from Australia, who has pioneered the zoo without bars principle of design that prioritizes animals’ well-being and natural habitats over viewing cages.

• Fourteen natural-habitat zones: the animals live in enclosures that mimic their natural ecosystem – grasslands or forests; they are separated from the visitors not by bars but by moats, landscaping and difference in levels.
• India’s first designer zoo: the whole park was designed by the world’s leading expert in zoo planning and design, something unheard of in India before.
• Second biggest in Asia: With the total area of 336 acres, Puthur is one of the largest zoos on the continent.
• Wildlife conservation and research center: this is a Wildlife Conservation and Research Center, and hence has its modern veterinary complex and breeding programs for endangered species.
• Investment in exotic species: apart from the animals relocated from old Thrissur zoo, Puthur has invested in importing exotic species, including giraffes.
• The practical consequence for the visitors: you will see animals in their more natural, spacious surroundings than those of a traditional zoo.

From a 140-Year-Old City Zoo to a Modern Wildlife Park

Puthur has a history worthy of sharing. The original zoo located at Chembukkavu, in central Thrissur town, opened its doors way back in 1885, making it one of the oldest zoos in India. However, at just about 13.5 acres of area, it was too small and had for many decades needed relocation to more spacious premises, as the result of which the massive Puthur Park near Ollur was set up. Finally, all efforts were made to shift the animals from the crowded zoo to the newly-built facility, and on 28 February 2026, the park was finally opened to the public, making the long history of Puthur zoo complete.

Opening Hours and Closure on Mondays

The closure on Mondays is an unwritten law for all zoos in the state of Kerala, and thus Puthur zoo does not operate on Mondays. However, on other days of the week, it operates from morning until late in the afternoon, in similar to other zoos manner, which means it might be open between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM, although it might have slightly different timings, depending on current schedule (that needs confirmation). In order to spend enough time in the park (at 336 acres with 14 habitat zones, and transportation provided between zones), you need to be there early in the morning.

This is a quite recent facility, so make sure to get all the information before going: Puthur zoo has been opened to the public only on 28 February 2026, so in the beginning of its operations, certain details, including timings, booking process, opening and closure of some zones, and prices may still change unexpectedly. Thus, in order not to get any surprises, make sure to check the official website of Kerala Directorate of Museums and Zoos (museumandzoo.kerala.gov.in).

What You Will See: The Habitats and Animals

The animals live in the various thematic habitat zones spread across 14 zones in the park. The animals include those who were earlier housed at the old Thrissur Zoo along with new exotics bought from other parts of the world.

The Animals

Look out for large carnivores like tigers and leopards, deer, antelopes, primates including the rare lion-tailed macaque, reptiles, birds, and new exotics like giraffes.

Beyond the Enclosures

Future plans include having interpretation centers, educational centers, a veterinary hospital, and other family amenities. There are reports that there will be additional features like a petting zoo, interactive areas for children, and perhaps even a hologram-based virtual zoo. But as a brand-new zoo, do remember to find out what all facilities are up and running at the time of your visit.

The Setting Itself

The 336 acres of forest landscape is in itself an attraction, with rainwater harvesting and sustainability initiatives, a place quite different from a regular urban zoo.

How to Book and Get In

There are some changes being made to the process of booking your tickets for the new park. Here’s how things stand today.

• At the counter: You may purchase tickets at the counters inside the zoo, which is the most dependable option for now.
• Online: Online booking is now becoming operational; do check the official website for Kerala museums and zoos for availability.
• Schools and colleges: They may arrange with their respective authorities to book tickets at a discounted rate.
• What you need to take: ID, money or cards to pay for the entry fees as well as the electric bus fee and camera charges.

What to Bring for a Comfortable Visit

• Walking shoes: You will have to do a fair bit of walking in each of the 14 zones even if you take the bus.
• Water and some snacks: The park is large; carry water and know the status of food counters.
• Sunscreen lotion, hat, sunglasses: Large parts of the park have forest-edge terrain.
• Cash/Card: For your entry, bus ride (electric bus), cameras (fees) and parking charges.
• Camera (remember the charge): Charges for still photography and video camera, but mobile camera is free.
• Time and patience: Full exploration of the park can take many hours, begin early and don’t rush.

Getting to Puthur Zoo in Puthur, Thrissur, Kerala

The zoo is located at Puthur, near Ollur, Thrissur district, Kerala and accessible by train, road and air transport modes.

• By Road: Primary mode of travel; short drive from Thrissur city and Ollur; plans of double-decker and KSRTC bus services are under way. Taxis and autos can take you to the entrance with on-site parking facility.
• By Train: Ollur railway station is nearby and Thrissur railway station is nearby too; major railway station for trains on Kerala route, taxis are available from there.
• By Air: Cochin International Airport is the nearest airport and it is about 55 to 60 km from here; taxis can take you here. Calicut is another option.

Combining Puthur Zoo with Nearby Attractions of Thrissur

• Vadakkunnathan Temple: The ancient Shiva temple of Thrissur city; central point of the famous Thrissur Pooram festival.
• Thrissur town and Swaraj Round: Cultural capital of Kerala; home of many churches, temples and the central round.
• Athirapally Falls (55 to 65 km): Kerala’s biggest waterfall; day-trip combination.
• Peechi Dam and Wildlife Sanctuary: Scenic dam and forest area near Thrissur.
• Guruvayur Temple (30 km): Famous Krishna temple in Kerala.

Best Time to Visit

The best months would be from October to February when the weather in Kerala is cooler and ideal for walking around the massive park. One should not visit the zoo during the summer season in April and May due to extremely hot weather. The ideal timing within the day for visiting Puthur Zoological Park is early mornings immediately after opening when the weather is relatively cooler for the animals which tend to get active and can be observed and without the hustle of weekend and public holiday crowds at this newly opened zoo.

Pros and Cons of Puthur Zoological Park

Pros

• Very budget-friendly: Entry ticket for adults at around Rs. 100 and children at Rs. 30 for second largest Zoo in Asia.
• Bar-less Zoo: Natural habitat for animals designed by Jon Coe, a global expert in zoology.
• Enormous and green: 336 acre of forest landscape divided into 14 habitat zones.
• Conservation based: A research and breeding centre and not only a tourist place, introducing new exotic animals.
• Good location: Located close to Ollur and Thrissur making it an easy one-day trip in Central Kerala.

Cons

• Electric Bus: The zoo is large and you have to take the electric bus at an extra cost of Rs. 50 for adults.
• Photography charge: Camera charges (Rs. 350 for still cameras) and video charges (Rs. 750).
• Recently opened and still adjusting: Scheduling, booking, and opening areas can be changed very frequently.
• Closed on Mondays: The weekly closure which many times visitors fail to realize.
• To cover such a huge area would take hours of walking.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion: Is Puthur Zoological Park Worth It in 2026?

Puthur Zoological Park is one of the most significant new attractions in India: Asia’s second-largest zoo and the country’s first purpose-designed one, where animals live in naturalistic habitats across 336 acres rather than behind bars. For around Rs. 100 for an adult and Rs. 30 for a child, it offers a world-class wildlife experience at a genuinely affordable price, a landmark upgrade on the cramped 140-year-old city zoo it replaced.

To plan well, remember two things. Budget the electric bus fare (around Rs. 50 adult, Rs. 25 child) as part of your real cost, since the park is far too vast to walk end to end, and factor in camera fees if you shoot seriously. Because it only opened in February 2026, confirm the current timings, pricing, booking status, and which zones are operating on the official Kerala museums and zoo website before you travel, and always avoid Mondays. Arrive early, wear comfortable shoes, carry water, and give yourself several hours, and Puthur delivers a genuinely special day with wildlife seen as it should be.

As a newly opened park, entry fees, electric-bus and camera charges, timings, booking arrangements, and open zones are still being finalised and revised, so always confirm the latest details on the official Kerala Directorate of Museums and Zoos website before your visit.

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