India is home to a wide variety of birds, from small songbirds to large predatory birds. While many species can be seen in the wild across different habitats, visiting an aviary provides a unique opportunity to see a diverse collection of bird species up close. For bird enthusiasts and nature lovers, exploring a large aviary to observe beautiful exotic birds is an exciting experience. So which aviary has the largest collection of birds in India? Let’s take a look at some of the country’s major aviaries to find the answer.
Key Highlights
– The largest bird park in India is Gandhi Zoological Park located in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh.
– It spans over an area of 154 acres and is home to over 1250 bird species.
– Some of the popular birds at this aviary are macaws, hornbills, parrots, pelicans, storks, cranes etc.
– Other top aviaries in India include Nehru Zoological Park in Hyderabad, Kanpur Zoological Park in Kanpur and Pt Jawahar Lal Nehru Botanical Garden and Zoo in Kolkata.
Gandhi Zoological Park, Gwalior
The largest bird aviary in India is the Gandhi Zoological Park located in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh. It is spread across a vast area of 154 acres of land. The aviary is home to over 1250 species of birds from India and around the world, making it the most diverse bird collection in the country.
The Gandhi Zoological Park was established in the year 1983. Since then, it has grown to become one of the most visited zoos in central India. The park gets its name from the father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi as it was inaugurated on Gandhi Jayanti. It is maintained by the Gwalior Municipal Corporation.
The aviary section is one of the key highlights of the zoo. It consists of multiple massive enclosures designed to mimic the natural habitats of various bird species. The cages are enclosed by netted mesh instead of bars to allow an unobstructed view of the birds. The aviary houses exotic and rare bird species from around the world including macaws, cockatoos, hornbills, parrots, peacocks, ostriches, pelicans, storks, cranes, pheasants, turkeys, sparrows and more. One can spot vibrant, colorful and beautiful birds from Asia, Australia, Africa, North America and South America coexisting here.
The birds are provided ample space to fly and move freely in their respective enclosures. The aviaries are well-equipped with roosting spots, nesting areas, small ponds and swimming pools for aquatic birds. There are also indoor climate-controlled aviaries to house delicate, tropical birds. The thoughtful landscaping adds a nice natural touch. Overall, the enormous aviaries provide a comfortable environment for the birds.
Some of the must-see enclosures in the aviary complex include:
- Macaw enclosure – housing different macaw species like Scarlet Macaw, Blue and Yellow Macaw, etc.
- Hornbill aviary – Malabar Grey Hornbill, Great Indian Hornbill
- Parakeet & Lovebird enclosure – Rosellas, Ring-necked Parakeets, budgerigars
- Duck pond – Openbill storks, spot-billed ducks
- Crane & pelican section – Sarus Crane, Demoiselle Crane, Dalmatian Pelican
- Peacock area – Indian Peafowl, White Peafowl
There is also a large waterbody where one can spot resident and migratory waterbirds like flamingos, egrets, spoonbills, gulls etc. The zoo organizes special feeding sessions where visitors can feed birds like parrots and egrets. Overall, the aviary is expertly managed and provides a safe, stimulating environment for the birds.
Key Facts
| Location | Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh |
| Total Area | 154 acres |
| Number of bird species | Over 1250 species |
| Year of establishment | 1983 |
| Major birds | Macaws, cockatoos, hornbills, parrots, peacocks, storks, cranes, pelicans etc. |
| Facilities | Large netted enclosures, ponds, indoor aviaries, roosting spots, nesting areas |
Other Top Aviaries in India
While Gandhi Zoological Park in Gwalior takes the top spot, there are several other excellent bird parks and aviaries worth visiting across India. Here are some of the major ones:
Nehru Zoological Park, Hyderabad
Spread over 380 acres, the Nehru Zoological Park in Hyderabad is one of the largest zoos in India. It has a popular walk-through aviary section spanning across 6000 sq. ft. The flightless birds enclosure houses species like emu, rhea, cassowary etc. Another key highlight is the Jurong Bird Park, a large enclosure styled after Singapore’s Jurong Bird Park housing exotic species. Overall, it is home to around 100 bird species including pelicans, turkeys, storks, cranes, hornbills etc. The naturalistic enclosures provide a comfortable environment for the birds on display.
Kanpur Zoological Park, Kanpur
The Kanpur Zoological Park was opened in 1971 and is one of the oldest zoos in India. It houses nearly 80 species of birds from India and other parts of the world including peacocks, Sarus cranes, ostriches, hornbills, parakeets and endangered vultures. It has multiple walk-through aviaries that allow visitors to see the birds up close. The zoo also carries out captive breeding programs for vultures.
Pt Jawahar Lal Nehru Botanical Garden and Zoo, Kolkata
Spread across 109 hectares, the Pt Jawahar Lal Nehru Botanical Garden and Zoo in Kolkata features a large walk-through aviary spanning 1800 sq.ft. It is home to over 100 bird species including macaws, parrots, finches, pelicans, turkeys, mynahs, pheasants and other exotic birds. The zoo also has a dedicated breeding center for endangered bird species.
Apart from these, some other noteworthy aviaries are Nandankanan Zoological Park in Bhubaneswar housing above 400 birds, Indira Gandhi Zoological Park in Vishakhapatnam with around 90 bird species, Sanjay Gandhi Jaivik Udyan in Patna having nearly 70 species and Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park in Pune comprising over 75 bird species.
Conclusion
The Gandhi Zoological Park located in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh is the largest bird aviary in India. Housing over 1250 bird species from India and around the world and spanning over 154 acres, it is India’s most diverse and biggest avian collection. The expansive aviaries provide ample space for the exotic and endangered birds to move freely and mimic their natural habitat. It offers an immersive experience for bird lovers and families to observe colorful, beautiful birds up close. Along with Gwalior, some other excellent aviaries worth visiting are Nehru Zoological Park in Hyderabad, Kanpur Zoological Park in Kanpur and Pt Jawahar Lal Nehru Botanical Garden and Zoo in Kolkata which are also home to impressive bird collections.
