Ahead of the New Year celebrations, authorities at Nandankanan Zoological Park in Bhubaneswar have resumed the boating facility for visitors at Kanjia Lake, offering a renewed attraction for tourists visiting one of Odisha’s most popular wildlife destinations.

The boating service, located within the Nandankanan Zoological Park complex, had been suspended in August last year after a crocodile was sighted in the lake, raising safety concerns for visitors. Zoo officials confirmed that the decision to halt boating was taken purely as a precautionary measure to ensure visitor safety. After thorough monitoring and necessary safety assessments, the facility was officially restarted on Friday.

Nandankanan Zoological Park remains a major tourist draw, especially during the festive and holiday season. In addition to boating, the zoo also offers a ropeway facility, which was relaunched two years ago to enhance the visitor experience. The ropeway, developed in collaboration with a private company based in Kolkata, involved an investment of approximately Rs 13 crore.

The ropeway connects Nandankanan Zoological Park with the nearby Botanical Garden by crossing over the scenic Kanjia Lake, providing visitors with a panoramic aerial view of the surroundings. The service was first introduced in 1994 and quickly became one of the zoo’s most popular attractions. However, it was discontinued following an unfortunate mishap in 2011, before being revived with upgraded safety measures.

Nandankanan Zoological Park is home to a rich diversity of wildlife, housing more than 4,000 animals and birds belonging to around 160 species. The zoo has 48 species of mammals, 77 species of birds, 30 species of reptiles, and six species of amphibians, making it one of the most biologically diverse zoological parks in India.

With the resumption of boating at Kanjia Lake and the continued operation of the ropeway, Nandankanan is expected to witness increased footfall during the New Year period, offering visitors a safer, more engaging, and memorable wildlife tourism experience in Odisha.