Sakkarbaug Zoo Junagadh: Timings, Lions and How to Visit

Sakkarbaug Zoo is one of the great attractions of Junagadh Girnar and far more than an ordinary city zoo. Founded in the nineteenth century, it is India's oldest zoological park and the single most important breeding centre for the endangered Asiatic lion, the same lion that roams wild in nearby Gir. This guide, from the team behind Somnath Dwarka Tour Package, a unit of Experience My India, covers the Sakkarbaug Zoo timings, its remarkable lion-breeding story, what you can see, how long to spend and how to reach it.

What is Sakkarbaug Zoo?

The Sakkarbaug Zoological Park, in Junagadh, was established in 1863 by Nawab Mohabat Khanji Babi II of the Junagadh state, which makes it the oldest zoo in India, with more than a century and a half of history behind it. Spread across about 84 hectares, roughly 210 acres, it is also one of the largest zoos in the country by area, which is why it takes two to three hours to see properly. Over its long life it has grown from a princely menagerie into a serious modern conservation institution, best known across India and the world for its central role in saving the Asiatic lion from extinction. For visitors to Junagadh, it offers a rare combination, a historic royal foundation, a vast and well-stocked zoo and a genuine conservation success story all in one place, set on the edge of the city beneath the sacred mountain of Girnar.

Sakkarbaug Zoo at a glance

Sakkarbaug Zoo timings

The Sakkarbaug Zoo is open in two sessions a day, with a long midday break and it is closed one day a week. The timings are:

Two practical points matter. First, the ticket counters usually close shortly before the afternoon session ends, so do not arrive too late in the day, as you may be turned away even though the gates are still open. Second, the Wednesday closure is strict, with the zoo shut all day for its weekly holiday, so never plan a Wednesday visit. Because the zoo is large and shuts for the midday break, the best plan is to arrive at opening in the morning session, which gives you a cool, unhurried few hours to walk the major exhibits before the heat and the midday closure.

The Asiatic lion breeding programme

What truly sets Sakkarbaug apart is its role in the survival of the Asiatic lion. The zoo is the single largest and most important centre in the captive breeding programme for this critically endangered species, which it runs jointly with the Central Zoo Authority of India and a number of other zoos. Over the decades Sakkarbaug has bred a great many purebred Asiatic lions, well over a hundred and it has supplied and exchanged lions with other zoos in India and abroad to build a genetically healthy insurance population against any disaster in the wild. This matters enormously, because the entire wild population of the Asiatic lion lives in and around Gir and a single epidemic or catastrophe there could threaten the whole species. Sakkarbaug is, in effect, the safety net for the lion and a visit here is a chance to understand the conservation story behind the famous Gir safaris, seeing up close the animal that the whole region works to protect.

What you can see at the zoo

Beyond its celebrated lions, Sakkarbaug is a large, well-stocked zoo with a wide range of animals to see across its grounds. Visitors can expect to find the big cats, including the Asiatic lions and leopards, alongside deer and antelope, bears, a variety of other mammals, reptiles and a good collection of birds, housed in enclosures spread across the vast site. Within the grounds there is also a natural history museum, which displays skeletons, including those of the Asiatic lion and other specimens that help explain the wildlife of the region, a worthwhile stop that adds an educational dimension to the visit. Because the zoo is so large and historic, it has the feel of a green, shaded park as much as a zoo, pleasant to walk through at an easy pace. For families in particular it is one of the most rewarding attractions in Junagadh, combining animals, history and conservation in a single, affordable outing.

How much time to spend

Because Sakkarbaug is one of India's largest zoos by area, you should set aside two to three hours to see the major exhibits comfortably, more if you want to take your time or if you are visiting with children who will want to linger. Trying to rush it in under an hour means missing much of what makes it special, so it is best treated as a half-day outing rather than a quick stop. Given the midday closure from 12:15 PM to 3:00 PM, the natural approach is to arrive when the gates open in the morning and spend the cool early hours walking the grounds or to come at the start of the afternoon session with enough time before the ticket counters close. Either way, comfortable shoes and water are worth carrying, as there is a lot of ground to cover on foot.

Location and how to reach Sakkarbaug Zoo

The Sakkarbaug Zoo is located right on the Rajkot Highway in the Dolatpara area of Junagadh, roughly 2 to 3 km from the centre of the city, so it is quick and easy to reach from anywhere in town by auto-rickshaw or taxi. Its position on the main highway also makes it a convenient stop for travellers arriving from or heading towards Rajkot. For a comfortable way to get around Junagadh and the wider region, our Somnath Dwarka taxi service can include the zoo and the city's other sights and for the journey up to the sacred mountain afterwards, see our Junagadh to Girnar guide. The zoo combines easily with the rest of Junagadh's attractions in a single day of sightseeing.

Combining the zoo with Junagadh's sights

Sakkarbaug Zoo is best enjoyed as part of a full day exploring Junagadh's rich heritage, which is unusually varied. A natural pairing is the Darbar Hall Museum, the royal treasure house of the Nawabs and the mighty Uparkot Fort, the ancient citadel at the city's heart. Nearby stand the ornate Mahabat Maqbara mausoleum and the Ashokan Rock Edicts, where the emperor Ashoka's words are carved in stone, while sacred Mount Girnar rises beyond, reached by the Girnar Ropeway. Together with the zoo, these sights make Junagadh a destination that rewards a generous day or two, blending royal history, ancient heritage, sacred heights and the conservation of the lion.

Best time to visit

The best time to visit Sakkarbaug Zoo, as with all of Junagadh, is the cooler winter season from around November to February, when walking the vast grounds is comfortable and the animals are most active, as covered in our best time to visit Gujarat guide. The summer months can be very hot for a zoo that is largely explored on foot, so if you must visit then, stick to the early morning session. Whatever the season, the morning is the better of the two daily sessions, cooler and with livelier animals and it avoids any risk of arriving after the ticket counters have closed in the afternoon. Remember the Wednesday closure when fitting the zoo into your Junagadh itinerary.

Tips for visiting Sakkarbaug Zoo

A few pointers help you plan the visit:

• Never visit on a Wednesday, when the zoo is closed all day for its weekly holiday.

• Arrive in the morning session, from 9:00 AM, for cooler weather, livelier animals and an unhurried few hours.

• Do not arrive late in the afternoon, as the ticket counters usually close shortly before the 6:00 PM end of the session.

• Set aside 2 to 3 hours, as this is one of India's largest zoos and there is a lot of ground to cover on foot.

• Visit the natural history museum within the grounds for the Asiatic lion skeletons and other specimens.

• Wear comfortable shoes and carry water, especially in the warmer months, as the site is explored on foot.

• Combine the zoo with the Darbar Hall Museum, Uparkot Fort and the Girnar sights for a full day in Junagadh.

Plan your Junagadh visit

Experience My India can plan your Junagadh visit around Sakkarbaug Zoo and the city's heritage, timed around the sessions and the Wednesday closure, with comfortable transport arranged. You can combine Junagadh with the Somnath temple, Dwarka and the wild lions of Gir, stay at well-placed Somnath Dwarka hotels and let the Experience My India Somnath Dwarka tour packages or the wider Gujarat tour packages bring the royal, sacred and wild sides of Saurashtra together, from the breeding centre at Sakkarbaug to the free-ranging lions of the forest.

Related guides

To plan the rest of your Junagadh and Saurashtra trip, these related guides help:

Plan your visit

Experience My India can arrange your Junagadh trip and wider Saurashtra journey. Browse more travel guides, message us on WhatsApp or call +91 73006 20809.