Nandankanan the garden of Gods includes a big area, which includes the zoological park, the Kanjia lake and Botanical garden and all with blended version named as "Nadankanan wildlife sanctuary".
The Nandankanan zoo has created history in many ways. In 1967, a wild female tiger approached Nandankanan, and scaling a high fence, she crept around until she found the tiger enclosure. A short distance from the capital city, Bhubaneswar, the Nandankanan Zoo lies in the splendid environs of the Chandaka forest, along the rippling waters of the Kanjia Lake. It also contains a Botanical Garden and part of it has been declared a sanctuary.
Famed for its white tiger population, Nandankanan, or the 'Garden of Gods', has become a hot family favourite, with visitors getting an excellent opportunity to enjoy seeing these regal animals in their natural glory - in an environment conducive to their growth. Over 67 kinds of mammals, 18 varieties of reptiles and 81 species of birds co-exist in the deeply forested boundaries.
The zoo enjoys an excellent reputation internationally, for successfully breeding black panthers, gharial crocodiles and white tigers in captivity. To reach at Nandankanan nearest airport and railway station is Bhubaneswar and frequent public transports are available for this destination.
Nandankanan National Park is actually a bastion of white tigers. Apart from Bandhavgarh National Park, the Sunder Kanan is the second home in India for the white magnificent creatures; although in Bandhavgarh today, there are only lesser counts are left. Today, Nandankanan Zoological Park has more than 34 white tigers in its vicinity. Besides, the park is also the home to 67 varieties of mammals, 18 varieties of reptiles and 81 species of birds. The animals that are frequently seen in the park are Asiatic lion, lion-tailed macaque, Indian crocodiles, nilgiri langur, Indian pangolin, Himalayan black bear, mouse deer, rhesus macaque, black buck and more. By spreading over a sprawling area of 4.4 Sq kms, the park also noticed as the first breeding place for black panthers.
Nandankanan Zoological Park boasts of a fascinating lake and wonderful lush green environs, which is a virtual paradise for birds inviting native as well as migratory birds. According to forest department, the park has around 75 bird species including some very rare species of birds. Some of the popular birds that can be seen here are white peacock, blue & yellow macaw, open billed stork, green winged macaw etc.
Nandankanan which is situated in the Chandaka forests, bears the lush green zoological park being spread in about 4 sq km of area, while the wildlife sanctuary is spread in around 5 sq km is also a home to various flourishing varieties of flora. The splendid environs of Chandaka forests and rippling waters of Kanjia Lake forms flora here. The area is densely greened with trees like Bija, Sal, Asana and Anala.