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Karanji Lake Nature Park, Mysuru
Karanji Lake Nature Park is open **8:30 am–5:30 pm every day except Tuesday**, according to Mysuru Zoo, which runs it. A lake-only ticket costs ₹60 for adults and ₹30 for children aged 5–12; a combined Zoo and Karanji ticket is ₹150 and ₹80. Come for the walk-through aviary, the butterfly park and the pedal boats out towards the nesting islands.
Ninety hectares of water under Chamundi Hill, run by the zoo authority next door. The pull is the walk-through aviary, the largest in India, where peacocks, hornbills and waterbirds carry on at arm's length with no wire in between; then a butterfly park with more than forty-five species, a watchtower over the water, and rowing and pedal boats that pass the islands where painted storks and pelicans nest. Entry costs little. Mornings are when the birds are busy; by afternoon it turns into a family park. Closed one day a week, usually listed as Tuesday (worth confirming).
Walk inside India's largest aviary, then row out past the nesting islands
Timings and entry fee
From the Mysuru Zoo website (Zoo Authority of Karnataka):
| Adult | Child (5–12) | |
|---|---|---|
| Karanji Lake only | ₹60 | ₹30 |
| Zoo + Karanji Lake combo | ₹150 | ₹80 |
Hours: 8:30 am–5:30 pm. Closed: every Tuesday. Pedal boating is listed among the park's facilities; its fare is not on the official tariff, so pay at the counter. The description above says the closing day is usually Tuesday; the zoo's official site confirms Tuesday as the weekly holiday.
What Karanji Lake is
Karanji is one of the oldest urban lakes of Mysuru, more than a hundred years old and spread over 90 acres under Chamundi Hill (90 acres per the zoo's official site, not 90 hectares as the description above says). Like many city lakes in India it was once a dumping ground for municipal waste; in 1976 it was handed over to Mysuru Zoo, which turned it back into a living lake, a rainwater-harvesting pond and a home for urban wildlife. About three lakh people visit every year.
✅ What to see and do
- The walk-through aviary: the main draw, described as the largest walk-through aviary in India. Peacocks, hornbills and waterbirds go about their business at arm's length, with no wire between you and them.
- The butterfly park: more than forty-five species.
- The bird watch tower over the water.
- Pedal boats: they pass the islands where painted storks and pelicans nest.
- Gardens: a palm garden, a bambusetum (bamboo collection), an orchidarium and a forest nursery, linked by a walking track.
- For children: a play area; the park is an easy family outing.
- Next door: the Regional Museum of Natural History stands on the lake shore, and Mysuru Zoo is next door.
Best time to visit
Come in the morning, soon after the 8:30 am opening, when the birds are busiest. By afternoon the park turns into a family outing. Remember the Tuesday closing, which the park shares with the zoo.
❓ FAQ
How much does an entry ticket to Karanji Lake Nature Park cost?
₹60 for adults and ₹30 for children aged 5–12 for the lake only; the Zoo and Karanji combo is ₹150 and ₹80.
Is Karanji Lake open today?
It is open 8:30 am–5:30 pm every day except Tuesday.
What activities are available at Karanji Lake Nature Park?
The walk-through aviary, a butterfly park, a bird watch tower, pedal boating, gardens, a walking track and a children's play area.
Who runs Karanji Lake?
Mysuru Zoo (Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens, under the Zoo Authority of Karnataka) has managed the lake since 1976.
When is the best time to visit?
Early morning, right after opening, when the birds are most active.