'Nandankanan means ‘Garden of Heavens’ and this zoo and botanical gardens truly lives up to its name. Opened to the public in 1979, the park was the first in India to become a part of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums in 2009. Sprawling across almost 1,000 acres, the NandanKanan Zoological Park is located near the Kanjia Lake, with thick, dense forests in its surroundings. Replete with varieties of both common and exotic flora and fauna, the park sees over two million visitors every year. The park works towards preserving endangered species and creating a natural habitat for them.'