A Trip to Nandankanan Zoological Park

After a long time, I visited Nandankanan along with my sons Sai (16 years old) and Sannibh (8 years old though he insists that he is 9 years old), it was really fun to spend quality time with kids. Specifically when you stay in large cities where travel time consumes good part of your life in my case approx. 32 days of a year in travelling (I travel by car). Seriously, I spend 1 out of 12 months in travelling.

Let me come back to the subject, though we stay very near to Nandankanan but rarely find time to take kids to Nandankanan due to many excuses. This time when I am travelling to Bhubaneswar, I was clear in my mind, I will take them to Nandankanan. Sai had visited at a very young age and Sannibh had never visited to Nandankanan.

We purchased entry tickets, a guide (Manoj - young local fellow) escorted us and then the journey starts to cover 9 sightseeing points. It was hot but we were super excited as it was father and sons time after a long period. There are 12 seater BOV (Battery Operated Vehicle), which took us to various points. Our first stop was to see 'Hippopotamus' and came to know that they stay out water for very minimal time to eat their food. Staying out of longer time damages their skin. 

On the way back, we had the 'Toy Train' station. Sannibh had never sat in a 'Toy Train', we booked tickets and to take an about 15 minutes journey. Sannibh swiftly asked for a window seat. Got down train and took some photos, one I had shared with my Facebook friends. Sannibh was excited. 

We visited to see reptile friends. We saw a few crocodiles - could not see crocodile tears though :). Both sons didn't want to meet Snakes and frankly I also didn't want to visit but I put the onus on them. Human nature, you know!

Moved on see tigers, elephants, lions, deers ... We came know lioness does the hunting but not the lion and lion accepts the same without any ego issues, however, lion does stay along the lioness in this process. Animals have understood, there is noting called superior or inferior between two partners but humans with superior brain has failed to understand it. Otherwise, gender diversity should not have been target but would have been an inherent part of so called the society. 

Tiger cubs do the stay with tigers and as harm them. They are safe with tigress though. It brings in importance of mother. Mothers are most selfless and they always care for their kids. Again animals are teaching humans. We don't need to run after gender diversity if we all practice from their respective home. We also met 'Nandan' - The Tiger who jumped the fence for his loved one.

We saw people are living with these animals, which means we can coexist. By the end of trip, Sannibh was tired and exhausted due to scorching heat. We had cucumber from a road side stall - Sannibh was initially hesitating to eat but settled down well with taste of street food. I always liked the street foods of Odisha.

While we are ending trip a gentleman pushed me from behind. I presume to take away my mobile (very caring - what could better than stay away from mobile), which I saved but poor fellow (not sure) took away my spectacle leaving me partly blur vision during nights at Bhubaneswar till the time I get my new spectacle.

I must mention and thank the security persons, who immediately review the CCTV footages but could not establish who took away the spectacle. Anyways, no one can change the fate (mostly) ... if it was supposed to be lost at Nandankanan then it will happen and now it has happened. This event should spoil the good memories.

We also visited Botanical Garden but nothing much share apart from that we took some photographs for our memories. I remember that we used have our 'Bana Bhoji' at this place.

Overall, we had a great father and sons bonding trip with some learning but we missed my niece, who had to attend her college.

I will share my blog on our visit to 'Dhauli Santi Stupa' - another exciting trip along my father, niece and sons.  

#tosangy