- Location: Range Guindy, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600025
- Timings: 09:00 am to 05:30 pm on all days of the wee
- Entry fee:
1. Individual Entry: Adult - INR 15; Students of Government schools - INR 2; Students of in Private schools - INR 10
2. Entry with Camera: Still camera - INR 10; Video camera - INR 75; Documentary film production with the help of a video camera - INR 2000
3. For Snake Park: Still camera - INR 25; Video camera - INR 150
- Parking fees: Heavy vehicles- INR 50; Four wheelers- INR 15; Two-wheelers- INR 5
History of Guindy National Park
The only park located inside a city, Guindy National Park was declared a forest reserve in the year 1810. Initially, it was an adjoining area of the Guindy Lodge, now known as the Raj Bhawan which is the official home for the Governor of Tamil Nadu.
However, later between the years 1961 and 1977, this place was purchased by the government and a vast chunk of the forest was reserved to construct memorials and educational institutes. Gradually in 1978, the park was established as a National Park and separated from any concrete structures standing nearby. After crawling all these steps, the present picture of the park has been moulded.
Biodiversity at Guindy National Park
- Flora
1. The park has an abundance of natural vegetation summing up to more than 24 varieties of trees and 350 species of other plants.
2. The evergreen and deciduous trees found in the park are Albizia Amara, Sal, and Chloroxylon spp.
3. You will also find a few blotches of Sal Forests whose existence has been threatened by us.
4. There are some tropical dry evergreen scrublands namely Catunaregam Spinosa, Ziziphus glaberrima, Dichrostachys cinerea and Carissa spinarum.
5. Some of the other varieties of trees include Manilkara hexandra, Drypetes septaria, Mimusops elengi, Flacourtia indica, strychnine tree, Eugenia spp., Atlanta Monophylla, Ceylon ebony, Annona Squamosa, Feronia Limonia, Azadirachta Indica, etc.
- Fauna
1. The park houses more than 14 species of wild mammals, 150 species of birds, numerous reptiles and amphibians along with more than 60 species of spiders and butterflies.
2. Mammals include jackal, sloth, chital, black-naped hare, blackbuck, spotted deer, jackal, small Indian civet, three-striped palm squirrel, dhole, common mongoose, hyena, jackal, bonnet macaque, hedgehog and Indian spotted chevrotain.
3. The species of birds include local as well as migratory birds namely Grey Partridge, Paradise Fly Catcher, Crow Pheasant, Parrot, Black-winged kite, Eagle, Golden-backed Woodpecker, Stone Curlew, Parakeet, Tailor Bird, Pochard, Open-billed Storks and Honey Buzzard.
4. Also, there are some rare reptiles like Fan-throated Lizard, Geckos, Lizards, Saw-scaled Viper, Chameleons, Star Tortoise, and Indian Monitor Lizard.
Places to Eat around Guindy National Park
Settled in the middle of the city, Guindy National Park is surrounded with an array of cafes and restaurants like Prems Graama Bhojanam which serves tasty South Indian food whereas Liu’s Waldorf serving Chinese delicacies. Choose your culinary interest and head to the one serving the same.
1. Chennai Snake Park Trust: Chennai Snake Park Trust is a small canteen situated right next to the Children’s Park in Guindy National Park. Your little toddlers can play in the park while you are waiting for your yummy food to arrive.
2. The Dining Room: Overlooking a lily pond, The Dining Room serves you a variety of options for cuisines from around India. To maintain the authenticity and taste of cuisines, the food is served in clay pots. You must try this restaurant to have a glimpse of the Indian culture.
3. Peshawari: The place has a warm ambience and one can relish on typical North Indian food in the south of the country. The options on the menu will spoil you for choices and any choice you make will be perfect.
4. That Madras Place: That Madras Cafe has a vibrant ambience with open windows to let natural light seep into the cafe. You can relish upon their loaded menu of Italian cuisines in this crisp atmosphere which makes you stay for a little long.
Travellers’ Tip for Visiting Guindy National Park
Traveller’s tips always come in handy when visiting a new place. Here are some things you should take care of while exploring the woods of the Guindy National Park
1. Keep a water bottle with you as hydration is must while walking outdoors.
2. Make sure to pack some food and snacks with you as there is only one eating joint inside the park.
3. Wear comfortable and fitting shoes as you will have to walk a lot inside the park.
4. Maintain silence inside the park as to not alarm the wild animals.
5. You must wear breathable clothes which are of neutral colours that can merge with the hues of the surroundings. Avoid wearing neon and bright colours as animals can get attracted towards with an alarming mind.
6. Make sure to carry something to cover your head like hat, scarf, etc in order to protect yourself from the sun.
7. Take a garbage bag along with you so that you can carry your garbage back and dispose it off in a dustbin.
