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Get Charmed By The Snakes!
Founded by wildlife conservationist Romulus Whitaker, the Snake Park, at
Guindy, Chennai,
houses a variety of reptiles. Cobras, Pythons, Kraits, Adders, Vipers,
Monitor Lizards and giant Turtles are some of the special draws at the
park. It is well maintained with generous enclosures. Information boards
debunk many myths about reptiles.
The
snake park will interest visitors of all ages. It houses a variety of
Indian snakes and reptiles, which can be viewed from close quarters. The
park is famous for its collection of rare snakes. People from across the
world visit this place to see these rare snakes; many of the species are
endangered now.
Established In
Madras Snake Park Trust (MSPT) was established in 1972 by a group of
naturalists in the Guindy National Park. For the first two decades since
its inception, the Snake Park was known to the world as one of the reputed
tourist centres of Chennai
city. The Snake Park has now been recognised by the Central Zoo Authority
as a "Medium Zoo" in view of the heavy visitor support.
Demonstrations At The Park
The Snake Park utilises the expertise of the Irula tribals by employing
them as they are considered to be knowledgeable and efficient snake
catchers in this part of the country. Lecture-demonstrations, by the hour,
in Tamil, Hindi and English, helps inform and educate visitors. For the
adventurous, an opportunity is given to handle the snakes at these
demonstrations. Equally interesting is the venom-extraction demonstration.
Children's Park: Adjoining the Snake Park is the Children's Park, which is a huge park with Deers, Peacocks, etc. It has playgrounds, slides and swings for the kids. One can also enjoy Elephant and Pony rides on weekends. This park also has a sizeable collection of birds.
Timings: 8.30 am to 5.30 pm.
Closed On: Tuesdays.
Air:
Chennai has an
airport with both domestic and international terminals. Regular flights
connect Chennai with the major cities within the country and also with
countries like USA, Singapore, U.K etc.
Rail: Chennai
is well connected by rail with the important towns and cities within and
beyond the state.
Road: State transport buses and private buses connect
Chennai with the
major towns and cities within the country. For local transportation local
trains, city buses, auto rickshaws and taxis are also available.
Being the capital city of the state, Chennai is well equipped with various kinds of accommodation options, varying from economic class to luxurious ones.