Right at the heart of the city lays the Guindy National Park, stretching over 1.09 square miles of protected land. This park offers us a glimpse into the remnants of the fast disappearing natural fauna of Chennai. The park holds many unique qualities; it is home to the most rare type of vegetation – tropical, dry, evergreen vegetation, it is one of the smallest national parks in the country and it’s one of the very few parks right in the center of a metro city. It’s most outstanding feature is its role in both in-situ and ex-situ conservation.

There was once a ‘Guindy Lodge’, where the governor of Tamil Nadu resided, the extension of which makes up the park. Deep into the governor’s estate, it transforms into beautiful forest, scrublands and streams. Ironically, Guindy Park was once a game reserve, out of which a garden space was carved out and the remaining land, owned by a British citizen by the name of Gilbert Rodericks, was sold to the government. This land was converted into a forest reserve. Between 1961 and 1977, portions of this land were taken by various governmental departments to build memorials and educational institutions. In 1978, the entire remaining area was declared a national park.

The salient feature of this park is it practices both kinds of fauna conservation – in situ and ex situ. ‘In situ conservation’ means ‘on sight conservation’, where an endangered species is protected in its natural habitat. ‘Ex situ conservation’ means ‘off sight conservation’, where an endangered species is protected by taking out a portion of the species and putting them in a protected area, in order to increase their numbers.

Today, a couple of thousand animals call this place their home, including 400 blackbucks, 24 jackals, 2,000 spotted deer, a variety of reptiles, bird, small fuzzy critters, numerous different species of insects and an immense number of little insects and invertebrates. All these animals live in freedom and have minimal contact with human beings. A Children’s Park, a zoo, was created for ex situ conservation as well as to educate children about animals and the need to conserve and protect them. The animals protected in this zoo are black buck, spotted deer, hyenas, pythons and the cormorants, to name a few.

The plant life that grows here is also rare and attracts botanists from far and wide. Evergreen scrubs and thorn forests provide a lush backdrop as shrubs, creepers and herbs cradle the trees. The trees, such as Sugar Apple and Neem, grow here abundantly, providing shade Stroll around, observe and enjoy the way the plant life and animals co exist peacefully and joyfully. An island of peace, in the heart of a corporate jungle; all nature lovers should visit this small and beautiful park.

• Look out for chameleons!
• Check out the snake and reptile park.
• Don’t feed the animals junk food, a lot of people do! Not nice.
• Only one eatery is available within the park so eat before going.

• INR 20 per Adult; INR 5 per child; INR 20 per still camera; INR 100 per video camera.

• Train to Chennai Egmore, which is 8 kms away.
• Be sure to ask local travelers or the bus conductor for more specific details.

• Snow ‘s Park (North Indian, Chinese, South Indian/ 600 INR for two)
• Pale Purple (Pub, Chinese, North Indian/ 1000 INR  for two)
• The Flying Elephant (North Indian, Chinese, European/ 2500 INR for two)

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