Dehradun Zoo: visiting the old Malsi Deer Park

Most people in Dehradun still call it Malsi Deer Park. The zoo’s own Instagram profile says it was established in 1976 and is “formerly known as Malsi Deer Park”. It is run by the Uttarakhand Forest Department, and its director told Garhwal Post in September 2026 that it is categorised as a small zoo. Small is the right word: you can walk the whole thing in a morning, which is exactly why it works for families.

Dehradun Zoo ticket price: why the websites disagree

Search for the Dehradun Zoo ticket and you’ll find ₹10, ₹20, ₹30 and ₹100, often on the same page. The low numbers are old. ETV Bharat reported in April 2025 that the zoo had raised entry from ₹50 to ₹100 in November 2024, and in March 2026 it again described the ₹100 ticket per person as the zoo’s main source of income. We couldn’t find a rate list published by the zoo or the Forest Department, so treat ₹100 as the figure to budget for and expect the counter to have the final word.

For a family of four, that is about ₹400 at the gate, plus parking if you drive. We couldn’t find a current, official rule on child tickets. Some videos and listings say young children go free, but they don’t agree on the age, so carry enough for everyone and ask at the counter.

The Monday closure, and opening hours

This is the one that catches visitors out. The zoo posted in September 2026 that it “remains closed to visitors every Monday”. If your trip has a Monday in it, give that day to something else and put the zoo on a weekday.

Opening hours are less clear. We couldn’t find a dated 2026 notice from the zoo, and listings online don’t agree with each other, so we don’t print a time here. We’d aim to arrive by mid-morning and leave by mid-afternoon. If the exact time matters, call the zoo the day before on the number it gives in its own posts: +91 90271 74404.

What you’ll see now

The zoo has changed a lot in two years. In April 2025 it held almost 500 birds and animals of 47 species. The headline animals are newer:

• Tigers. Two tigers from the Dhela rescue centre at Corbett went on display on 25 November 2024. In September 2026 the zoo director told Garhwal Post there were three tigers here. One of them, a male called Bhola, has since gone to Gwalior in exchange for the white tiger.
• A white tiger, soon. Tejas came from Gwalior on 28 September 2026 in an exchange. As of 26 October 2026 the zoo told Dainik Bhaskar he would go on show only after Diwali, date not yet fixed. Check the zoo’s Instagram before you promise the children.
• A Himalayan black bear, rescued near Chakrata and on display since May 2026.
• Deer, birds and reptiles, including gharials and crocodiles. The zoo also runs a 3D theatre.

A winter note from the zoo’s vet: in cold months the reptiles may go into brumation, a slowed-down state when they eat less and move little, and heaters are set up near their enclosures (The New Indian Express, 14 October 2026). So from December to February, expect sleepy reptiles. The mammals and birds are the better bet.

Crowds: avoid Sunday if you can

The zoo is busier than most people expect. On Sunday 22 March 2026 it counted 10,148 visitors in a single day, its record. Over the 2025–26 financial year it had about 7.88 lakh visitors. Weekends and school holidays are the crush. With small children, a Tuesday to Friday morning is far calmer. In October 2026 the zoo’s range officer asked visitors, through Amar Ujala, to be gentle with the animals and not to throw stones at them when they aren’t looking your way. Worth a word with the children before you go in.

Getting there and how long to allow

The zoo is on Mussoorie Road. The city’s Nagar Nigam puts it at 9 km from the Clock Tower, so call it about 10 km (checked November 2026). Allow two to three hours inside: enough for the tigers, the bear, the deer and a rest on a bench, without anyone getting cranky.

In the monsoon, Mussoorie Road and the city roads can be slow after heavy rain, and the zoo paths are outdoors. Check the forecast and road updates before you set out; our guide to checking roads and weather lists where we look.

How we’d plan the day

On our Instagram we say, “We help our guests to experience the best of local places.” For the zoo, this is how we’d do it:

• Go on a weekday morning. Summer afternoons get hot, and winter light goes early. A morning visit leaves the afternoon free for a nap or a slow lunch.
• Pair it with Mussoorie Road. Because the zoo sits on the road up the hill, it fits well before or after a Mussoorie day trip. With young children, we’d do the zoo in the morning and stop there rather than pack in the hill as well.
• Or pair it with Robber’s Cave on a dry day, for older children who like a walk. Read the Robber’s Cave page first for its own fee and the water and monsoon caveats.
• Ask before bringing the dog. We couldn’t find a published pet rule for the zoo, so ask before you go and plan for the dog to sit this one out. Our Dehradun with a dog guide has outings that suit dogs better.
• Skip Mondays, and don’t rely on old blog prices.

If you’re bringing the family, Fyonli Nest sleeps four adults, or up to six guests with children aged 2 to 12, and has a full kitchen if you’d rather pack your own snacks for the day. Pahadi breakfast is on request at ₹350 per guest; tell us the night before.

Sources: Dehradun Zoo on Instagram, 6 September 2026 (Monday closure); Dehradun Zoo Instagram profile (established 1976, formerly Malsi Deer Park); Dehradun Zoo on Instagram, 26 May 2023 (phone number); Dehradun Zoo on Facebook, 22 March 2026 (visitor record); ETV Bharat, 25 March 2026 (₹100 ticket, paid extras, 2025–26 visitors); ETV Bharat, 29 April 2025 (price rise, tigers, species count); Amar Ujala, 14 October 2026 (white tiger arrival, visitor appeal); Dainik Bhaskar, 26 October 2026 (white tiger display after Diwali, Bhola sent to Gwalior); Garhwal Post, 4 September 2026 (small zoo, three tigers); Times of India, 7 May 2026 (black bear, safari area); The New Indian Express, 14 October 2026 (winter care); Nagar Nigam Dehradun (distance from the Clock Tower). All checked 1 November 2026.