Delhi Zoo Nearest Metro Station: Route, Distance and Exit

Delhi zoo nearest metro station is Supreme Court on the Blue Line. Most older guides still call it Pragati Maidan. It’s about 1.5 to 2 km from the zoo’s entrance on Mathura Road, next to Purana Qila. Take Gate 2 to Mathura Road, then either walk for 20 to 25 minutes or take a short auto ride. The station’s new name is the first thing to know. The second is the timing: the zoo is closed every Friday and on national holidays, and has closed completely for several weeks at a time during bird flu outbreaks. It’s worth checking that the zoo is open before you set out.

The National Zoological Park opened in 1959 and covers about 176 acres. It has tigers, elephants, rhinos, primates and large aviaries, and a full visit takes most of a morning. Here’s how to get there by metro and what to plan for once you’re inside.

Supreme Court Station: Gate 2 and Mathura Road

The station was renamed from Pragati Maidan to Supreme Court, but some signs, maps and taxi drivers still use the old name. Both refer to the same Blue Line stop, between Mandi House and Indraprastha. It has four gates:

• Gate 1 leads to the Supreme Court.
• Gate 2 leads to Mathura Road and is step-free. Use this one for the zoo.
• Gate 3 is exit-only, open from 8 AM to 5 PM, and leads to Bharat Mandapam’s Gate 10.
• Gate 4 leads to the skywalk.

From Gate 2, head south along Mathura Road towards Purana Qila, the Old Fort. The zoo entrance is beside the fort, on the side facing Mathura Road. It’s a busy road with fast traffic, and the pavement is wide in some places and narrow in others. With small children or in summer heat, a short auto ride is much easier. Autos usually wait near Gate 2. Agree on the fare first, because drivers sometimes quote more for trips to tourist sites.

Supreme Court is the best choice if you’re coming from:

• Noida, Vaishali or Anand Vihar on the Blue Line, with no change of line.
• Dwarka, Rajouri Garden, Karol Bagh or Connaught Place on the Blue Line, also with no change.
• Anywhere on the Yellow Line. Change to the Blue Line at Rajiv Chowk, then ride three stops.

Khan Market and JLN Stadium on the Violet Line

If you’re on the Violet Line, two stations are about 2 km from the zoo:

• Khan Market is near the zoo’s western side. The walk passes through the leafy streets of Lutyens’ Delhi before reaching Mathura Road, but it’s long. Most visitors take an auto for the last stretch.
• JLN Stadium is to the south, with a similar distance and also best finished by auto.

Both are useful if you’re coming from Faridabad, Badarpur, Nehru Place, Lajpat Nagar or Kashmere Gate, because they save you a change at Mandi House or Rajiv Chowk.

Routes From Around Delhi

Metro times don’t include the walk or auto ride to the zoo entrance.

Before You Go: Check These Three Things

1. Don’t go on a Friday. The zoo is closed every Friday and on national holidays, including Republic Day (26 January), Independence Day (15 August) and Gandhi Jayanti (2 October). Many first-time visitors arrive to find the gates shut.
2. Check that the zoo hasn’t been closed for health reasons. It has shut completely several times because of avian influenza (H5N1). The most recent closure ran from late August to 8 November 2025, and there were earlier ones in 2016 and 2021. Before a planned visit, especially in late summer and autumn, look at the zoo’s official website or recent news.
3. Arrive early. Ticket sales stop about 30 minutes before closing. The zoo is large, so reaching Gate 2 at 3:30 PM on a winter afternoon leaves very little time. For the best experience, arrive when the gates open. Many animals are more active in the cooler morning hours, and weekend crowds build up by late morning.

Inside the Zoo: Practical Tips

• Tickets: Book online through the zoo’s official website, or scan the QR code at the entrance to book on the spot. Keep your ticket on your phone, because staff check it at entry.
• Allow 2.5 to 3 hours for a full circuit. The zoo covers a large area with long walking paths.
• Battery-operated vehicles have been available inside for visitors who don’t want to walk the whole circuit. They’re useful with older relatives or small children. Check at the entrance whether they’re running.
• Food and water: There are canteens inside, but carry water, particularly from April to June. Outside food and plastic may be restricted, so follow the rules at the gate.
• Don’t feed or tease the animals. The rule is strictly enforced and carries penalties.
• Best season: October to March is the most comfortable. On summer afternoons, many animals stay in the shade and the paths get very hot.

Combine It With Purana Qila

The zoo shares a boundary with Purana Qila, the 16th-century Old Fort. The fort has its own entry fee and gate, and in the evenings there’s a sound-and-light show and boating on the lake beside it, when running. A morning at the zoo followed by an afternoon at the fort makes an easy day out, with no need to get back on the metro in between.

Nearby, Bharat Mandapam (formerly Pragati Maidan exhibition grounds) holds large trade fairs, particularly the India International Trade Fair in November. During big events, Supreme Court station and Mathura Road get very crowded. On those days, arriving through Khan Market or JLN Stadium by auto may be faster.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Which is the nearest metro station to Delhi Zoo?

A. Supreme Court Metro Station (formerly Pragati Maidan) on the Blue Line is one of the nearest metro stations to Delhi Zoo, approximately 1.5–2 km away.

Q2. Which gate of Supreme Court Metro Station should I use for Delhi Zoo?

A. Gate 2 is convenient for Delhi Zoo, as it opens towards Mathura Road and provides step-free access.

Q3. Is Pragati Maidan Metro Station the same as Supreme Court?

A. Yes. The Blue Line station previously known as Pragati Maidan Metro Station was renamed Supreme Court Metro Station.

Q4. Is Delhi Zoo open on Friday?

A. No. Delhi Zoo is closed every Friday and on national holidays.

Q5. What is the Delhi Zoo entry fee?

A. The stated entry fee is ₹80 for Indian adults, ₹40 for children aged 5–12 and senior citizens, and ₹400 for foreign adults.

Q6. What are Delhi Zoo’s timings?

A. Delhi Zoo generally operates from around 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM during summer and 9:00 AM to around 4:30–5:00 PM during winter. Last entry or ticket sales may close around 30 minutes before the zoo’s closing time.

Q7. Can I walk from the metro to Delhi Zoo?

A. Yes. The walk from Supreme Court Metro Station’s Gate 2 to Delhi Zoo takes approximately 20–25 minutes via Mathura Road. An auto-rickshaw may be more convenient when travelling with children.

Q8. Which Violet Line station is closest to Delhi Zoo?

A. Khan Market and JLN Stadium are among the convenient Violet Line stations for Delhi Zoo, both roughly 2 km away. From either station, an auto-rickshaw can be used for the remaining distance.