After I reached my hotel, I took ample rest and got ready for my lunch. I am a complete foodie and so, I ordered local delicacies and the mouth watering delicacies made my day. As I had enough time, I planned to visit Nandanvan Nature Center.
I booked a taxi and started heading towards Nandanvan which was almost 16 kms away from Raipur city. As soon as I reached there I saw many families flocking here as this place is a perfect weekend getaway. I was astonished to see that the center covers an area of 10 hectares. Being a nature lover myself, watching this center was a treat for me. The objective of starting this center was to give shelter to stray wild animals and I must say it has been beautifully undertaken. They have successfully created awareness of nature amongst the city dwellers.
The entry fee of the center is Rs 10 and the center also acts as a biological park wherein they have maintained some common forestry plants as well. There is also a small zoo where children flock in large numbers to watch wild and domestic animals in their natural habitat. It is a good exercise for children, especially from an education point of view. Above all, the animals are really in good shape and state which really made me very happy. It was thrilling to watch a white tiger, lion and panther in close proximity.
It doesn’t end here as the center boasts of beautiful garden, lush greenery, nice huge playgrounds and most importantly jogging areas. I also took a nice stroll and it was very refreshing, especially after a journey. Not only this, I also enjoyed boating here. The most important feature of this center is – cleanliness and the authorities take good care of the visitors. I saw families carrying picnic baskets who then sat under the trees relishing food. Some families were also resting and taking naps in the garden and it was a déjà vu moment for me. After a nice day spent, I headed back to my hotel to plan my next outing.