Designed to accommodate 50 visitors at a time, the observation tower will integrate sustainability features such as solar energy systems and rainwater harvesting.
| Photo Credit: Special arrangement
A 25-meter-high public observation tower will come up at Bannerghatta Biological Park (BBP) by the end of the year, for which construction is expected to begin next month.
In this regard, the Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies (RNPF) on Tuesday (March 24, 2026) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with BBP to support the development of a tower, committing a grant of ₹5 crore.
The proposed tower will offer panoramic views of the forested valley of Bannerghatta National Park (BNP) and the Bengaluru skyline enabling safe and regulated wildlife observation.
50 visitors
Designed to accommodate 50 visitors at a time, the structure will integrate sustainability features such as solar energy systems and rainwater harvesting.
A.V. Surya Sen, executive director, BBP, said this partnership marks a significant step in strengthening their commitment to conservation, education, and sustainable tourism. “The proposed tower will not only enhance visitor experience through immersive nature-based learning but also stand as a symbol of our dedication to environmentally responsible infrastructure,” he said.
An artist’s image of the tower that will come up at Mirza hill, which is inside the Bannerghatta zoo.
| Photo Credit:
Special arrangement
No trees affected
He added that the project is a brown field project and no trees would be felled for it.
“The tower will come up at Mirza hill which is inside the zoo. Right now at this location, there is an existing old watch tower which is the highest point in the zoo from where one can get a 360 degrees view of BNP on one side, parts of BBP on the other side, the surrounding villages and Bengaluru city also upto some areas like Jayanar and J.P. Nagar,” he added.
“Public institutions like BBP are important spaces where people can connect with nature — not just as spectators, but as students and eventually as trustees of our amazing biodiversity. As our everyday connection with the natural world weakens, we need to rebuild it through shared experiences, access, and storytelling,” said Rohini Nilekani, chairperson, RNPF.
100 species
BBP attracts over 2.2 million visitors annually and houses four different units — Zoo, Safari, Butterfly Park, and Rescue Center — created within an area of 731.88 hectares. In total, there are 2,194 individual animals across 100 species.
Published – March 24, 2026 01:23 pm IST
