If you cannot get out of the city after the Eid holiday, you can still give your mind a day off in the company of nature and wildlife. Without leaving Dhaka, families or friends can visit the National Zoo and the National Botanical Garden in Mirpur.

Set a little away from the noise of the city and shaded by greenery, the two places can make the Eid break more enjoyable and more educational.

Step inside the National Zoo and you are met by shaded paths, the calls of many kinds of birds and excited children. Spread over about 186 acres, the zoo holds more than 2,000 animals of around 130 local and foreign species. Royal Bengal tigers, African lions, giraffes, crocodiles, bears, deer, pythons, turtles and colourful foreign birds are all under one roof.

There is a separate play area for children, boating on the lake, and an information plaque with educational facts beside every enclosure. Thousands of visitors come every day to spend time with nature and wildlife, and during Eid there are extra arrangements and a festive atmosphere. Entry costs Tk 50.

Next to the zoo is the National Botanical Garden, which many call "the lungs of Dhaka". Covering about 205 acres, it is both a place of beauty and a living classroom for environmental awareness. It holds around 10,000 species of trees, creepers and shrubs, medicinal plants and flowers.

Walking along the dense green paths you will see rare trees, hear birdsong, and watch branches swaying in the breeze under soft sunlight. For nature lovers it is a slice of the countryside. Entry costs only Tk 20.

Both places are especially suited to children, who will learn a great deal and get some relief from the bustle of Dhaka.

The National Zoo and the Botanical Garden are easily reached from the Mirpur 1 bus stand in Dhaka, by bus, CNG auto-rickshaw or rickshaw at any time.

There are various shops, restaurants and seating areas for food and rest. You can also bring home-cooked food and enjoy it with your family.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.