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NATURE · RIVERSIDE GARDENSarita Udyan
A leafy riverside retreat on the Sabarmati — Sarita Udyan, Gandhinagar's popular garden park of lawns, trees, a children's area and a small zoo by the river.
A garden by the river
On the bank of the Sabarmati in Gandhinagar lies Sarita Udyan, one of the capital’s most popular green retreats. A spacious riverside garden of broad lawns, mature trees, flowering beds and shaded walkways, it is a favourite spot for families, morning walkers and picnickers, with a children’s play area and, nearby, a small deer park and zoo.
True to Gandhinagar’s identity as a green capital, Sarita Udyan offers a relaxed, leafy escape where the city slows down by the water — pleasant in the cool of the morning and the gentle light of evening.
While modest compared with the capital’s grand monuments, it is a much-loved everyday green space and a fine place to unwind between sightseeing, especially for families with children.
A riverside garden.
A riverside park for a planned city
Lawns by the Sabarmati.
Gandhinagar was laid out from scratch as a planned capital, with tree planting and green space designed into the grid rather than added later.
Sarita Udyan was created on the bank of the Sabarmati as part of that scheme, giving the city a riverside garden.
It became one of the capital's everyday green spaces, used far more by residents than by visitors.
It remains exactly that — a leafy, unhurried escape by the river, and it does not pretend to be more.
Reasons to make the time
Riverside garden
Broad lawns and mature shade trees make this one of the more comfortable places to sit outdoors in the capital.
Deer park
A small deer park and zoo sit close by, which is what brings most families here in the first place.
Children's area
There is a dedicated children's play area, and it is the main draw for local families in the evenings.
Walks & picnics
The whole place is relaxed rather than curated — people come to walk, sit and let children run.
Morning & dusk
Early morning and the hour before dusk are when the light through the trees is at its best.
Green capital
It fits Gandhinagar's character exactly: a capital city that is genuinely, deliberately green.
What to look for inside
THE GARDENLawns and trees
Broad lawns and mature shade on the Sabarmati bank.
THE PARKDeer and play area
A small deer park and a children's play space, the main family draw.
NATURERiverside lawns
Open grass running down towards the water, shaded through much of the day.
FAMILYChildren's play area
A dedicated play space that fills up in the evenings.
WILDLIFESmall deer park
A modest zoo and deer enclosure a short walk from the garden.
SETTINGThe Sabarmati bank
A calm green setting along the river, away from the city grid.
How to spend an hour or two
Stroll the lawns
Walk the shaded paths along the riverside, which is the simplest and best use of an hour here.
Visit the deer park
Take children to the small deer park and zoo nearby, which is what makes this a family outing.
Bring the kids
Let younger children loose in the play area; it is well used and the point of the visit for many.
Picnic by the river
Treat it as a break rather than a sight — somewhere to sit between the capital's monuments.
Come at dusk
Come early or late for the gentle light through the trees, which is when the garden looks its best.
Pair with the city
Combine it with Indroda Nature Park, Akshardham and the Capital Complex, all close by.
The riverside park.
Lawns, trees and river
Sarita Udyan is a spacious riverside garden: broad lawns, mature shade trees, flowering beds and walkways along the Sabarmati, with a children’s play area and a small adjacent deer park and zoo.
Its appeal is recreational and green — a relaxed family retreat that embodies Gandhinagar’s identity as a garden capital, best enjoyed in the cool of morning or the soft light of evening.
More places to visit across the district are gathered in our Gandhinagar travel guide.
Riverside lawns & trees
Children’s play area
Small deer park / zoo
Sabarmati-bank setting
When to go
October to March is the best season in Gandhinagar and the right time for sitting outdoors at all.
The monsoon is when the capital's greenery really shows, and the park is at its lushest.
April to June is hot; come first thing in the morning or after five, and skip the middle of the day.
⏰ Come in the morning or evening with family; it's a relaxed green break between the capital's monuments.
Timings & entry
- Open daytime hours
- Mornings and evenings are best
- Carry water; mind children near water
- Allow 1–2 hours
- Entry free or a nominal fee
- Deer park/zoo may charge separately
- Don't litter or disturb animals
- A relaxed family outing
Getting there
By Air
Ahmedabad airport (~25 km).
By Rail
Gandhinagar Capital station.
By Road
On the Sabarmati at Gandhinagar.
At the garden
GREEN & CALM
A riverside family park
What to shoot
Lawns and mature shade trees.
Wildlife
The deer park nearby.
Best light
Morning and dusk light through the trees.
Setting
The Sabarmati bank below the garden.
Know before you go
More to see close by
Mahudi Jain Temple
A revered Jain pilgrimage site nearby
NATUREIndroda Nature Park
A ‘Jurassic Park’ of fossils, trails & a zoo
WETLANDSector Lakes
Birdy ponds dotted through the city
Koteshwar Mahadev
Neighbourhood shrines across the city
MUSEUMDandi Kutir
The world’s largest museum on Gandhi & salt
FAMILYChildren’s Park
Rides & green play spaces for families
Where to eat near Sarita Udyan
Gujarati Thali
Sweet-savoury full meals.
Dhokla & fafda
Steamed and fried snacks.
Chaat & more
Lively city street food.
Pure-veg city
Classic Gujarati veg fare; Ahmedabad nearby.
Sarita Udyan FAQ
What is Sarita Udyan?
A riverside garden park on the bank of the Sabarmati in Gandhinagar — lawns, mature shade trees and a children's play area, with a small deer park and zoo nearby.
What's there for families?
Lawns and shaded walks, a dedicated children's play area, and a small deer park and zoo a short distance away.
Is there an entry fee?
Free or a nominal fee for the garden. The zoo and deer park may charge separately.
When should I visit?
Mornings or evenings, and between October and March. It is a garden rather than a monument, so the weather makes all the difference.
Where is it?
On the Sabarmati bank at Gandhinagar, within easy reach of the Capital Complex and the city's other sights.
Is it good for kids?
Yes. It is one of the capital's favourite family green spaces, and the play area and deer park are the main reasons people come.
How long does it take?
One to two hours. It is a place to break a day rather than to fill one.
What's nearby?
Indroda Nature Park, Akshardham, Mahatma Mandir and Dandi Kutir, and the Capital Complex — all within a short drive.
Related places across Gujarat
HERITAGENehru Gate
A grand ceremonial gateway in town
Chhota Udaipur Town Temples
Old shrines of Chhota Udaipur
NATUREDharoi Dam
A scenic reservoir on the Sabarmati
6Dharampur Villages
Living tribal culture deep in the Ghats
STEPWELLRegional Vavs
Carved stepwells scattered across the district
HERITAGELang Library
A historic 19th-century reading hall
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Published 24 June 2026 · Updated 24 August 2026