Taraporewala Aquarium

Taraporewala Aquarium
Date opened 1951
Location Marine Lines, Mumbai
Coordinates 18°56′57″N 72°49′12″E / 18.9492866°N 72.8200758°E / 18.9492866; 72.8200758Coordinates: 18°56′57″N 72°49′12″E / 18.9492866°N 72.8200758°E / 18.9492866; 72.8200758
Number of species 400
Volume of largest tank 22,000
Annual visitors 400000[1][2]

Taraporewala Aquarium is India's oldest aquarium and one of the city's main attractions.[3] it hosts marine and freshwater fishes. The aquarium is located on Marine Drive in Mumbai.

It was re-opened after renovation on March 3, 2015.[4] The renovated aquarium has a 12-feet long and 180 degree acrylic glass tunnel.[5] Another attraction is the special pools, where children can touch fish which are harmless.[6] The fish will be kept in large glass tanks, which will be lit with LED lights.[3]

2,000 fishes of over 400 species and has been renovated at a cost of Rs.22 crore (approx Rs 7.5 crore for aquariums and Rs. 16.5 crore for construction work done by Public Works department) .[7] The exotic fish from overseas has been introduced at the new aquarium the number of new varieties of marine fish at 70. Helicopter,Arowana,Gruppen,yellow-striped tang, blue-spotted stingray, star, clown, hark, trigger, Grouper, Moorish idol,[3] Azure Damsel, Blueline Demoiselle, Purple Firefish, Cloudy Damsel, Copperband Butterflyfish, Schooling Bannerfish, Raccoon Butterflyfish, White Tail Trigger, Clown Triggerfish and Blue Ribbon Eel. The 40 new varieties of freshwater fish would include Red Devil, Jaguar, Electric Blue Jack Dempsey,Frontosa and Catfish. These fishes will be housed in larger tanks than before with imported flexi glass for better visibility.[8] It also has sharks, turtles, rays, moray eels, sea turtles, small starfish and stingrays.

The Aquarium is maintained by Department of Fisheries itself. In the aquarium's 16 sea water tanks and nine sweet water tanks, there are 31 types of fish, while 32 tropical tanks contains 54 kind of fishes.[1] The tropical section of the aquarium already feature different ecosystems such as the “moss aquarium” for pregnant fishes, “plantation aquarium” that features imported varieties of water lilies and other aquatic plants and “island aquarium”.[9]

Visit Schedule & Fees

Adults Rs.60/- Kids below 12 yrs Rs.30 Govt Employees Rs 30/-

New attractions

Inside View

Species of fishes

History

Taraporewala Aquarium was built in 1951 at a cost of ₹800,000 (US$12,000). It had been inaugurated by India’s first president Rajendra Prasad.[1] The aquarium is named after a Parsee Philanthropist D B Taraporewala who donated ₹200,000 (US$3,000) for the construction.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Fin & frolic: India's oldest aquarium gets a grand revamp". Rediff. 25 February 2015.
  2. ↑ "After 130 fish deaths and a Rs 3-crore budget escalation, aquarium to reopen". newsbun.com.
  3. 1 2 3 "Your kids can touch fish at renovated Taraporevala Aquarium from Friday". The Times of India.
  4. ↑ "Mumbai gets its aquarium back, but don't expect a world-class one". Rediff. 3 March 2015.
  5. ↑ "Mumbai's famous Taraporevala Aquarium reopens in new avatar". mid-day. 3 March 2015.
  6. ↑ "Exotic fish from China in tow, Taraporewala Aquarium re-opens in a month". dna.
  7. ↑ Press Trust of India (3 March 2015). "Renovated Taraporevala Aquarium in Mumbai reopens". business-standard.com.
  8. 1 2 "More than just fish watching". The Indian Express. 1 January 2014.
  9. ↑ "Revamped Taraporewala will have tunnel aquarium at entrance - The Indian Express". The Indian Express. 23 June 2014.
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