Rush for year-end revelry

Patna: The city parks and the zoo are top on residents' list of places to head for year-end and New Year celebrations, and the facilities are gearing up to cash in on the holiday rush.

"Entry fares to the zoo has been raised to Rs 100 (up from Rs 30) for each adult and Rs 50 (from Rs 10) per child on January 1," said Manoj Kumar, a zoo official. "We started giving out the tickets from Tuesday."

Advance tickets are being given out because it is near impossible, he said, to issue tickets on January 1 considering the hordes of visitors.

However, residents can only look forward to picnic on the zoo premises as boating, aquarium, snake house and animal enclosures will be shut, as will be battery car services. The restaurant will be open.

Kumhrar Park, home to the remains of the ancient Pataliputra, will be open on New Year's Day. Nikhil Kumar, manning the ticket counter, said the entry fee will remain unchanged.

"Many people visit the park for picnics. Also, the exhibition room stays open despite the large number of visitors," said another park staff.

Boating and aqua-zorbing (water ball) will remain closed at Eco Park on January 1, said Pahlad Singh, an employee. Hena Khan, a visitor at Eco Park, said: "I am hoping to spend some quality time at the park with homemade kebabs and biryani along with my family on New Year's Day."

Boring Road resident Rahul Jha wanted to go to the Funtasia Island Water Park but the authorities could not confirm if the facility would be open.

Buddha Smriti Park, near Patna Junction, will be open and hold its evening laser show though it is usually closed Mondays. The diara, another hotspot for those looking for a day's outing, is expected to be filled with revellers. "I am looking forward to a lovely time with my family on New Year's Day at the diara," said city resident Sanjeev Singh. "We will take litti-chokha from home. The children love boating there."

Many others such as Patna Women's College students Zamzama Rakshan and Sajdah Fatima have lined up family visits to places such as Rajgir, Nalanda, Bodhgaya and Maner.