Punnathur Kotta Elephant Sanctuary
Located in Kottapadi, about 3 km from the Guruvayur Temple, Punnathur Kotta Elephant Sanctuary is a famous elephant sanctuary in Thrissur district of Kerala. The prime attractions here are the jumbo elephants; approximately 60 of them are kept and taken care of here. This place is used to train elephants to participate in major processions and daily rituals of Guruvayur Temple. One might even get a chance to watch the gigantic bull elephants being trained for their duties. Sprawling over 11.5 acres and surrounded by green vegetation, this elephant sanctuary or camp is a very elegant place. The playing elephant along with the scenic surrounding paints a very awe-inspiring and magical picture here. Watching the cute little elephants running around and splashing water at each other is a sight one definitely doesn’t want to miss. Hordes of tourists visit this spot on their way back from Guruvayur Temple. Things To Do In Punnathur Kotta Elephant Sanctuary: • People can observe two main rituals of this sanctuary, the Gajapooja (worshipping elephants) and Anayottu (feeding elephants) every year with several attendees, who are here enjoy the ceremony. • During the normal days, the visitors can simply enjoy the view of magnificent elephants gazing in lushly green gardens. The visitors can also see elephants bathing and massaging, using small stones and coconut husks. It is a pleasant moment to watch these giant animals enjoying their bath. • The main attraction of this sanctuary is a 500 years old palace, built by the erstwhile local ruler- Punnathur Raja. • The palace in the sanctuary is constructed in a traditional style of Kerala known as Nalukettu, design according to the climatic and geographical factors of the state. This distinctive design includes a rectangular style building with a sloping roof, a central courtyard open from the top and wooden carvings. • This complex also has a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and Bhagavathy. One can visit this Shiva temple to get the blessings. • People can get the opportunity to feed the elephants here. Visitors can also capture some wonderful moments with the elephants in their camera. • Visitors can also see the elephant training session, which is fun to watch. • One can explore the green beauty of nature in the adjoining areas. Interesting Facts About Punnathur Kotta Elephant Sanctuary: • Punnathur Kotta Palace was purchased by the Guruvayur Devasom Board in 1975 to house all the elephants of the temple in comfortable surroundings. • The Punnathur Kotta is also known as Elephant Fort, owing to its large size and number of elephants. • The most celebrated elephant in the history of Kerala was Kesavan. His impressive and behavioral qualities made him one of the most popular elephants. The elephant passed away in 1975 after serving the temple for a period of 54 years. A 12 ft. statue of Kesavan is constructed in front of the temple and every year on his death anniversary, a floral tribute is given by the elephants on his statue. Nearby Attractions: In case visitors want to explore some places in and around Punnathur Kotta Elephant Sanctuary, they can visit some popular attractions like Vadakkunnathan Temple, Kollengode Palace, Nehru Park, Mural Art Museum, Kerala Lalithakala Temple, Viyyur Jail Park, Basilica of Our Lady of Dolours, and Thrissur Zoo, which have gained popularity as tourist’s attractions. Best Time to Visit: The suitable time to visit Punnathur Kotta Elephant Sanctuary is between the months of November and March. How To Reach There: As this sanctuary is well-connected by road and rail it is reached very easily. There are numerous auto-rickshaws and buses, which are used for reaching the camp in Thrissur. Entry Fee: The entry fee for Punnathur Kotta Elephant Sanctuary is Rs 10 for adults. An extra Rs 25 is charged for the use of a camera inside the place. Visiting Time: The visiting time of Punnathur Kotta Elephant Sanctuary or camp is 8.30 am to 5.00 pm
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Kodanad Elephant Training Center
Kodanand is a small village situated on the banks of River Periyar in Ernakulam District, Kochi, Kerala. It is a very peaceful and beautiful place having one of the most famous elephant training centres in the country. Located exactly at a distance of about 45 km towards the northeast in Kochi, it is one of the most pleasant places were newly born elephants are captured and kept for training. Before, the elephants were captured from the Malayatoor forests and were trained in Kodanand. However, now, the act of capturing elephants has been banned, and thus, Kodanand has turned out to become a training center for the elephants. Kodanand Elephant Sanctuary The Kodanad Elephant Training Center Kochi, has emerged as a popular picnic spot and tourist destination in Kerala. It is an elephant rescue and training centre where the professionals concentrate on rescuing and training stranded adults as well as baby elephants. The place has several walkways along the riverside, which offers the visitors a unique experience with an exotic forest and river scene. This is the elephant rescue and care centre for the central as well as the southern forest region in Kerala. History of Kodanand Elephant Training Centre In the early 1950s and 60s, the Kodanad Elephant Training Center Kochi used to be one of the largest training centres which captured elephants from the adjoining forest area. Those skilled people who captured and trained the elephants were known as Mahouts or Paappaan in Malayalam. However, in 1970, with a ban on the act of capturing elephants by the Government of India, the Kodanand has turned into a resume training centre for the elephants. Activities with the Kodanand Elephants Several activities are performed with the Elephants in the Kodanand Elephant Training and Rescue Center. • Elephant Bath in Kodanand Elephant Camp Early morning by the riverside, the tourists can informally get an amazing chance to experience the hands-on bathe as well as massage of both adult and baby elephants. All of it is done under the proper supervision of the Mahouts. The elephants are massaged of elephants that are usually done using small flat rocks or husk of coconuts and then are bathed. • Elephant Safari in Kodanand Elephant Camp The next attractive activity offer by Kodanand to the visitors is the enthralling elephant safari in the main park. In this park, the old ‘Kraal’ is still maintained for housing elephants. It is a structure made out of wood compartments that can accommodate up to four elephants. • Elephant Feeding in Kodanad Visitors who come to Kodanad Elephant Training centre are allowed to watch the feeding of elephants. About 80% of the elephant's day is spent on feeding it. The entire activity is quite fascinating, watching the baby as well as grown-up elephants feeding themselves in a large expanse of the environment. • Baby Elephants Washing in Kodanad Tourists can even watch baby elephants during their early training. There is also a small zoo which shelters different wild animals that are unfit and are unable to survive in the local forest. Known as Elephant Kraal, this place is a perfect combination of the rescue centre, training centre, mini zoo with easy access via river boats. This is the prime reason for such a huge attraction for tourists.
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Elephant’s head pint is one of the most popular and frequented tourists’ places in Mahabaleshwar. Located at the extreme end of the mountain, the Elephant's head point is an overhanging cliff with an uncanny resemblance to an elephant’s head or trunk. Offering a stunning view of the Sahyadri ranges and the river valley nearby, Elephant’s head point is a great place to visit during your vacation at Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra. • Popular for: nature, picnic, adventure, photography • Entry fee: No • Visit time: 9am-6pm • Visiting duration: 1-2 hours History and overview: Set amidst nature’s extremity, this beautiful view pint is named after Sir Mount Elphinstone, Governor of Bombay during the British reign. It is said that Elephant’s head point was discovered in 1830 by Dr. Murray. Located at an elevation of 1290 metres, by the side of Kate's Point, Elephant’s head point, also popularly called as Needle Hole point, is a natural rock formation with a hole in the centre. Things to do: • Surrounded by small lush green hills, it is a piece of heaven on earth for photographers, nature lovers and solace seekers. Set against a stunning backdrop, this site is a great place to capture some splendid shots. • Witness Mother Nature’s own artwork at the Elephant’s Head Point. • Blessed with serenity, this place is perfect for enjoying a lovely picnic with family or a romantic evening with your loved one. • Experience the mesmerizing view of sunrise and sunset from this place. • Enjoy the stunning panoramic view of the Sahyadri Range and along with Pratapgarh fort and Savitri River Valley from this viewpoint. Best time to visit: Covered with lush greenery and mist, the beauty of Elephant’s head point is at its peak in the rainy season (June to September). During monsoon, nature lovers and tourists around the country flock this place to experience the serene nature bestowing exquisite charm. Since Mahabaleshwar experiences heavy rainfall during monsoon, you can plan a trip in winter (October to January). How to reach? Situated at a distance of 7 km from Mahabaleshwar bus stand, Elephant’s head point lies just beyond the Lodwick Point towards the end of the mountain. You can take local transport like bus or auto-rickshaw to reach the entrance of the viewpoint. This popular point is easily accessible by foot or pony ride from the parking lot. It is a 10 to 15 minutes’ walk from the parking to the Elephant’s head point. The most accessible and convenient railway junction from Mahabaleshwar would be Pune. You can take a bus or taxi from Pune to Mahabaleshwar. Located at a distance of 131 km, the nearest airport is Pune airport. Nearby attractions Following are some of the popular tourist places lying in the vicinity of Elephant’s head pint, Mahabaleshwar. • Dhom Dam • Mapro Garden, • Sydney Point • Lingmala Waterfalls • Parsi Point • Kate’s Point • Table Land • Cheese Factory • Menwali Ghat • Mahabaleshwar Temple • Pratapgarh Fort With tranquility and plenty of scenic beauty surrounding the hill-top, Elephant’s head point is very popular among couples, fun-seekers and nature lovers. Dotted by hills around, Elephant’s head point is a must-visit destination is planning a vacation to Mahabaleshwar.
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