Spend a Day with an elephant

Kerala has 700 elephants in captivity. Most of them are tuskers. Unlike the African elephants, Asian elephants has tusks only in male. 

In Trichur there are 250 elephants in captivity and they are a part of the day to day life. People of Trichur has a unique tradition of appreciating the beauty of elephants. It was prestigious to keep an elephant. Many people still keep elephants. They are used for religious ceremonies in and around the temples. Only a few elephants work at timber yards.

Many temples also keep elephants. Most of them are donated by devotees. Guruvayoor temple (1 hour drive from Trichur) has 57 elephants. All of them donated by devotees.

Each elephants has 3 mahouts. The most important duty of the mahouts is to bath  and massage the elephant with rocks, husk of Coconuts. In Monsoon, the elephants undergo Ayurvedic rejuvenation treatments which includes decoctions with herbs etc.

In Trichur Venkitadri family makes ornaments for elephants for three generations.  They make gold plated caparisons, umbrellas, Alavattom, Venchamaram, necklace etc. They distribute 150 elephants with ornaments for temple festivals.

Elephants are respected as the form of Ganesh, son of Shiva. On special occasions the elephants are worshipped and fed by devotees to please Ganesh for well being. Cerimonial feeding of 101 elephants takes place in Trichur on 16 / 17th July every year.

If you are specially interested in elephants, you can visit elephant camps, elephant training centre, see the elephant groups in different wild life sanctuaries, see them participating in a temple festival, meet old mahouts, elephant experts, ornaments maker for elephants & elephant doctors in ayurveda and modern medicine.

A family from Poland spending time with elephant Ganapathi.

While spending a day with an elephant and its mahout, you follow them from house to house collecting palm leaves for the elephant. The mahout and you feed the elephant with rice with turmeric, jaggery and bananas. You could help the mahout to wash the elephant in nearby river or pond. See how much he likes to be bathed. Each elephant has it's unique personality. Try to know him better and make friendship with him. When he is in the right mood, you could ride on him.

Face to face with an Indian Elephant.

Elephant is brushed with Coconut husk.

Seeing the elephant working at a timber yard, seeing him get washed in near by river and witness the evening ceremony with elephant at a temple / temple festival with elephants would be a memorable experience.

Elephant Ganapathi gets bath in nearby river. He is so happy to have this bath. He got asleep.

His own shower.

Price

Costs Rs 8500 / 2 persons + chidren. Includes elephant, mahouts, guide, mineral water and fruits for elephant.
Does not include car transfer to the location.

Remarks from the clients.