Kodanad
Encyclopedia
Kodanad is a rural riverside village and a popular picnic spot and tourist destination in the Ernakulam
district of the state of Kerala
in southern India
. Elephant rescue and care centre for central and southern forest region of Kerala
is located in Kodanad. Kodanad is situated on the south bank of river Periyar
, about 42 kilometers east of Kochi (Cochin)
city.
', elephant rescue centre, mini zoo and its access via river boats to the seasonal pilgrimage center of Malayattoor
. Malayatoor church and Kodanad are located on the opposite banks of the Periyar river with unspoiled and rustic views of surroundings. Kodanad's rural locality with elephants attracts visitors, film crews,and foreign tourists all around the year. There are many walkways alongside the river and they offer a unique experience to the visitors.
Kodanad offers elephant safari
to the visitors at the main park. At the park, the old 'Kraal
' is maintained to house elephants, which is a structure made of wood compartments that can accommodate up to 4 elephants.
The is also a 'mini zoo' that shelters wild animals which have become unfit for survival in the local forest and some inmates of the zoo are very rare species.
.
Watching baby elephants at their infancy and various stages of their growth has become a unique feature that attracts visitors to Kodanad. At least four to six baby elephants are brought in and trained every year. Tourists arrive at Kodanad fascinated by baby elephant's various stages of development at the Care centre. Training plays an important role for elephants while their brains develop and they learn vital survival and cultural knowledge. The baby elephants at Kodanad are owned and taken care by the Department of Forest.
Once they become adults, someone buy them out in auctions. In Kerala
, elephants are used for a variety of traditional jobs such as timber loading & wood moving, or as temple elephants for religious Hindu
festivals & events.
destination projects sponsored by the Government of India. As a part of this project, Kaprikkad, a village lying 3 km adjacent to Kodanad on the river bank has been set up in 2006 for entertaining visitors in the most natural and environmental friendly way.
Ernakulam
Ernakulam refers to the downtown area or the western part of the mainland of Kochi city in Kerala, India. The city is the most urban part of Kochi and has lent its name to the Ernakulam district. Ernakulam is called the commercial capital of the state of Kerala and is a main nerve of business in...
district of the state of Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
in southern India
South India
South India is the area encompassing India's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry, occupying 19.31% of India's area...
. Elephant rescue and care centre for central and southern forest region of Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
is located in Kodanad. Kodanad is situated on the south bank of river Periyar
Periyar River
Periyar is the longest river in the state of Kerala, India, with a length of 244 km. The Periyar is known as the lifeline of Kerala; it is one of the few perennial rivers in the region and provides drinking water for several major towns...
, about 42 kilometers east of Kochi (Cochin)
Kochi (India)
Kochi , formerly Cochin, is a major port city on the west coast of India by the Arabian Sea. Kochi is part of the district of Ernakulam in the state of Kerala. Kochi is often called by the name Ernakulam, which refers to the western part of the mainland Kochi...
city.
Overview
Kodanad is known for its 'Elephant KraalKraal
Kraal is an Afrikaans and Dutch word for an enclosure for cattle or other livestock, located within an African settlement or village surrounded by a palisade, mud wall, or other fencing, roughly circular in form.In the Dutch language a kraal is a term derived from the Portuguese word , cognate...
', elephant rescue centre, mini zoo and its access via river boats to the seasonal pilgrimage center of Malayattoor
Malayattoor
Malayattoor Saint Thomas Church is one of the most prominent Christian pilgrim centers in the Ernakulam district of Kerala, India.The Malayatoor Church of Cochin attracts a large number of devotees from not just Kerala, but also all over India....
. Malayatoor church and Kodanad are located on the opposite banks of the Periyar river with unspoiled and rustic views of surroundings. Kodanad's rural locality with elephants attracts visitors, film crews,and foreign tourists all around the year. There are many walkways alongside the river and they offer a unique experience to the visitors.
History
In 1950-60s, Kodanad used to be the largest of several elephant training centres for captured Elephants from the adjoining forest regions. They were trained using Mahouts, specially skilled people also known as Paappaan in Malayalam language. In 1970s, there was a ban to elephant capture by Government of India and from then on, Kodanad is primarily used as a rescue training centre.Elephant bathe
In the mornings at the riverside, tourists informally get a chance to experience hands-on bathe and massage of adult and baby elephants under the supervision of its Mahouts. Bathe and massage of elephants are normally done with small flat rocks, and husk of coconuts.Elephant Safari
Safari
A safari is an overland journey, usually a trip by tourists to Africa. Traditionally, the term is used for a big-game hunt, but today the term often refers to a trip taken not for the purposes of hunting, but to observe and photograph animals and other wildlife.-Etymology:Entering the English...
to the visitors at the main park. At the park, the old 'Kraal
Kraal
Kraal is an Afrikaans and Dutch word for an enclosure for cattle or other livestock, located within an African settlement or village surrounded by a palisade, mud wall, or other fencing, roughly circular in form.In the Dutch language a kraal is a term derived from the Portuguese word , cognate...
' is maintained to house elephants, which is a structure made of wood compartments that can accommodate up to 4 elephants.
Elephant Feeding
Visitors to Kodanad can watch feeding of elephants as nearly 80% of an elephants day is spent on feeding. It is fascinating to watch elephants feeding themselves in their natural environment.Baby elephants
Watching baby elephants during their early training years of early life as it takes a lot of training in their early years.The is also a 'mini zoo' that shelters wild animals which have become unfit for survival in the local forest and some inmates of the zoo are very rare species.
Baby elephants & Care centre
Kodanad is the only elephant rescue and training center in Kerala specialized for rescuing and training stranded adult and baby elephants from the forest regions across KeralaKerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
.
Watching baby elephants at their infancy and various stages of their growth has become a unique feature that attracts visitors to Kodanad. At least four to six baby elephants are brought in and trained every year. Tourists arrive at Kodanad fascinated by baby elephant's various stages of development at the Care centre. Training plays an important role for elephants while their brains develop and they learn vital survival and cultural knowledge. The baby elephants at Kodanad are owned and taken care by the Department of Forest.
Once they become adults, someone buy them out in auctions. In Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
, elephants are used for a variety of traditional jobs such as timber loading & wood moving, or as temple elephants for religious Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
festivals & events.
Kaprikkad Ecotourism project
Kodanad is in the list of EcotourismEcotourism
Ecotourism is a form of tourism visiting fragile, pristine, and usually protected areas, intended as a low impact and often small scale alternative to standard commercial tourism...
destination projects sponsored by the Government of India. As a part of this project, Kaprikkad, a village lying 3 km adjacent to Kodanad on the river bank has been set up in 2006 for entertaining visitors in the most natural and environmental friendly way.
Nearby tourist attractions
- Thattekkade bird sanctuaryThe Thattekad Bird SanctuaryThe Thattekad Bird Sanctuary, covering an area of hardly 25 km², and located about 60 km north-east of Kochi , is one of the important bird sanctuaries of India. Salim Ali, one of the best known ornithologist has described this sanctuary as “the richest bird habitat on peninsular India”...
(25 km) - BhoothathankettuBhoothathankettuBhoothathankettu is a dam and tourist spot in Kerala, India. It is situated in the village of Pindimana, about 10 km away from the town of Kothamangalam and 50 km away from the main city of Ernakulam....
dam (25 km) - MunnarMunnarMunnar is one of the most popular hill station in Kerala and in southern India. Munnar is located on the Western Ghats, situated in the Idukki district....
(100 km) - MalayattoorMalayattoorMalayattoor Saint Thomas Church is one of the most prominent Christian pilgrim centers in the Ernakulam district of Kerala, India.The Malayatoor Church of Cochin attracts a large number of devotees from not just Kerala, but also all over India....
Christian Pilgrim Center (across the river)