Kodanad Elephant Training Centre: A Detailed Travel Guide!

Since the last few decades, Kodanad has been a popular tourist destination. The chief magnetism at Kodanad was the elephant training center, one of the largest elephant training centers, on the banks of the Periyar River. In the Kodanad elephant training center, the wild elephants caught from different forests around Kerala were kept and trained.

The elephants which are trained are used for forestry operations such as transporting logs of wood from one location to another, discovering the jungles, and for elephant safaris.

In Kodanad Elephant Training Centre, elephants are taken care of and groomed with love and respect. This training center is shifted close to Kaprikkad in Abhayaranyam and is concerned as the largest sanctuary for elephants around Kerala. 

As of now, around this place, there are few domesticated elephants that are accessible for tourists to watch. The park has been modified and is pretty well maintained. Different locals still visit Kodanad for weekend picnics and family meetings.

Individuals from close locations can visit this location to spend some time during the evening or on the weekends. Admittance to the Periyar River from the beautiful park is another lure for tourists. If you are lucky, you can witness the bathing of the elephants in the river. 

Elephant safaris are done where tourists are taken inside the beautiful park within the natural surroundings. Feeding of elephants is done in Kodanad sanctuary around the natural surrounding with trees all across. Visitors can also get in touch with them when they are taken bathing in the river. Messages and bathing of the elephants are done with the assistance of coconut shells. It is enjoyable to experience to witness them bathing. This Kodanad Elephant Training Centre travel guide will help you to know more about this location.

Location 

In the Ernakulam district, Kodanad is a beautiful rural village that is nearly 42 km east of Kochi and deceits around the astounding Valley of Malayatoor Mountain. In addition, the Kodanad is very much agreeable and nonviolent situated close to Perumbavoor on the banks of the astounding Periyar River around the Ernakulam district, Kerala.

It is one of the popular training centers for Elephants. At a distance of around 45 km towards the northeast of Kochi, it is positioned as a place where the afresh seized elephants are kept for training.  

Climatic Conditions 

To visit this beautiful location, any time of the year is fine. Summer would be perfect if you are planning to get into the river. In the river, December to May would have low water levels. 

Best Time To visit Kodanad Elephant Training Centre

To visit the Kodanad, the Elephant Training Centre, from October to May is the best time, throughout the months of winter and spring. Throughout this time, the weather is enjoyable and favorable for outdoor activities such as perceiving the elephants and underwriting nature walks. The monsoon period, from June to September, can be fairly wet and damp, making it problematic to relish outdoor activities.

It’s also imperative to keep in mind that the center is open every day and that the best time to visit may vary relying on your personal favorites and interests. For example, if you’re interested in witnessing the elephants throughout their bath time, you may want to visit during the morning. On the other hand, if you’re interested in witnessing them throughout feeding time, you may want to visit during the afternoon.

How to Reach Kodanad Elephant Training Centre? 

Elephant devotees could arrive here from the contiguous railway station Ernakulam at a distance of approximately 45 km from the training center. The nearest airport is Cochin International Airport which could be accessed via the road that links Vallom and Kodanad and is at a distance of nearly 20 km. 

• By Air: Closest airport is Cochin Airport situated at Nedumbassery which is nearly 22 km to the northwest. It is well linked to different foremost locations around India and also adjoining regions involving the Middle East and South East Asia. 
• By Train: The closest railway station is Aluva, which is 25 km from Kodanad. It is well-linked to different regions. Access a taxi from Aluva or bus service to Perumbavoor and then take Kodanad buses. 
• By Road: The most amazing and closest town to Kodanad is Perumbavoor which is approximately 10 km to the west and associates Kodanad with commonly functioning passenger bus services.  

Nearby Attractions in Kodanad

Kodanad View Point

This location fascinates visitors from different locations all around the year with its picturesque beauty. There are a number of walkways that propose an enjoyable experience to the visitors who come here on a walking tour. It is a popular tourist destination for different tourists who come here throughout a vacation. 

Poru Waterfall

It is undeniably an appealing locale for those who have a love for nature’s magnificence. The flowing water of the amazing waterfall makes a concerto along with the chirping of the rare species of birds across the nearby forests.

The visitors can relish the celestial beauty of nature and discover its attractiveness. It would be a heavenly experience witnessing the regal river flowing through the rocks between the emerald forests in the background of the Malayatoor hills. 

Abhayaranyam

Abhayaranyam is a mini zoo that was launched on 18^th February 2011. In the training center, as the sum of animals kept growing and as there was not adequate space for them around the 2.5 acres of land it was obvious to open the mini zoo which is nearly 2 km away from the present location.

The project is focused on delivering shelter to the elephants and several other animals in an open area of nearly 200 acres with correct fencing to keep the animals harmless. 

St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Church

The St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Chruch is one of the most beautiful churches and the best tourist location in Kodanad. It is a popular Catholic church, situated on top of the Malayattoor Hill, at an elevation of 609 m. The church carries amenities for bathing around the river. 

Food and Accommodation

There are different locations to stay close to the spot and here some of the hotels being cited stand very close to it.  Such as Roseville Homestay, the Villa Romantica, and Anjali Homestay. Two hotels that are located close to the Cochin Airport are Diana Heights and Hotel Air Link Castle. All these attractive rejuvenating hotels deliver great relief to spend your holiday.

The forest department of Kerala guises after the elephants of the Kodanad Elephant Training Centre. Visitors like to visit the region owing to the natural surrounding where they can feel and see nature from very adjacent. The location is away from urban city life and the environment is unchanged and untouched. There are walking passageways for the tourists to stroll beside the river bank.

Kodanad and Malayatoor churches are on opposite banks with River Periyar in between. There are amenities of river boats to make you cross the river and arrive at your destination. This place fascinates national as well as international visitors owing to its natural environment. Film-makers and elephant admirers find this place the heaven of Kerala and often visit there to get the touch of nature.

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