This place is not a sanctuary unfortunately ☹️ I feel they try hard to look after the elephants here but they’re all tied up. One worker here really took a shine to us (maybe cause we were tourists) he let us up close to the elephants when nobody was around, didn’t even want money for it. Think he was happy of the company to be honest, I did ask why they were tied up and he said the male elephants are aggressive as it was “mating season”. I don’t know if that was an excuse. I did notice anytime the elephant was able to get water in his trunk he splashed it on his ankle that was shackled. 🥺 I’m guessing it was sore an irritating him so much that the water cooled his leg down. It wasn’t the best of sights but I did want to see this place for myself. It’s cheap in 100 rupees for tourists. The grounds are huge and a long walk to the elephants grounds feels endless when it’s 38 degrees outside 😂 There is a few elephants, and you can bath them at certain times unfortunately after seeing them shackled I wanted to go shortly afterwards. The views around the grounds are incredible. There is a lake you can bath in also you’ll see lots of locals enjoying themselves. Beautiful views, nice surrounding scenery but not for me.

It's a very nice place amidst nature. Such a big forest with a few big elephants and lots of deer. Spotted Deer and Sambar Deer are seen. It has a very big parking space. Take your tickets and go inside. Toilet available but no lights inside. Cafeteria available but with less options. Children park is also there even swings for the adults. One watch tower to climb up and take pictures. On the other side boating is available. It's a nice place for a day outing. Elephant Training can be seen but not allowed to go near them. Roads are well connected. No hotels nearby. Better to come in the morning and enjoy here.

A nice little nature walk with elephants and deer along the way, but do not expect to be touching the elephants or even getting too too close... This is a rescue, not a petting zoo or encounter experience. Staff was friendly and inviting and wanted to make our experience as positive as they could! I do recommend for a quick 90 minute walk around visit 👍

Not happy with the place.. Nothing is there except 5 elephants and some deers. One time visit ok for nearby people. Not recommending this place for people coming from far.. A childrens park is there but nothing is gud.. No maintenance.. Entrance fees 30/- and 20/- for children. Car parking -40/-

The truth behind elephant Riding read below if you don’t wish to be a ignorant person 1)When they’re babies, elephants are taken from their mothers and families in the wild or in captivity. Because they have a high sale value, not only are babies illegally captured, their protective mothers are also often killed as they try to save them. 2. “Training” begins immediately. The babies are tied down and beaten with bullhooks and other instruments designed to inflict pain until their spirits are broken and they’re willing to obey their “trainers” to avoid pain. 3. Researchers have found that elephants who are subjected to this “breaking” or “crush” process often develop post-traumatic stress disorder. 4. Elephants in nature live in matriarchal herds in which they forage for fresh vegetation, play, bathe in rivers, and travel many miles a day. Held in captivity, they can move only in small circles in an arena or along a short path while carrying humans on their backs, even on the hottest days. 5. When they aren’t working, the animals are usually kept in sheds or shacks—often with concrete floors that damage their legs—and they’re bound by chains that can be so tight they can barely move. 6. Captive elephants are routinely denied nutritious food, adequate water, and needed veterinary care, especially for their feet. 7. The lack of exercise and long hours spent standing on hard surfaces are major contributors to serious foot problems, arthritis, and back injuries. Most captive elephants die decades short of their normal lifespan. 8. According to World Animal Protection, “Between 2010 and 2016 in Thailand alone, 17 fatalities and 21 serious injuries to people by captive elephants were reported in the media. Unreported incidences involving local elephant keepers are likely to make this figure much higher.” 9. Because public awareness of cruelty to captive elephants has increased, many attractions are trying to dupe tourists by adding words such as “sanctuary,” “rescue center,” “refuge,” and “retirement facility” to their names. But the abusive training methods and deprivation are often the same and make the elephants follow the trainers’ commands to let people ride, feed, touch, or bathe them.

Its a training centre for, to quote the women on the ticket counter 'naughty elephants'. The elephants who have harmed people. But I don't think thats entirely true, because there were nice elephants too like Asha and her mother. The ticket cost Rs50 for adults. This training centre is like a big park which extends into wildlife sanctuary . But tourists are not allowed to visit the wildlife sanctuary part. The training centre has butterfly park in the beginning but we didn't see many butterflies there. Then they have deer park. As in a fenced area with lots of deer in it. After that comes the elephant station. One cannot go closer to the elephants or give them food or bath. One can only look at them from a distance. If you will move ahead, then you will find children's park with some swings and a food stall.

A good place for children. Lot of deers and 5 elephants was there. A small children park set up is there. River side walkway garden and the forest atmosphere are very attractive.

Elephant training center visiting time 8am to 5pm, entry fee is Rs.30/ head... Here we can see elephants that are brought for training... also the cage used for training wild elephants, an area designated for deer is also an attraction for this place.... Two variety of deer can be seen here..... Bamboo gardens make a special feel to the place... A small cafeteria is located near the children's park towards the exit gate.....

Very good place for a one day trip. Parking fee 25/- Entry fee 20/- For kids 10/- Have a deer park and elephant park. Can see elephat bathing.. Nice view to watch. It happens 9:30am to 10:30am... Good walking through the area.. Gives a feel of forest.. The park opens by around 8:30-9:00. If we enter by that time, the full circuit will be over by 11:30. Kids will enjoy a lot...

This is a nice place if you are interested in seeing elephants in your close range. This facility helps government to detain elephants when it requires. Wild elephants which creates issues with villagers, domestic elephants which caught in different law suits and wild elephants which are found seriously injured will come here. The wild elephants will get training here and will become domestic elephants. You can get very close to elephants which are already friendly. You can also see the elephant bath if you come early morning. There are few deers as well in this facility. There are plenty of space for people to walk around under the shades of greatly maintained greenery. Small cafeteria, children's play area and toilet facilities are also there. I didn't liked the toilet area much as the door knobs were not in place and also there were lot of water pooled here and there. The car parking facility is good enough. You can park your car with peace of mind. The employees are very friendly.

Amazing place in the midst of a forest. Full of greenery, nice pathway for walking. 4-5 Elephants are there. We can see them taking a shower. Deer park is also very nice. Children’s park is also there. Sambar Deer & spotted deer are there. A nice place for kids and family. Parking space is available. Entry fee - Rs.30/- per adult.

Well maintained elephant camp and mini zoo by forest department. Good place to relax and spend time with kids.

Very few elephants presently housed in hostile conditions. Saw a mahout mercilessly beat an elephant. Couldn't understand the necessity for much a torture camp in the first place. Chaining and torturing a wild beast which actually should be enjoying roaming in the forest is a crime. The childrens park is dilapidated and needs urgent maintenance. The walk through the park was nice except the torture to the animals.

It's a good place to see elephants and enjoying the forest. We can feel typical Kerala village culture and living style in this area.

Wild elephants are given training in this centre. They are first capsized in Huge cage made of large wood and are giving training to obey rules. Sugar cane, palm leaves etc are used to feed elephants. Once in a day, either morning or evening, they are taken for bath in nearby river. Deer park also is there but seems they are tired, due to lack of sufficient food. On bank of few an animal bruised marks of Crow attack was visible and felt sympathetic. It isBetter to visit in the morning there. Coffee, tea, snacks and meals are available in the canteen and in shops outside. Good parking ground is provided. As a holiday, visitors are not allowed on Monday

It will be better for small kids to have a long walk and can view some elephants. But there are only two tuskers available while we visited. For aged people it will be a longer walk without any reasons, because the elephants are at the end of the centre

Very good trip to see how Elephants are trained in near natural environment. Great experience for kids to visit and learn

1. It can't be termed as fantastic. But you can visit once with your family 2. Ample parking space available 3. Ticket rates are 30/- 4. Carry umbrella ( it may rain anytime) 5. It's basically a 1 km odd nature walk 6. En route, you have butterfly park ( we couldn't spot one due to drizzling), deer park ( hundreds were there), 5 elephants and a children's play area 7. At the end, you have a cafeteria 8. Have some refreshments, pack off 9. You can spend around 2 hours 10. Most importantly, you have a shop at the entrance cut exit that sells forest produce. I liked it and bought soaps, honey, sandalwood powder, eucalyptus oil, lemon grass oil etc.

KODANAD is a beautiful place that is famous for its elephants, but we can see a lot of animals and birds there. For example deer, monkeys, giraffe etc...this is a peaceful place. The Periyar River that flows happily is one of the most beautiful sights!❤️

Only one tusker was available and 4 female elephant and some deers. For these you have to walk 1 km simply. Not that great place to visit, don't expect much. And the covid certificate is mandatory to enter

In addition to the people of Thrissur and Palakkad not being much excited about seeing elephants because it is so easy to see them everyday and could not compare to punathoor kotta but it’s may be different purpose ,even though this is a good place where elephants can be seen and most of the elephants are females, but this is one male elephant. Restrooms are very close by, and walking towards this place is very nice, as well as the Mini Zoo, butterfly garden and walkways they have built.

Kodanad Elephant Sanctuary is a rural riverside village in the Ernakulam district of Kerala, India. It is home to the Kodanad Elephant Training Centre, which is the only elephant rescue and training centre in Kerala. The centre is dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating elephants that have been injured, orphaned, or displaced from their natural habitats. The centre is open to the public and offers a variety of activities, including elephant bathing, and feeding the elephants. Visitors can also learn about the history of the centre and the work that it does to protect elephants. The elephants at the centre are well-cared for and receive regular veterinary care. They are also trained in a variety of tasks, such as carrying loads, performing tricks, and giving rides. The Kodanad Elephant Sanctuary is a great place to learn about elephants and their conservation. It is also a fun and educational experience for the whole family. Here are some pros and cons of the sanctuary: Pros: -The elephants are well-cared for and receive regular veterinary care. -The centre is dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating elephants. -Visitors can learn about the history of the centre and the work that it does to protect elephants. -The elephants are trained in a variety of tasks, which is interesting to watch. -The sanctuary is a beautiful setting, with lush vegetation and a river running through it. Cons: -Some visitors may be sad to see the elephants chained up. (I believe with time the government may change its policy and elephants will roam free) -The sanctuary is not very large, so it can get crowded during peak times. Overall, I would recommend visiting the Kodanad Elephant Sanctuary if you are interested in learning about elephants and their conservation. It is a great place to see these amazing animals up close and learn about the work that is being done to protect them. Here are some additional details about the sanctuary: Opening hours: 8am to 6pm, closed on Mondays. Parking fees: ₹20 for two-wheelers and auto rickshaws, ₹50 for four-wheelers, ₹70 for mini buses, and ₹120 for buses. Entry fees: ₹50 for Indian citizens (adults), ₹20 for Indian citizens (children 5-13 years old), ₹300 for foreign citizens, and ₹250 for still cameras. Toilet facilities: There are toilet facilities available for both men and women. The facility is owned & Managed by State Government of Kerala.

Visited this place with friends ,had a wonderful time. This place is more suited for families. Walking through different trees and animals enhanced the beauty of this reserve. The main attractions are the deer park and elephant camp. We are not allowed to go near the elephants. Was fortunate to see peelandi(elephant) from a distance. There is a children's park and a butterfly garden also

Kodanad Elephant Park is an interesting place to visit if you're in the area. The park is home to 5-6 rescued elephants, and while you cannot go very close to them, you can still observe them from a distance. In addition to the elephants, we also saw deer and enjoyed a close-to-nature experience. The park is like a nature walk, with plenty of greenery and wildlife to enjoy. Overall, I would say that Kodanad Elephant Park was okay. If you're looking for an up-close elephant experience, this may not be the best place to visit. However, if you enjoy being in nature and observing animals from a distance, then this park is worth a visit. It's a good way to spend a few hours and appreciate the beauty of the area.

Nice place to visit with kids. Kids will love the Deer park, anakkottil, elephants and children's park. Don't forget to carry your Covid vaccine certificate also. You will have to show it at the entrance when buying the pass.

Nature

6 numbers of Elephant are housed, one wooden cage can see. Sambar and spoted deer habitation can see. One children's park with less maintenance. Few walk way with some tree and plants. Good parking space, rest rooms and cafeteria with tea and snakes. Parking car Rs. 40, entry fee Rs.30.Monday centre will be closed.

Good place to visit. Very calm place and we have a handful of things arranged by the eho tourism department. Main attractions are deer Park, elephant camp, children's park and butterfly garden. We can have walk for few distance through forest and the river view and the elephant bathing pool is another attractions on this place.

Visiting this place is wroth it and you can watch elephants and deer and there's a huge varieties of trees and plants

Hello all. I visited here today (5/5/2019). First of all it is a nice place to spend around 3hrs of your stressful day. Then comes the points. 1. There were only few elephants (2 Male and 5 Female if I'm right). Among which both the male elephants were tied probably because of the breeding season (I saw anger and aggression in both of them). But both of them looked majestic. It would be really nice if they could bring more elephants. 2. I guess this place is famous for elephant bath. But they took only one elephant to the river while the rest of them took bath at their place itself. 3. There was only one kraal which itself showed this place is not an active training centre. These are the few cons I felt during my visit. If you want to get some relief from your stressful day this place might work for you. It will surely work for you if you love elephants. :)

Definitely felt like an elephant prison. Very rough treatment causing the elephants to scream out at times during the bath. Others were chaining so tight they couldn't move forward or back. Chain scars and open wounds. Obviously a lot of "breaking" going on here. A lot of anxiety shown on these poor elephants. The guards were also selective about letting their friends and family touch the elephants while telling others no touching is allowed. Very sad for my children to witness.

Well obviously you come here to see the elephants,there are 6 of them here 2 males and 4 females. But the place also has spotted deers and antelopes and plenty of them. The place for what it is ,is maintained neatly....yes you will have to walk through some muddy areas esp if you go there after the rain.so please cater for good appropriate footwear. If u manage to go early morning you can see them bathe the elephants... Else they are just chained. There is an entry fee. 40 for locals and i am guessing 400 to 500 for foreigners. It is a decent visit for someone who has never seen an elephant else......i really dont see the need to travel such a distance.

Amazing place for a quick tour,but only 5 elepants are der...but yeah you can find the maximum beauty of forest and eco tourism

Lots of greenery and good place for a walk, if only the authorities has maintained and better equipped the children's park and play area

It is closed for the last 10 months due to pandemic, no one know when will it open.

It's a Variety experience, deer park,mini zoo , butterfly park , elephant training centre, river side walk, children's park,canteen, eco Shop are included here.. must visit children will love it 😊

The place has a huge area with very well maintained flora and fauna. The elephants here look healthy and friendly. A good place for a nice stroll,with fruit orchards, bamboo trees etc. A great number of deers as well as sambar deer are there. The butterfly garden is also nice. The place also has 2-3 tree houses which is yet another highlight.The place is very well maintained with a nice park, swings and some really good photo spots. Parking is also lavish.

They serve as rescue centre for abandoned elephants.. it is nice to reach there early in the morning to see elephants being taken for bathe. When there are babies, its nice to see them being fed with bottled milk.. You can also see a small zoo..

I think animals need more fresh and clean water

Nice place but only few elephants and deers to see though. Trees are grown up and bamboos near the deer containment area is just look so cool. You would need to walk a little to reach the deer or elephant spot. Overall a nice, not so crowded place to enjoy with kids

Just a normal park ,with only 6 elephants and few deers.One time see .

Hmmmm it's a good peaceful place to visit with your family and friends. You can easily spend 1 or 2 hours there but I was expecting more. It was nice to see the elephants, calling them with their names. Watched their activities. Some other animals like deers and sambhar were also there. Lots of plants and greenery. It was like a zoo.

Ample parking space, very neat and beautifully maintained walkways. Filled with so many trees and plants, greenery was so satisfying. Mini zoo with deers and some elephants was good. Necessary food n snacks are available inside. Childrens park, swings, naturely seatings..everything was worth every penny. Fee per person was only Rs.50/- Video camera fee Rs.250 was little high though.

Good atmosphere. Nature.. river.. garden all are in here. We can see elephant training . One of the main attraction is butterfly garden. Visitors are not allowed at 10am -5pm ..

Amazing place to visit especially with kids. Not just elephants, there are deer and you might even spot monkeys! It’s calm, quiet, and well looked after. You’ll find parking, a tea shop, and a small park. Surprisingly uncrowded and impeccably clean. Entry fees applicable.

I have visited this place many times during my childhood. We went last week and this place have changed drastically. Now it’s all allotted and clean but they don’t allow people near the animals. May be due to safety concerns. There’s a mini zoo, elephants, lots of tree houses, swings, lake view etc.

It is worth to visit,can get a forest felling.The employees are so good.may be about 6-8 elephants are there and also different kind of deers.

Located near to perumbavoor and malayatoor in the banks of river periyar Good number of elephants from various parts of kerala with mahouts for training them Morning they have feeding, bathing session which can be viewed from a distance Good number of crowd when we visited

Right in the heart of a nature reserve. It is well maintained and the buildings blend into the setup. You get some natural oils and wild honey too.

Not Happy the way it is maintained. It was nothing like training center. It's a zoo basically. People not friendly with tourist.

They've named it correctly inside, it's like a mini zoo. They're all rescued elephants, like from fallen in wells or dangerous ones. Mostly always chained I guess, but you can't expect them to be free range as well, idk. The 23 year old Aasha looked happy anyway 😄 They accept only cash since there's low network there.

Beautiful place abundant with greenary. Enjoy the walk through the bamboos, see the elephants, spotted deers and sambhar deers. Place is not much crowded. Toilets and cafeteria are available. A small children's park, a Red sandalwood plantation, and a few elephants are the major attractions here

Kids friendly zone where kids will enjoy nature, play area, deer and elephants. There are many deers and sambar deer. Spotted few elephants but not allowed to touch them. This place is good for those who love to walk in nature. There are two watch tower "Erumadam", swings for elders and play area for kids. A lovely river flowing near to this place. Cafeteria over there doesn't have much options.Car parking facility is available which charge ₹50 for cars. Entry fees is ₹50 per person.

Very informative place for children .deer park and elephant training is the main.nature friendly.a good collection of medicinal plants and trees, very attractive bamboo huts on the river side.good parking space with reasonable fee

Not open now

(Translated by Google) Pwoli sthalam (Original) Pwoli sthalam

Kodanad elephant training center built in 1965 , is used for the keeping and to give training for elephants rescued in various parts of the state. It is about 42 KMS from Cochin. Even elephant capturing was there in early 18th century place was developed to present stage in 1965. A butterfly and deer Park there adds interest to all visiters. A cafeteria also functions inside to cater the hunger of visitors

It is more than an experience.

During 1950-60's, Kodanad was known as one of the largest elephant training centres for capturing elephants from nearby regions but later in the year 1970, capturing elephant was banned by Government of India and since then Kodanad is used as a rescue training centre of elephants.

It is a small zoo mainly for deers. Walking with kids will be very difficult. If there is buggy or an open jeep will be more nice.

Great

Good for a one day trip with kids.

Nice place

Good places

Training

It is very good place loved it

Good place for elephant lover.....

Not opened as of now 27-dec-2020

Worst experience...they didnt allow us to get inside

It is a good place to visit if you're in Kochi. Try and reach the place at 9 am as you'll get to see many things which are not available for the rest of the day. If you like long walks in nature this is the place to go. How to reach : Take a bus from Aluva to Kodanad or Aluva to Perumbavoor and then take a bus to Kodanad from there. Ideal will be to go via car as it is a 3km walk from bus stop to the centre.

stunning for picnic with family. place with a history

This is an amazing place . The scenery is breathtaking. The elephants are beautiful, If you arrive around 9 you will see them bathing. The trainers use the sticks to train them and they are chained due to them becoming aggressive and they are well looked after. I asked the locals who explained the process. I loved it so much that I visited twice. If you like nature it's definitely worth a visit. It had a calming effect on me and the people are very friendly. They charge more for foreigners but it's only the equivalent of 2.50 BPS.

Almost a good Place. Monday Holiday Parking : 40/car Entry. : 30/ person Timing : upto 5 pm

Surly the place is nice and beautiful. Only few elephants and two deer parks are there. Nothing more to see.

It is to be experienced for sure. Reach timely around 8:30-9 am to witness the ritual bathing from the very beginning. The scenery around the river is very therapeutic as well.

Waste of time going there after such a long ride,parking is rupee 40 for cars and the entry fee is 30 for adults, as you enter there is a butterfly park with hardly any butterfly to see, further down a mini zoo with only deers,and last only 6 elephants chained and kept, would advice you to try some place better.

Good place for a walk through a forest..

Poorly maintained butterfly garden and children's park

It's a good place to hang out for a little time....those who appreciate beauty of nature can explore the place....quiet forest area....it's not very rush..... children's park,butterfly ,garden elephant camp....are the major spots....we should walk 1km up n down to explore the area....

It is a good place to meet with nature and see elefants. It is something different a zoo because there's no cages for the elefants. But it is sad that they are tied and barely can move. They are tied with chains of a front and a rear feet. I was no the opportunity to see the elefants bath because i got late.

A place where you can see nature's greatest wonders being trained humanely.

A good place to spend with family for a couple of hours.

So nice experience to have fun with family... Such a greenish lush space where elephants are tamed.. So many huge bamboo gardens are also there to get our mind relaxed.. One deer park inside the premise attract all travellers to a greater extent..It takes approximate 3 hours to cover up the entire space..If we are coming between morning 09.30 hrs to 10.30 hrs, we can see the elephants bathing in the Periyar river..

If the government takes appropriate steps for the welfare of elephants and workers by making suitable investments the place can reach up to its potential.but keeping that aside , it's a good place to spend the quite moments of life.

Awesome

(Translated by Google) This is a very good place. Kids will love the cubs and the big elephants there. (Original) ഇത്‌ വളരെ നല്ല സ്ഥലമാണ് . അവിടെയുള്ള കുഞാനകളെയും വലിയ ആനകളെയും കുട്ടികൾകു ഇഷ്ടമാകും.

Good place to visit especially for small picnics with children.

I have visited recently, it is a small zoo with elephant training center

Cool and peaceful place. Quite dry during the months of January, February....

Nice place

Visit before 1000 hrs to see elephant bathing in the river

Horrible

Can see some elephants and elephants training cage.

It is a part of Kaprikad Abhyaranyam Eco tourism. More than a training centre for elephants it is a mini zoo in the forest with some deers and elephants. Trek through the woods is a nice experience.

Evellent place to spend a day