Punnathur Kota World's only temple owned elephant home
July 12, 2025
  • Read Ecopy
  • Circulation
  • Advertise
  • Careers
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
Organiser
  • ‌
  • Bharat
    • Assam
    • Bihar
    • Chhattisgarh
    • Jharkhand
    • Maharashtra
    • View All States
  • World
    • Asia
    • Europe
    • North America
    • South America
    • Africa
    • Australia
    • Global Commons
  • Editorial
  • International
  • Opinion
  • Op Sindoor
  • More
    • Analysis
    • Sports
    • Defence
    • RSS in News
    • Politics
    • Business
    • Economy
    • Culture
    • Special Report
    • Sci & Tech
    • Entertainment
    • G20
    • Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav
    • Vocal4Local
    • Web Stories
    • Education
    • Employment
    • Books
    • Interviews
    • Travel
    • Law
    • Health
    • Obituary
    • Podcast
MAGAZINE
  • ‌
  • Bharat
    • Assam
    • Bihar
    • Chhattisgarh
    • Jharkhand
    • Maharashtra
    • View All States
  • World
    • Asia
    • Europe
    • North America
    • South America
    • Africa
    • Australia
    • Global Commons
  • Editorial
  • International
  • Opinion
  • Op Sindoor
  • More
    • Analysis
    • Sports
    • Defence
    • RSS in News
    • Politics
    • Business
    • Economy
    • Culture
    • Special Report
    • Sci & Tech
    • Entertainment
    • G20
    • Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav
    • Vocal4Local
    • Web Stories
    • Education
    • Employment
    • Books
    • Interviews
    • Travel
    • Law
    • Health
    • Obituary
    • Podcast
Organiser
  • Home
  • Bharat
  • World
  • Operation Sindoor
  • Editorial
  • Analysis
  • Opinion
  • Culture
  • Defence
  • International Edition
  • RSS in News
  • Magazine
  • Read Ecopy
Home General

Punnathur Kota World's only temple owned elephant home

by Archive Manager
Oct 8, 2006, 12:00 am IST
in General
FacebookTwitterWhatsAppTelegramEmail

Thirupathi, Sabarimala and Guruvayur are the three major temples in South India visited by crores of devotees, all through the year. If there is some attractive magnetic force which differentiates Guruvayur from other temples, it is the temple owned elephant home, popularly known as Aanathavalam or Punnathur Kota. As per records of Discovery Channel and Animal Planet, it is the only temple-owned domesticated elephant home in the whole world.

Kerala is a State where elephants are used for daily processions in the temple called Sheeveli and for the annual festivals called Ezhunallipu where elephants decorated with brass ornaments, coloured umbrellas carry idols of gods around the temple. There are almost 1,000 domesticated elephants in Kerala owned by temples and individuals. Guruvayur is the largest owner of elephants having 56 male and 6 female beauties in its stables.

None of these elephants are bought by the temple. They are all donated by devotees for fulfillment of their wishes. This function is called Nadairuthai.

Another unique event of Guruvayur is the elephant race which happens on the first day of the annual temple festival which comes in February. Here all the temple elephants take part in a race called Aanaottam and the elephant coming first carries the idol of Sri Guruvayurappan (Krishna) for the next ten days of the festival.

The elephant home at Punnathur Kota, an old palace of a local king, was started in 1976 with 16 elephants, since there was no space to keep them near the temple. Now the number has increased to 62 with 3 to 4 elephants joining every year.

Among the elephants of Guruvayur temple the most famous was the legendary Guruvayur Kesavan who celebrated his 60th birthday in 1973 and was then named Gajaraj. He was a darling of all devotees of Sri Guruvayurappan and was a majestic figure with height of 11.5 feet and long tusks. His death in 1976 was received in total sorrow by elephant lovers all over the world. His huge statue is erected in Guruvayur and every year all the temple elephants come in a procession and garland his statue.

Another elephant, the 10 feet high Guruvayur Padmanabhan is now the Gajaraj and is as loved by devotees and children as they loved Kesavan. Padmanabhan, now commands the highest price among Kerala elephants for participating in temple festivals. An amount of Rs 2.50 lakh per day is to be given for getting Padmanabhan for a day. Padmanabhan is the real VIP of Kerala with ministers, Chief Minister, Governor, stars, etc. waiting to have a glimpse of him.

All the Guruvayur elephants are very well looked after, and they undergo one month rejuvenation treatment in June-July months where they are given ayurvedic tonics, massages and baths. Normally, an elephant bath takes six hours.

Hence, children, a visit to Kerala?Gods own country is not complete without, seeing Guruvayur and Gods own elephants.

ShareTweetSendShareSend
✮ Subscribe Organiser YouTube Channel. ✮
✮ Join Organiser's WhatsApp channel for Nationalist views beyond the news. ✮
Previous News

Kids’ OrgIt does not pay to be greedy

Next News

Orissa signs MoUs for producing 10,920 MW of power

Related News

Students at Nav Gurukul, Dantewada (ANI Photo)

Chhattisgarh: “Nav Gurukul” scripting new identity of naxal-hit Dantewada

Vice President Dhankhar offers floral tribute to Bharat Mata at JNU’s first  IKS conference, reflecting cultural resurgence

Bharat Mata Puja opens JNU IKS conference, reflecting rising nationalist spirit on campuses amid Kerala symbol row

Maharashtra announces plans for a strict anti-conversion law and sets a six-month deadline to demolish unauthorised churches

Maharashtra: Government to enact stringent anti-conversion law, illegal Churches set for demolition

Aerial view of modern sewage treatment facilities in Haridwar developed under the Namami Gange Mission to restore Ganga river

Namami Gange Mission: Haridwar strengthens Ganga clean-up with two modern sewage treatment plants

Surrendered Maoists with officials in Narayanpur (ANI photo)

Chhattisgarh: Maoists surrender continues in Bastar as 22 more announced their return to mainstream in Narayanpur

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj

Swarajya Symbols Immortalised: 12 forts of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj added in UNESCO world heritage list

Load More

Comments

The comments posted here/below/in the given space are not on behalf of Organiser. The person posting the comment will be in sole ownership of its responsibility. According to the central government's IT rules, obscene or offensive statement made against a person, religion, community or nation is a punishable offense, and legal action would be taken against people who indulge in such activities.

Latest News

Students at Nav Gurukul, Dantewada (ANI Photo)

Chhattisgarh: “Nav Gurukul” scripting new identity of naxal-hit Dantewada

Vice President Dhankhar offers floral tribute to Bharat Mata at JNU’s first  IKS conference, reflecting cultural resurgence

Bharat Mata Puja opens JNU IKS conference, reflecting rising nationalist spirit on campuses amid Kerala symbol row

Maharashtra announces plans for a strict anti-conversion law and sets a six-month deadline to demolish unauthorised churches

Maharashtra: Government to enact stringent anti-conversion law, illegal Churches set for demolition

Aerial view of modern sewage treatment facilities in Haridwar developed under the Namami Gange Mission to restore Ganga river

Namami Gange Mission: Haridwar strengthens Ganga clean-up with two modern sewage treatment plants

Surrendered Maoists with officials in Narayanpur (ANI photo)

Chhattisgarh: Maoists surrender continues in Bastar as 22 more announced their return to mainstream in Narayanpur

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj

Swarajya Symbols Immortalised: 12 forts of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj added in UNESCO world heritage list

Air India Crash: Preliminary Report Reveals Mysterious Engine Shutdown

Air India Crash: Report finds no evidence of sabotage, focus on mysterious engine shutdown — All you need to know

Representative image

Ahmedabad Air India Crash: Fuel control switch error caused engine failure, says AAIB preliminary investigation report

Representative Image

UGC Anti-Ragging Guidelines: Strict punishments to ensure safe and inclusive campuses

Digital India Foundation flags security threat over Pakistan bid to join global AI Alliance Network (AIANET)

Digital India Foundation flags security threat over Pakistan bid to join global AI Alliance Network (AIANET)

  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Cookie Policy
  • Refund and Cancellation
  • Delivery and Shipping

© Bharat Prakashan (Delhi) Limited.
Tech-enabled by Ananthapuri Technologies

  • Home
  • Search Organiser
  • Bharat
    • Assam
    • Bihar
    • Chhattisgarh
    • Jharkhand
    • Maharashtra
    • View All States
  • World
    • Asia
    • Africa
    • North America
    • South America
    • Europe
    • Australia
    • Global Commons
  • Editorial
  • Operation Sindoor
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Defence
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Business
  • RSS in News
  • Entertainment
  • More ..
    • Sci & Tech
    • Vocal4Local
    • Special Report
    • Education
    • Employment
    • Books
    • Interviews
    • Travel
    • Health
    • Politics
    • Law
    • Economy
    • Obituary
    • Podcast
  • Subscribe Magazine
  • Read Ecopy
  • Advertise
  • Circulation
  • Careers
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Policies & Terms
    • Privacy Policy
    • Cookie Policy
    • Refund and Cancellation
    • Terms of Use

© Bharat Prakashan (Delhi) Limited.
Tech-enabled by Ananthapuri Technologies