Cover photo created by LG @jayasimha78 using pictures captured at Anakkota, Guruvayur
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I visited India during January and February of 2023, one of the places I visited was Kerala State. Even though I have visited Kerala long time ago, this time we decided to visit, Guruvayur, House Boat experience in Alleppey back waters and Kochi.
Anakkotta, also known as the “Elephant Sanctuary,” is a popular tourist destination located near Guruvayur in Kerala, India. It’s a place that holds significant cultural and religious importance in the region. It is in fact around 3 Kms from Guruvayur temple. There is a nominal entry fee of for the Sanctuary, also there is a fee for the Camera as well.
Anakkotta is an enchanting place where you can witness a gathering of majestic elephants in a well maintained sanctuary. The name “Anakkotta” translates to “Elephant Fort” in Malayalam, the local language.
The main attraction of Anakkotta is undoubtedly the elephants. These gentle giants are an integral part of Kerala’s culture and are often associated with temple rituals, ceremonies, and festivals. Anakkotta serves as a refuge for these elephants, offering them a safe and caring environment. Here, you can observe these magnificent creatures up close, learn about their daily routines, and even participate in activities like feeding and bathing them.
Visiting Anakkotta provides you with an opportunity to learn about the history and significance of elephants in Kerala’s cultural and religious practices. The sanctuary also conducts informative sessions that shed light on the conservation efforts being undertaken to protect these elephants.
The picturesque setting of Anakkotta, surrounded by lush greenery, adds to the overall experience. We took a leisurely walk around the sanctuary, taking photographs of elephant, and enjoy the serene atmosphere. The experience was truly captivating.
Generally tourists visit Guruvayur to visit Guruvayur temple. Since this sanctuary is so close to the temple. It is easy to visit both places on the same day.
You can watch elephants upclose.
Here is a shot of another elephant in the Sanctuary.
Elephants are quite active in the sanctuary.
There are around 60 elephants in this sanctuary. This is considered as one of the largest Elephant Sanctuary in India.
Some elephants have covered area, which gives enough shade.
Here is a shot of few visitors taking a stroll in the Sanctuary.
There is a water tank at the entrance of the Sanctuary. Sanctuary is full of Coconut trees
In Hindu culture, we call elephants as Gajrajdev (Ganapati ji), and in Malyalam & Hindu culture, I have seen that elephant is worshiped like a god.