Kodanad

Elephants are an integral part of Indian mythology and culture. They are oftenreferred to as the sons of the 'Sahya'(the Western Ghats). Once a part of daily life, these animals are ornamental and auspicious pieces now. No festival or celebration is complete without rows of caparisoned elephants, replete with silk parasols.
Situated on the southern banks of the Periyar, amid the high ranges, nearPerumbavoor, Kodanad is one of the largest elephant training centres in Kerala. Earlier the animals captured from the Malayatoor forests used to be trained here. Since the ban on elephant capture Kodanad has been reduced to a training centre. The famous Malayatoor Church is nearby.

Muthanga in Wayanad district and Konni in Pathanamthitta district are two other centres. Another spot for elephant lovers is Punnathur kotta, of neighbouring Thrissur district, where 40 elephants of the Guruvayoor temple are groomed.