Punnathur Kotta

With its sprawling 11.5 acres of land which is surrounded by green foliage all around, the exquisite Punnathur Kotta is the best example to depict the reason why Kerala is known as the 'Land of Elephants'. The jumbo elephants are the prime attractions of the place with around 60 of them kept here and taken care of. You are likely to come across an excellent and magical picture which is painted by the playing elephant along the scenic beauty around. The sight of the cute baby elephants running around and throwing water on each other is something worth being a part of.

The male elephants in the group are trained for numerous religious proceedings that take place throughout the year, and if you are lucky, you might also be able to see them getting trained. The two significant rituals which are celebrated in the sanctuary every year include the Gajapooja which involves worshipping elephants and Anayottu which involves feeding elephants. On all the other usual days, the tourists can observe the elephants simply gazing in the surrounding lush green gardens.

There is another eye-catching attraction in the vicinity of this sanctuary which is a 500 years old palace built by the local rulers known as Punnathur Raja's. The palace follows a traditional style of architecture of Kerala known as Nalukettu which is a design that is according to the climatic and geographical factors of the state. The palace comprises of a rectangular building with a sloping roof, a central courtyard which is open from the top and wooden carvings. The serenity of the place is worth visiting, and it is surely going to be your getaway from the din of the city especially for the nature lovers. So, if you are planning a trip to Thrissur, add this place to the must-visit places already!