Kodanad Elephant Centre at Abhayaranyam: Fees, Timings and Is It Worth It
Kodanad elephant centre, now at Abhayaranyam near Kaprikkad: Rs 20 entry, 8 am to 5 pm, closed Mondays. What to expect from Kochi.
The Kodanad elephant centre now operates at Abhayaranyam, near Kaprikkad in Ernakulam district, about 42 km east of Kochi. Kerala Tourism lists it as open from 8 am to 5 pm, closed on Mondays, with entry at Rs 20 for Indian adults and Rs 10 for children.
- Where is the Kodanad elephant training centre located?
- What is the entry fee for the Kodanad Elephant Training Centre?
- What are the opening hours of the Kodanad Elephant Training Centre?
- Is it worth the drive from Kochi?
Where is the Kodanad elephant training centre located?
The old Kodanad centre sat on a small plot on the banks of the Periyar. It was a training camp for captured wild elephants until the capture of wild elephants was banned in 1977, after which it became a rehabilitation centre for injured and separated elephants, and over the years it collected deer and other animals too. Space ran out, and on 18 February 2011 Abhayaranyam opened about 2 km away near Kaprikkad, in Kunnathunad taluk, as a larger fenced shelter under the state's eco-tourism project. It covers about 123 hectares on the south bank of the Periyar.
Most people still call the whole thing "Kodanad", and the two names are used interchangeably. Kerala Tourism puts the nearest airport, Cochin International, at about 20 km via the Vallom-Kodanad road, and its 2022 feature on Abhayaranyam names Angamaly, about 20 km away, as the nearest railway station. Ernakulam is about 45 km.
What is the entry fee for the Kodanad Elephant Training Centre?
These are the rates on Kerala Tourism's Abhayaranyam ecotourism page:
| Ticket | Rate |
|---|---|
| Indian adult | Rs 20 |
| Child | Rs 10 |
| Foreign national | Rs 100 |
| Still camera | Rs 100 |
| Video camera | Rs 250 |
| Elephant mahout training | Rs 2,000 |
Some visitor reviews mention paying more at the gate so carry a little extra cash. Kerala Tourism's own 2022 article mentions elephants trained for safari, but no safari fee appears on its rate card, so ask at the counter before assuming it runs. We would skip any ride and simply watch the animals.
What are the opening hours of the Kodanad Elephant Training Centre?
Kerala Tourism gives the visiting hours as 8 am to 5 pm. Kerala Tourism notes a Monday holiday, and Google's business listing also shows it closed on Mondays. Before you set out, check with the Elephant Care Centre, Abhayaranyam, Kaprikkad on +91 484 2649052, the number Kerala Tourism lists.
Go early. The morning is cooler, and the forest walk is far more pleasant before the midday heat.
Is it worth the drive from Kochi?
It depends on what you expect. The ratings make that plain: in Google search results in October 2026, Google's listing averaged 4.4 from about 4,800 reviews, while TripAdvisor showed 2.9 from under 150. Read together, the reviews suggest that families with young children who want a shaded morning near the river tend to enjoy it, and travellers expecting a grand elephant show tend to leave disappointed. As of 2021, Wikipedia records six elephants and more than 300 deer at the shelter, so this is a small rescue centre with a wooded campus, not a spectacle.
What makes the drive worthwhile is combining it with other stops. On the same trip you could add:
- Kalady, the birthplace of Adi Shankara;
- Malayattoor's Kurisumudi, if you are up for the climb;
- Thattekad Bird Sanctuary, for a longer day east along the Periyar.
For more ideas within a couple of hours of the city, see our list of the best day trips from Kochi.
Written By
Haila Kochi Editorial Team
Part of the Haila Kochi editorial team, covering the food, business, lifestyle, and people that make Kochi what it is.
