Title : PUNNATHUR KOTTA AND SUSTAINABILITY FACTORS
Author (s): Ms. ANUSHREE PILLAI
Ms. DEEPA CHANDRASEKHAR
Ms. JISHA ANDREWS
Mr. KEVIN DAS
Ms. SHERIN JOSEPH.C
Mr. VINEETH.K.VARGHESE
Faculty Guide: Ms. ANJU RAVI
PUNNATHOOR KOTTA
Elephants have been an integral part of cultural Kerala from time immemorial. These huge mammals have always been loved, revered, groomed and given a prestigious place in the state’s cultural scape. The most beautiful elephants are said to be Asian elephants and the beautiest among it is the elephants of Sahya Mountains. The forehead of these elephants will be more than 9”feet and the back bone seems to be straight. Elephants are at first slow in grasping the commands taught to them but once they do, they remember it for decades. Elephant in Latin means Huge Arch … ‘ele’ means arch and ‘phant’ means huge. These animals make our festivities more colorful and attractive. In Hindu culture Elephants have a relevant position. According to Hindus elephant is an incarnation of Ganapathy ‘the elephant headed god’.
The Punnathoor kotta is situated 30 kms away from the cultural capital of Kerala, Thrissur, and 3 kms away from the Guruvayoor temple. It is also known as Aanakota or Aanthavalam. The Punnathoor kotta is located in a place known by name Kottapadi, which is now developed into small town mainly because of this aanakotta. This is the world’s largest elephant sanctuary Rich with greenery and hence many tourists visit the elephant fort daily. The Aankotta has become an attractive centre for elephant lovers and tourists, perhaps all over the world. It is the one and only place in the world where elephants are protected traditionally and scientifically.
MYTH
The origin of PUNNATHUR KOTTA is associated with a myth that led to the foundation of Punnathoor Kota. The myth is:
Once the Guruvayoor temple was conducting a daily ritual named ‘shiveli’* and these elephants for this was coming from a place named Thrikannamathilakam. But when there was a dispute between the samoodiris* of Guruvayoor and Thrikanamathilakam, the Thrikanamathilakam* samoodiris refused to send their elephants to the temple. The devotees were disheartened and started praying to the Lord Guruvayoorappan, and it is believed that the elephants of Thrikannamathilakam came running to Guruvayoor temple for “shiveli”.
In remembrance of this legend, during the utsavam (festival) season that is in March, anayottam* (elephant race) is conducted. Anayottam is a ritual conducted by the devotees. It is a race between the elephants, starting from Manjulal* to the temple and the first three elephants, that reaches, are entered in to the temple and from that who touches the flag post (kodimaram) first after circumambulating the temple for three times is considered as the winner. And this elephant is not taken out of the sanctum for next two weeks, who will then carry the deity for these two weeks.
HISTORY
After the incidence (that is the myth) the devotees started offering elephants to the temple. And these elephants were protected in the surroundings of the temple. When the number of elephants increased to sixteen, the authorities started searching for a place to keep all these elephants.
It was at this time the Punnathoor family faced dispute, due to the demise of the Punnathoor karanavar in 1968, the receiver by name Adv Damodaran Nair was appointed by the sub court of Thrissur- who resigned for his own reasons and other receiver by name adv Thressia Antony was posted and during her tenure Guruvayoor Devaswom purchased the Punnathoor kotta from the court on 05-02-1975.
The royal family of Punnathoor sold this palace and garden around it to the Devaswom for a paltry sum of Rs. 1.5 lakhs on the condition that it will only be used for maintaining the elephants. The place was provided with facilities for the well being of Devaswom elephants and the project was materialized on 26-06-1975. The elephants were taken to Punnathoor Kotta by conducting an elephant march consisting of about 25 elephants led by the legendary and divine elephant “Gajarajan keshavan*” on 25-06-1975. The Punnathoor kotta spans over 12 acres of land. The youngest elephant in the Aanakotta is a female elephant named Lakshmikutty by film star Suresh Gopi. Many prominent personalities, like former Tamilnadu Chief Minister Jayalalitha, have also devoted elephants to the deity. Guruvayoor Kesavan is perhaps the most popular of the temple’s pachyderms
TOURIST ATTRACTIONS
Nowadays people became more craze about these animals, and these leads to increase the number of tourist to this fort. The main attraction of this place is that in one place they get to see around 65 temple elephants. The elephants are maintained very professionally. In Punnathoor kotta we are able to see the elephants ranging from five years to seventy years. The most mind blowing scene in the kotta was the pranks of Lekshmi kutty who is the youngest elephant of them. There are mainly three ponds in this kotta and another exciting scene is the way the elephants are bathed. According to them it is the most spectacular sight. The people we interviewed said that their sources of information about this place were from travel guides, books, internet and through word of mouth.
Mostly there were domestic tourists who come with their family members. We were fortunate enough to interview a family from Holland and Muscat. They were awed looking at the beauty of the mighty mammoth. Moreover there were also tourists from various places of India like Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh etc.
Suggestions from tourists were that the hygienic level of this place can be improved further. More availability of guides who would explain them about the place would do great wonders. Few had an opinion that the sluggish environment of the elephant must be improved. Daily there are approximately around 2000 tourists visiting this place.
The main tourists SEASON are Sabarimala season (November and December), sukachikista period, and all the festive seasons of Guruvayoor temple.
CONSERVATION OF ELEPHANTS
Currently there are 65 elephants consisting of 56 males, two tusks less males, and 7 female elephants in the anakotta.The anakotta consist of 175 mahouts. Each elephant individually has got three mahouts to look after their needs. There is a full time doctor available in the kotta. Apart from the veterinarians, traditional elephant expert Avanapparambu Maheswaran Namboodirippad also frequently visits the Punnathoor Kotta to supervise them. Adult males measure 2.4 to 3.1 meters (8-10 feet) at the shoulders and weigh 2,700-5,000 kilograms (6,000-11,000 lbs). There are three elephants in the kota that are more than 10 feet. Among these the Guruvayoor Padbhanabham is the prominent one. This elephant got the highest bidding of more than 2 lakhs, at auction for parading in festival. Females are slightly smaller. The kotta consists of elephants with more than 10 feet height. The elephant is provided with 17 tonnes of palm leaves, and 5 tonnes of green fodder. The food is according to the weight of the elephant,that is 5 percent of their weight. The main source of this palm leaves and green fodders are by calling tender in the newspaper. The elephants are given to festivals only three days a week.
On July 1, Devaswom Chairman Nambiar inaugurated the Sukhachikitsa by giving a big bolos of rice mixed with medicines to tusker “Adithyan”. During these 30 days of an annual Sukhachikitsa (administration of restorative health care and treatment) session, they will be free from the exacting “parade duties” of festival processions. For them, it is a period of complete rest, frolic, feasts and rejuvenation. The elephants at the Punnathoor Kotta are plied with sumptuous and highly nutritious food, laced with ayurvedic and allopathic medicines. It ends with an elaborate bath that will almost mirror the effect of a thorough massage therapy every day. This rejuvenation care session for elephants was a unique initiative of the Devaswom, when it was started some 20 years ago.
The flow of visitors to the Punnathoor Kotta increases during the sukhachikitsa season, and a relaxed view of the play and mirth of these elephants and the various dimensions to the man-elephant interactions are on show for them now. The Devaswom has allocated Rs. 5.60 lakhs for the rejuvenation therapy.
SUSTAINABILITY OF PUNNATHOOR KOTTA:
According various WWF there is a considerable decrease in the number of elephants all over the world. Moreover, the Asian elephants come under the category of endangered species. So in a way Punnathoor Kota protects these endangered species.
Another important sustainability factor associated with the kotta is development of the place, Kotapadi. From a coastal village it has been converted into a small town. Thanks to Punnathoor kotta. In kottapadi now we are able to see the flourishmnet of shops, restaurants etc which are targeting the tourist.
The kotta also helps the farmers. The food (palm leaves and fodder) required to feed the elephants are called on a tender basis. Thus the farmers are encouraged for the cultivation of palm trees and thereby supporting the farmers to earn their livelihood.
Apart from these, income generated from the kotta goes to the Guruvayoor Devaswom which provides educational facilities to children. Thus Aankota indirectly helps in the development of children too. Adding to this, the Devaswom provides “annadam*” for 5000 people everyday.
The kotta is also providing employment opportunities for the people residing near kotta. Currently more than 300 people are working in this kotta. The mahouts after the retirement are also given pensions and other benefits like free education to their children, medical benefits etc.
FUTURE PROJECTS
The Kerala State Tourism Department has now worked out a Rs. 5 crore scheme to tap the tourist potential of this place. To be implemented with Central funds, it covers renovation of the Punnathoor Kotta in accordance with archaeological norms and landscaping of the 12-acre garden around it.
Museum:
The main building of Punnathoor kotta is to be restored to the original style with a full fledged museum inside the building, including details of elephants, elephant decoration, details of other festivals and important objective used for poojas, festivals and for similar occasions including maintenance of elephants etc. A decorated sculptured elephant will also be kept at the entrance to welcome the visitors.
Elephant Park:
Elephant Park owned by Guruvayoor Devaswom will be maintained with specially designed paved spaces, in a natural and suitable clean environment. Forest plants and trees will be planted. It will be a spectacular site for devotees and visitors.
More than sixty five elephants at a single site would be kept along with their description and details. Elephants will be kept safe from any disturbance and sickness.
Road with footpath:
A much broader footpath will be paved with granite instead of present stone paved footpath in a circular. The footpath is to be lighted with lamp posts made of cast iron. Elephants will be separated using fence for their safety as well as for the safety of the visitors. Trees will be planted along the sideways of the footpath in order to provide shade. Not only this, visitors will be provided with resting platforms for them to relax and watch elephants. The visitors will be able to take photographs without facing any hindrance from the fencing.
Amenities Centre:
In the future, Guruvayoor Devaswom is planning to have an amenity centre with toilet facilities, information and ticket counter, back office, stalls for travel shop, STD/Fax/Internet facilities and a spacious cafeteria.
The left side of the Aanakotta is reserved for a museum of international standard, displaying legends of the important associated people with Aankotta and mythical stories of Lord Krishna.
Other Facilities:
Provision for a complete drainage system and rain water harvesting will be made in the coming future. The Board is planning to have two water treatment plants and also provide facilities for elephant food and dung storage, elephant clinic for constant check ups etc. The park in the future will have sign boards showing the way.
THE FOLLOWING ARE THE FUTURE PLANS AT A GLANCE:
Internal Road
Foothpath and paved area
Setting up of museum in the existing building
Elephant Walk
Resting Platform
Roofing for selected members
Railing for protection of visitors
Complete drainage facilities
Construction of two ponds with filter plants and rain water harvesting facilities
Elephant Clinic
Elephant dung storage and treatment plant
Cafeteria and ticket counter
Gallery for elephant show
Storage for elephant Food (patta)
Landscaping
Electrification and yard lighting
Septic tank
Cast iron lamp post
Sign Boards
Flowerbeds
The Board couldn’t implement these plans earlier as the Board couldn’t build elephant shed as per the required criteria stated by the Kerala State Government. Also the Board wanted to build a tiled footpath instead of stone paved one. So the money given by the Central Government wasn’t enough. They had to call another tender to implement thes
*Kesavan was donated to the Guruvayoor temple by the royal family of Nilambur in 1916 when he was five years old. There are many stories about n KESHAVAN. The main specialty of this elephant was its height with 11” inch.
*shiveli is a ritual conducted in most of the temples. But in Guruvayoor temple this ritual is carried out by carrying the deity on the back of the elephant by the priest. The elephant circumambulates the temple with lot of people behind singing bhajans
*manjulal is the name of the banyan tree situated at the eastern part of the temple . This tree was named after manjula who was the blessed devotee of guruvayoorappan.
* The most famous Aanayottam is conducted at the Guruvayur temple during the Utsavam. This will start from manjulalthara(Big banyan tree in the eastern entrance). The race ends at the flag post. During the race the elephants have to run 7 times around the temple. The elephant who wins will have the right to take the idol of Sri Guruvayurappa during the procession.
*The annadanam is donating food to the devotees who are coming to the temple.
*Thrikanamathilakam is a place near Ernakulam.
