ELEPHANT SAFARI

Elephant safari is popuar in Kerala-God's own country. There are many places in Kerala where you can do it like Kottayam, Thekkeday and Kodanand. There are different costs for the ride depending on the duration and type of package you choose. Packages may include only ride or with showering by the elephant and feeding the elephant. Rates vary from Rs1000-1500 for 20 minutes ride. I did it in Thekkady (ride through the spice gardens). After the ride, I noted that a small tied elephant was shedding tears in the elephant junction. So I got a little sad and after coming back to the hotel I searched on google. I found out that elephants are not domestic animals. They are the culprit of a process called " Phajaan" (breaking the spirit) in which baby elephants are taken away from their mother and then brutally trained with chains tied to their legs till they get depressed. Some say you shouldn't ride an elephant. Science says that their backbones (spines) are weak so you shouldn't sit on their backs ( sit near to their necks).