Anathavalam (Elephant Park) at Guruvayur,
Punnayur Kotta.
The word sounds strange but true there is a unique park for elephants about three kilometers from Guruvayur Temple. It was initially a fort belonging to a small Kingdom by name Punnathur. This Punnathur kingdom was comprised of areas belonging to the present Chavakkad, Chattukulam and areas that stretched up to Ponnani. The last recorded ruler to this kingdom was Goda Sankara Varma Valia Raja who expired in 1968 and with him the kingdom began to lose its existence and it became under ‘receiver rule’. Later in 1975; Guruvayur Temple Committee purchased the fort along with the 12.75 acres of land contained in it.
This fort is located within the present Pookkod Village; located about one kilometer away one the western side of the Guruvayur – Kunnamkulam road. The other option is to travel just two kilometers from Mammiyoor Junction through Guruvayur Ponnani national highway. This road will reach at the western gate; this gate is at present used as the main entrance to the fort. The age of this fort is estimated to be about 400 years and it is believed that the rulers practiced Brahminic rituals.
Before acquisition of this fort the elephants of belonged to the Guruvayur temple were parked in Kovilakam yard at the southern side of the temple. As the number of elephants coming under the temple swelled this small plot of land became inadequate. This was the reason behind the purchase of the fort and shifting of the elephants to the fort-yard by the Temple Committee. It is said that the shifting of the elephants to the new yard was held as a procession led by Guruvayur Kesavan – the legendary elephant. As there was a bridge on the way; Kesavan stopped there tested the strength of the bridge by hitting it with his trunk and kicking it with his fore-legs. Only after convincing of the strength of the bridge he let the procession to pass over it! After reaching the elephants safely at the fort compound Kesavan returned to the temple where he belonged.
At present there are 65 elephants in this fort; those which passed away numbers 23, Guruvayur Kesavan died on 2nd December 1976; his death was a tear-full event; at present there stands a life-size sculpture of this elephant beside the temple; in memory of an animal that was considered as the greatest elephant ever lived.
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