Konni, India

Overview

Konni is an important town on the Main Eastern Highway (SH 08). Konni is about 10 km away from the district headquarters. Konni assembly constituency is part of Pathanamthitta (Lok Sabha constituency).

The lush green land has been prominent as a haven of wild elephants and as an elephant training centre. The large area of thick forest with wild animals made Konni to emerge as another tourist spot for safaris and trekking. In Kerala there are two elephant training centers, the other located at Kodanad. It is located in the Adoor revenue division and the it is one of the major towns situated near it.

Transport

The nearest Railway station is punalur, 25 km and Chengannur Thiruvalla which is around 41 km.kottayam60. The nearest Airport is Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, about 99 km from Pathanamthitta. The Cochin International Airport is around 124 km from Konni. The Main Eastern Highway ( Punalur-Pathanamthitta-Muvattupuzha Road / SH – 08 ) connects the town to other major towns.Konni is 10 kilometres from Pathanamthitta and 16 kilometres from Pathanapuram both of which are in the same route. Konni-Kalleli-Achankovil Road- This is a new road built by PWD which provides an easy access to Tamil Nadu(Tenkasi) via Achankovil.This is a part of Chittar-Achankovil Road Project. Most of the stretch covers the Forest Division and the scenic beauty provides a feast to the eyes. This route reduces the distance between Sabarimala to Tenkasi by about 21 kilometres. Konni to Achankovil is 39 kilometres. Konni-Chandanapally Road—This road connects Konni to the major and main cities and towns of the districts like Adoor and Pandalam and Tiruvalla. Konni-Vazhamuttom-Vallicode-Chandanapally-Kodumon-Adoor—24 kilometres Konni-Vallicode-Kaippattoor-Thumpamon-Pandalam—22 kilometres. Konni-Thannithode-Chittar Road—This is an alternate route to Sabarimala.
The nearest Bus station is located at Konni, Pathanamthitta

Elephant Training Center

Konni has a major elephant training center, located 11 km from Pathanamthitta. The prime attraction here are the huge cages of wood built to house elephants. These cages are locally known as Aanakoodu and can accommodate 3 to 4 elephants at a time. The trainers here train the baby elephants which get separated from their herd, or are found wounded or roaming in the forest. Experienced trainers using their systematic training methods, tame the baby elephants. Visitors can get a close look at these elephants and can observe and understand a lot about their behaviour, especially that of baby elephants, which are often endearingly mischievous.

Konni is famous for the elephant training centre since ancient times. The elephants were captured from the dense forests of the western ghats/Sahyadri and brought to the elephant training cage at Konni. There these wild elephants are tamed and trained by mahouts specialized as elephant tainers. These trainers take the help of other tamed elephants.

The tamed elephants famous for rendering help to the trainers of the wild ones are: Konniyil Kochchayyappan, Ranji Padmanabhan, Balakrishnan, Soman, Venu, Rameshan, and Mani.

Elephants in Konni

The present members of Konni elephant training center are Soman, Priyadarshini, Meena, Surendran, and Eva. Eva is the youngest member who is only 7 years old.

History of Elephant training

The elephant capturing at Konni traces back to 1810 AD. The major elephant capturing locations include Mundom moozhy, Mannarappara and Thura. The elephant training cage which is present now was built in 1942. The wood of "Kambakam" was used for this. The present training cage has the capacity to train 6 elephants. The dimensions of the training cage are 12.65×8.60×7 metres. The elephant training cage and its premises comprises 9 acres (36,000 m²) of land.

The elephant capturing was officially stopped in 1977 by Govt: Circular though it was actually stopped many years prior to that.

Presently the elephant training cage is a major tourist attraction. It houses a history museum as well. The elephant training centre functions as an elephant welfare centre. The elephant calves estranged from the herd and found lost in the forest are brought here and are provided with medical facilities and proper care.

The details of Konni Elephant Training Centre and Training Cage are mentioned in the articles of the famous "Aithihyamaala" by Shri Kottarathil Shankunni. "Aithihyamaala" is referred as one of rare collection of articles of Kerala History.

Gift to Portugal

Konni Elephant Training Centre has to its credit of gifting the Elephant "Samyuktha" to the Republic of Portugal as a mark of friendship and co-operation with the Republic of India.

How to reach: Konni is on the Main Eastern Highway (Punalur-Pathanamthitta-Muvattupuzha Highway/SH-08) and is very well connected to major towns and cities of Kerala through Pathanamthitta.

Other Tourist attractions

Achankovil River

Konni features a long stretch of the beautiful Achankovil River which joins Pamba. This river is known for its scenic beauty with its lush green banks. It has several tributaries in this region. 8

Muringamnagalam Sreemahadevar Temple

This temple is more than 1000 years old and is located nearly half a kilometre from Konni Junction. It used to belong to the Pandalam Royal Family. It is the biggest temple in east of Pathanamthitta district and biggest Siva temple in Pathanamthitta.

Achankovil and Aluvamkudi are two ancient temples located here.

Kattathipara in Kokkathodu is a nearby tourist destination located a few kilometres away from Konni. Kattathipara is particularly attractive with its gigantic rocks and the triple-echo phenomenon.

Kumbhavuruthy is a waterfall amidst thick forest

Adavi Eco Tourisum Kutta Vanchi sailing is the main attraction here. about 7 km from Konni Town.

Kalleli Oorali Appooppankaavu, Pathanamthitta Gavi is a tourist spot in konni assembly constituency

Sri Kalleli Oorali Appoopankaavu is an ancient temple located in Kallelithottam in Konni, Pathanamthitta district of Kerala. The deity here has long been worshipped as the supreme power of nature and the lord of around hundred and one Mala Daivangal (Mountain Gods). The temple is also noted for its festival which falls during the Monsoon season of Kerala. The major ritual performed in this temple is the Karkkidaka Vavu ceremony, a Hindu ritual observed in memory of the departed souls of ancestors. During the day, special offerings in the form of tender coconuts and betel leaves are offered to the presiding deity of this temple. Anayoottu (feeding of elephants), Vanarayoottu (feeding of monkeys) and Meenoottu (feeding of fish) are