# Kodanad > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Kodanad > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Kodanad.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kodanad > Source revision: 1340630433 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) **Kodanad** is a rural riverside village of [Ernakulam district](/source/Ernakulam_district) in [Keralam](/source/Keralam), [South India](/source/South_India). It is 18 km from [Angamaly](/source/Angamaly). Kodanad is situated on the south bank of [Periyar river](/source/Periyar_(river)), about 42 kilometers east of [Kochi](/source/Kochi). The village is a major tourist destination because it houses an Elephant training center.[1] ## Location ## Transportation Kodanad has got private bus services to places inside and outside Ernakulam District and run into several neighbouring towns. There are frequent bus services to Perumbavoor from here. AutoRickshaws are commonly used for small distances. The nearest railway stations are Angamaly and Aluva. The Cochin International Airport at Nedumbassery is only 16 km from the Kodanad Elephant training centre. KL-40 is the RTO code for Kunnathunad Taluk and Perumbavoor. Perumbavoor JRTO is at Pattal. Kodanad is surrounded by many small but populous commuter villages, notably Koovappady, Thottuva, Alattuchira, Panamkuzhy, Cheranalloor, Kurichilakode, Kaprikad, etc. Vallam town, is one of the main interchange points for public transport. The nearest airport is [Cochin International Airport](/source/Cochin_International_Airport) which is about 20 km (12 mi) by road. ## History In the 1950–60s, Kodanad used to be the largest of several elephant training centres for captured elephants from the adjoining forest regions. They were trained using [Mahouts](/source/Mahouts), specially skilled people also known as 'Paappaan' in Malayalam language. In the 1970s, there was a ban to elephant capture by Government of India and from then on, Kodanad was primarily used as a rescue training centre. As of 2017, all the animals have been shifted to nearby Abhayaranyam facility.[citation needed] ## Demographics According to the [2011 census of India](/source/2011_census_of_India), Kodanad has 3502 households. The literacy rate of the village is 84.63%.[2] Demographics (2011 Census)[2] Total Male Female Population 14244 7036 7208 Children aged below 6 years 1284 655 629 Scheduled caste 2066 1005 1061 Scheduled tribe 106 53 53 Literates 12054 6090 5964 Workers (all) 5842 4052 1790 Main workers (total) 4297 3251 1046 Main workers: Cultivators 397 352 45 Main workers: Agricultural labourers 618 403 215 Main workers: Household industry workers 92 72 20 Main workers: Other 3190 2424 766 Marginal workers (total) 1545 801 744 Marginal workers: Cultivators 116 78 38 Marginal workers: Agricultural labourers 484 232 252 Marginal workers: Household industry workers 114 42 72 Marginal workers: Others 831 449 382 Non-workers 8402 2984 5418 ## Kaprikkad Ecotourism project Kodanad is in the list of [Ecotourism](/source/Ecotourism) destination projects sponsored by the Government of India. As a part of this project, [Kaprikkad](/source/Kaprikkad), a village lying 3 km adjacent to Kodanad on the river bank has been set up in 2006 for entertaining visitors in the most natural and environmental friendly way. ## Abhayaranyam Mini Zoo, Kaprikkad Main article: [Kodanad Abhayaranyam animal shelter and elephant training centre](/source/Kodanad_Abhayaranyam_animal_shelter_and_elephant_training_centre) Most of the animals from Kodanad elephant centre including the elephants have been recently rehabilitated to Kaprikkad, as the part of Ecotourism project named as Abhayaranyam, which is spread across 200 acres of natural forest. The project was inaugurated on 18 February 2011 by the Minister of Forestry and Housing, Shri. Binoy Vishwom. You can find Spotted deer, Sambar deer and young elephants here.[3] Abhayaranyam extends for an area of 2.5 acres on the bank river of river periyar .[4] ## Education Baselius Augen Public School, Kodanad Mar Augen higher secondary school, Kodanad ## Places of worship **Temples** - kodanad shiva temple, - chettinada saraswathi temple, - kunnumpuram ayyappa temple, - edavanakavu temple, - pancheswara Vishnu temple. **Churches** - Mar Malkhe Orthodox Church, Kodanad. - Zion Asram, Kodanad - [St. Antony's Syro-Malabar Church, Kodanad](/source/St._Antony's_Syro-Malabar_Church,_Kodanad) - [St. Thomas Church, Malayatoor](/source/St._Thomas_Church,_Malayatoor) (2 km) - Bethlehem St. Marys Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church, Alattuchira[citation needed] ## Nearby places - [Malayattoor Pilgrim](/source/Malayattoor_Pilgrim) 3 km - [Kaprikad](/source/Kaprikad) 3 km - [Paniyeli poru](/source/Paniyeli_poru) 15 km - [Airport](/source/Airport) 16 km - [Angamaly](/source/Angamaly) 19 km - [Muvattupuzha](/source/Muvattupuzha) 21 km - [Varapuzha](/source/Varapuzha) (Paravur) 33 km - [Piravom](/source/Piravom) 34 km - [North Paravur](/source/North_Paravur) 36 km - [Kochi City](/source/Kochi_City) 38 km - [Poochackal](/source/Poochackal) പൂച്ചാക്കല് 43 km - [Aroor](/source/Aroor) 43 km - [Kodungallur](/source/Kodungallur) 50 km - Perumbavoor 11 km ## References 1. Kurian, Shiba (2015). ["Kodanad: The land of elephants"](http://www.happytrips.com/destinations/kodanad-the-land-of-elephants/as22926740.cms). *[The Times of India](/source/The_Times_of_India)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20150526212539/http://www.happytrips.com/destinations/kodanad-the-land-of-elephants/as22926740.cms) 26 May 2015 at the Wayback Machine. 1. ["Ernakulam district census data"](http://censusindia.gov.in/pca/cdb_pca_census/PCA%20CDB-3208-F-Census.xlsx). *[2011 Census of India](/source/2011_Census_of_India)*. Directorate of Census Operations. Retrieved 2015-08-17. 1. ["Home"](http://www.abhayaranyam.com/). *abhayaranyam.com* 1. ["Travel"](https://travel.manoramaonline.com/travel/getting-about-kerala/ernakulam/2019/12/02/abhayaranyam-ideal-getaway-from-ernakulam.html) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Kodanad](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kodanad) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kodanad?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.