In India, the association between man and elephant goes back 5000 years. Celebrated in mythology, heralded as a symbol of India's imperial past and part of the religious ceremonies of temples in South India, the elephant is an integral part of Indian folklore. In the North-East, the creature has been domesticated and serves its owner in so many ways that it is considered part of the family. It's no co-incidence that the elephant-headed Ganesha is India's most popular deity.

Not too long ago, the domain of the Asian Elephant (Elephus Maximus) ranged from Central, South to Southeast Asia. Today, after years of rampant poaching and habitat destruction, it is confined to tiny pockets in Southeast Asia and India. In fact, India holds more than half of its global population. Corbett is the northernmost extend of the Asian Elephant, while Kaziranga in the northeast and the southern domain of Bandipur, Nagarahole and Periyar are some of the finest remaining habitats of these giants in India.

You can observe the age-old bond between the elephant and the mahout during our safaris or at the several Elephant Training Camps in India. At Theppakadu, near Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, more elephants have been born in captivity than anywhere else in the world. Dubare Reserve Forest was where the Maharaja of Mysore used to have elephants trained for the famous Mysore Dussehra. However, the ultimate experience is an elephant safari, where not only do you get deep penetrating forays into the jungle and excellent game viewing and birdwatching opportunities, but also a chance to interact with these gentle giants.