Punnathar Kota is the erstwhile home of local royalty and now an elephant pound. However, not all elephants are allowed inside. Punnathar Kota only gives those elephants shelter that have been offered to the Lord Guruvayurappan. If religion is not your purpose of visit you won’t be disappointed. The gentle giants here are trained to perform tasks in the temple of the Lord. Occasionally, you can be part of the auspicious Gajjapoojan (hymns recited in praise of elephants) said to please Lord Ganesha himself. Punntahar Kota is home to a whopping 64 elephants, the oldest of them being 75 years.