Amer Fort has been synonymous with the elephant rides in Jaipur for a long time. The elephant ride used to be one of the most sought-after things to do in Jaipur among overseas travelers; presumably because the elephant is considered to be an exotic animal in the western hemisphere and elephant rides are not available everywhere, even in India. Lately, over the last few years, with the rise in awareness about cruelty against animals, many travelers have opted out of elephant rides in Amer Fort, Jaipur. Travelers are concerned with the ethical treatment of elephants in Jaipur. This blog on elephant rides and elephant village in Jaipur is inspired by a conversation with an overseas traveler. A traveler reached out to me recently while searching for elephant activities in Jaipur for an upcoming Jaipur trip in Hathi Gaon. The group didn’t want to undertake the elephant ride in Jaipur being against cruelty to animals; they were interested in the activities in the elephant village in Jaipur- washing, feeding, and painting elephants. In a conversation, she expressed her interest in visiting Elephant Village in Jaipur having spoken to elephant activities operators in Hathi Gaon, the elephant park in Jaipur. She was thoroughly confused with the rates being quoted for the elephant sanctuary Jaipur ticket price.

Elephant Village in Jaipur | The Flipside of Elephant Activities and Rides in Jaipur

I will try deciphering the elephant village and elephant activities in Jaipur, especially from an ethical tourism perspective; also a perspective on the new concept of Ethical elephant sanctuary in Southeast Asia and its connotations

Hathi Gaon | The Elephant Village in Jaipur

What is the Elephant village in Jaipur all about? The elephant village or elephant park in Jaipur as some people mention is also called Hathi Gaon by the locals. This is a one-of-a-kind village for elephants. The elephant village in Jaipur is spread over a territory of 30.5 hectares. This has been developed with the joint efforts of the Rajasthan Forest Department, Jaipur Development Authority, and Rajasthan Tourism. The village houses elephants and the Mahouts along with their families. According to present information, the elephant shelters called “Thaans” or Haathi Thaans have been constructed as per the norms laid by the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change. The elephant village in Jaipur is maintained and managed by the Elephant Welfare Society. An artificial pond is also part of the elephant village in Jaipur.

The Village includes exclusive space for the Mahaout family and their elephants. This village is not far from Amer Fort. It seems like a well-thought-out and planned space for elephants and their caretaker on a broad level. Here are a few pictures from the village.

Kaccha Road or unpaved Pugdundee has also been constructed in the village for the comfort of elephants. Instead of roads, cement blocks have been used to allow the movement of motor vehicles.

Elephant Activities at Hathi Gaon Elephant Village in Jaipur

Some of the activities that companies and individuals are engaged in at the Elephant Village in Jaipur are as follows:

• Elephant rides
• Washing of elephants
• Feeding the elephants
• Elephant painting

All these activities can be availed post-noon every day at Hathi Gaon. The original concept of Hathi Gaon was to support the Mahaouts and elephants. In reality, many travel companies are operating at Hathi Gaon. While the rates for elephant activities are fixed by the society run by the Mahouts or elephant owners, the world operates in a different way.

Ethical tourism and elephants

There are many opinions when it comes to ethical tourism and elephants. Everyone has a different idea about the ethical treatment of animals and cruelty to animals. For most people sensitive to the ethical treatment of elephants, riding an elephant is an absolute no-no. A small percentage of travelers are okay with riding an elephant in some situations like elephants in wildlife sanctuaries in the natural environment; elephant sanctuaries or other types of institutions that target tourists are an absolutely no-no for such travelers.

A large number of travelers feel elephant activities are part of unethical tourism because elephants are kept in captivity. In general, elephants in captivity are unacceptable. Here is a picture from Hathi Gaon, Jaipur.

The concept of Ethical elephant sanctuaries and Its meaning

There is a new concept of ethical elephant sanctuaries in Southeast Asia, especially in Thailand and Cambodia. The USP of ethical elephant sanctuaries is no contact with elephants. This means no riding, no washing, no painting, and no feeding. This is a new tourism initiative. Some even claim no photography near elephants. The opinions are divided. The underlying idea is to enable elephants to live in their natural habitats and no human intervention.

Elephant Village Jaipur Review | The Ethical Treatment & Tourism

Even though The elephant village or Hathi Gaon was meant to house the Mahaouts and elephants; Many tourism & travel companies have established their offices/setups in the complex. Search online for elephant activities in Jaipur, and you will find many options with company names with “Ele” prefixed. None of these brands or companies are owned by elephant owners. The packages being sold range from Rs 1200 to Rs 5500 per person. The scope of elephant activities includes elephant rides, feeding elephants, painting elephants, washing elephants, and lunch.

If the definition of ethical treatment includes not keeping elephants in captivity, all or any of these elephant activities would not have been possible. It would have meant that elephants living in the natural environment, the Jungle! I won’t undertake any of the elephant activities in Jaipur because I don’t support such tourism initiatives based on elephants or any other animals. However, this is my personal choice. Everyone has the right to their own opinion. I have shared pictures from the elephant village in Jaipur so you can form your opinion.

Elephant rides in Jaipur and PETA

Elephant rides in Jaipur are available at these two places:

• Amer Fort
• Elephant Park Jaipur/ Elephant Village Jaipur

PETA has been advocating a complete ban on elephant rides in Amer Fort and Hathi Gaon elephant village Jaipur for many years. The matter is pending before the court. As per PETA, more than 100 elephants are held captive. The elephant rides and activities violate the following laws of India:

• Wild Life Protection Act, 1972
• The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960

They also argue using elephants for rides and activities violates the Rajasthan government’s order mandating the requirement of permission when elephants are used in any film, advertisement, sport, event, exhibition, fair, or any kind of performance that includes rides. Read Elephant Ride in Jaipur at Amer Fort

Read the complete post by PETA on elephant rides in Amer Fort– Read this before you go on elephant rides in India and also Help End Cruel Elephant Rides at Amer Fort

PETA is working hard to put the suffering of elephants at an end involving activities in elephant village in Jaipur and elephant rides in Amer Fort. Unfortunately, the matter is still pending for closure at the high court. There is little doubt that this benefits certain sections of society. The PETA has advocated using new-age transport methods like electric cars. I have already featured a picture of this in my previous post on Amer Fort.

Elephant Park in Jaipur| Does it exist?

Many people search online for an elephant park in Jaipur. Is there a park in Jaipur with elephants? There is no elephant park in Jaipur. Commercial interests have created the online concept of an elephant park. In reality, there is an elephant village in Jaipur; a few “enterprising” people have created a separate space or enclave in the village terming it an elephant park in Jaipur. A few even claim to be an elephant sanctuary in Jaipur. The truth is sanctuary is supposed to create a safe zone for the animals. In reality, the so-called term “sanctuary” is a misnomer. How can commercial activity take place in an elephant sanctuary? I will leave this for you to decide.

Elephant Festival in Jaipur | Elephant Parade

A couple of years ago, an elephant festival in Jaipur was organized by a UK-based company claiming to be a social enterprise or NGO in disguise. They displayed large painted and adorned elephant statues in Jaipur at the Albert Hall Museum. This elephant festival in Jaipur was called the Elephant Parade. The company claims to donate 20% net profit of these elephant statues to elephant conservation organizations. It is a classic case of using a good cause for profit maximization. Capitalism at its best. You can read more in this article – Elephant Parade in India

Other than the Elephant Parade, a popular elephant festival in Jaipur was organized for many years. Lately, this elephant festival in Jaipur was discontinued over the course of the last few years owing to opposition from animal welfare groups. The festival has been modified and not held in its original form.

Elephant Village Jaipur Ticket Price

Currently, the elephant village ticket Price for Indian visitors is Rs 100 per person and the elephant village Ticket Price for overseas visitors is Rs 350 per person. These are just the entrance charges. The charges for elephant activities in Jaipur Hathi Gaon are in addition to the above. The charge for the elephant ride in the elephant village in Jaipur is Rs 3500 (October 2023)

Elephant Village Jaipur Timings

The timing of activities at Elephant Village in Jaipur is from 12.00 p.m. to 6 p.m.

It is for people to decide whether they want to undertake elephant activities or elephant rides in Jaipur. The terms “elephant park in Jaipur” and “elephant sanctuary in Jaipur” have been misleading many travelers. PETA is trying hard for all elephant activities in Jaipur to stop, unfortunately, the legal system in India has not been so favorable for them.