Theppakadu Elephant Camp

Visited Theppakadu Elephant Camp recently, and it was such a heartwarming experience. Watching the elephants being fed and bathed by their mahouts felt peaceful and genuine. The surroundings inside Mudumalai Tiger Reserve are beautiful—lush, serene, and full of life. It’s a simple yet unforgettable place where you can truly feel connected with nature and these gentle giants. Definitely worth visiting if you’re anywhere near Ooty or Masinagudi

Interesting visit. Good to see so many elephants looked after in peaceful surroundings & big pool for washing. However they are ALL still chained up at leg !! In contrast Thailand has been able to provide elephant care and sanctuary without chains. Maybe visit and learn? I understood these are retired Temple Elephants ,so more freedom in their retirement would be good.

This camp is only open during elephant feeding time morning and evening. Other time not allowed to visit. This is located near riverside and mudhumalai tiger safari point. Picturesque location around the location. Elephants can be seen nearby this site.

Theppakadu Elephant Camp – A Heartwarming Experience in the Wild 🐘🌿 Visited Theppakadu Elephant Camp during my recent ride through Bandipur and Mudumalai, and it was a beautiful and memorable experience. This place offers a close, respectful, and educational glimpse into the lives of majestic elephants. The camp is located inside the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, surrounded by lush greenery and forest views. You can see elephants being fed, bathed, and cared for by their mahouts – many of these elephants are rescued or retired from the forest department. It’s not just a tourist attraction, but a genuine conservation and care center. There are timed elephant feedings which are open to the public – a great chance to watch them up close while maintaining a safe and respectful distance. Informative boards give insights into each elephant’s story, name, and age. The place is well-managed, clean, and ideal for families, bikers, and nature lovers looking to take a peaceful break while learning more about these gentle giants. 🛣️ Easy to locate on the Mysore-Ooty highway 📸 Don’t forget to carry a camera – the forest vibe is perfect for wildlife photos! 🚩 Entry fee is minimal and goes towards the upkeep and welfare of the elephants Highly recommended if you’re traveling through Mudumalai. A calm, humbling, and beautiful detour worth taking. 🙏🐘 We saw The Elephant Whisperers (2022) – a touching documentary about the bond between a couple and orphaned elephants. 🐘 It won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Film – and truly deserved it. Heartwarming and beautifully shot! 🎬🏆

Place to go if you like to see Elephants being fed up close. There are totally some 20+ elephants of different ages in the camp and 12 were brought to the feeding camp when we visited. There’s an entry ticket of ₹30 being charged, the funny part is the ticket counter is 400 meters away/ 10 minutes walk. There’s no separate queue for this and have to stand with Safari ticket line. There’s total chaos at the ticketing lines and overall process. Have at least half hour for the process. The entry timings are only 8:30-9:00 AM and 5:30-6:00 PM. After getting the ticket one has to wait at the queue in front of the camp on the road side ☹️ They will open at the exact time or few minutes early Once inside you can see chained elephants in three different stations with their Mahouts. For half hour you can watch their legs being disinfected with some oil and obeying their Mahouts simple commands. And their prepared food being arranged in tables against their name. Btw Each one has a name. And exactly at 9 am and 6 pm they are fed the prepared food in batches. That’s all 😀 The place is maintained well. Has toilet facilities. Couldn’t see any drinking water stations. Parking is at a distance of nearly 500 meters from the camp on the banks of Mayar river. There’s no eatery inside, there’s a small canteen 250 meters away and one mobile vendor at the parking lot. If you go early, roam around the banks of the Mayar river and may get to see Elephant bathing. The place is very much scenic with river and trees all around. They can add an elephant related documentary to be played in the experience centre. Better signage on where to get the tickets and separate counters will enhance the experience 🙏

Yes it is totally very nice experience with Elephants and there take care people's.. it comes ooty road..Mysore to ooty ...after Bandipura we can see This place.. Its is very nice and can see elephants very nearby and can experience there eating styles there bathing..totally very 👌 👌

Theppakadu Elephant Camp, located inside the lush Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, is a peaceful and heartwarming experience. Watching elephants being bathed and fed by their mahouts was truly special. The bond between the elephants and their caretakers is beautiful and shows how well the animals are looked after. The surroundings are serene, and the camp is well-maintained. It’s a great place for families, especially kids, to learn about elephants and wildlife conservation. The best time to visit is during the morning or evening feeding sessions (around 8:30–9 am and 5:30–6 pm). The staff are friendly and share interesting facts about each elephant's story. Only suggestion would be to improve the visitor seating and restroom facilities a bit. But overall, it’s an unforgettable experience that connects you with nature and these gentle giants. Highly recommended for a short getaway from Ooty or as part of a Mudumalai forest visit!

Mustgo place for kids and youth.. particularly elephant lovers..you can watch elephants from close distance..and get to know how the feeding and caring taken by the mavatis..