Ollookkara Thiruvanikkavu Rajagopal

This is Ollookkara Thiruvanikkavu Rajagopal, a domesticated elephant in Thrissur (former Trichur) district of Kerala, India.

Rajagopalan is a proud possession of the Thiruvanikkavu Temple in the district. This 40 year-old tusker is a darling of devotees.

Since elephants are inevitable for the festivals of Kerala, tamed ones are reared at several temples. In major temples pachyderms are also needed for some daily rituals.

The Guruvayoor temple in the same district manages an elephant sanctuary where elephants donated to the temple by devotees are housed. Punnathoorkotta, the centre, attracts large number of pachyderm lovers and tourists.