Elephant Village (Hathi Gaon) Jaipur, meaning Elephant Village, is a unique government-established project near Amber Fort in Jaipur, designed to provide a sustainable and ethical habitat for over 100 elephants and their caretakers, the mahouts. Established around 2010, the village spans about 30.5 hectares and includes dedicated shelters (Thaans) for the elephants and housing for the mahout families.
The village’s primary purpose is to centralize elephant care, ensure their welfare, and facilitate their use in regulated tourism, replacing previously scattered, unregulated accommodations. A large artificial pond supports the elephants, who require significant water for bathing.
Visitor activities, which require a separate activity fee beyond the government entry ticket (approx. ₹100 for Indians / ₹350 for foreigners), focus on respectful interaction. Popular experiences include:
Feeding the elephants (bananas/sugarcane).
Washing/Bathing and scrubbing them in the reservoir.
Walking alongside them.
While some operators still offer short elephant rides, visitors focused on ethical tourism often choose observation and interaction-based activities. The best time to visit is during the cooler months (October to March) in the late morning or afternoon.
The Elephant Village, known as Hathi Gaon, was established by the Rajasthan government with the aim of providing a safe and sustainable habitat for elephants. Located near Amber Fort, it was designed not only to protect these gentle giants but also to create a balance between tourism and wildlife conservation.
Historically, elephants have been an integral part of Rajasthan’s royal culture. They were used in royal processions, temple ceremonies, and as symbols of power and prosperity. Over time, with increasing tourism around Jaipur, elephants became popular for rides at Amber Fort. However, to ensure their proper care, Hathi Gaon was developed as a dedicated sanctuary where elephants could live in a more natural and comfortable setting.
The concept revolves around responsible tourism. Instead of exploiting elephants, visitors are encouraged to engage in interactive and ethical activities like feeding, painting, and bathing them, while also learning about their behavior and importance in Indian tradition.
Today, Hathi Gaon Jaipur stands as a model of eco-tourism, blending cultural heritage with animal welfare.
Ticket Price and Entry Fee
Before travelling to Elephant Village, it is imperative to ascertain the elephant village Jaipur ticket price and admission fees. The price of admission usually changes according to your age, country and the kinds of activities you want to partake in. Nonetheless, the admission charge is typically affordable, guaranteeing accessibility for guests from diverse backgrounds. Furthermore, unique packages might be offered for reservations made by groups or for particular activities in the village.
Elephant Village (Hathi Gaon) Jaipur
Operating Hours and Timings
It’s essential to arrange your schedule around Elephant Village Jaipur’s opening and closing times if you want to get the most out of your trip there. The village usually opens for tourists between 11:30 AM – 6:00 PM of the day, giving plenty of opportunity for exploration and getting to know the local elephant population. Regardless of your preference for an afternoon excursion or a morning meeting, making sure to verify the operation hours ahead of time on the official website guarantees a flawless experience.
There are around 80 elephants in the village. Each elephant lives with a caretaker family. There are separate houses built by the government for these families with a private cabin for each elephant with an entry gate from the back, a huge window in the front for visitors to watch and feed them and fan for the elephant to stay cool in the summers. There are lots of different amazing things you can experience in the elephant village that includes elephant ride, engaging elephant bath, feeding activities, elephant painting, and more. Below are some of the top experiences from the elephant village in Jaipur.
1. Elephant Ride: A Traditional Royal Experience
Elephant ride as the name suggests, this activity gives you the experience of riding an elephant. Unlike traditional tourist spots, Elephant Village prioritizes the elephants’ welfare. Rides are shorter and gentler, with strict limits on daily rides to prevent exhaustion.
During the ride, you’ll be seated on a cushioned howdah (traditional saddle) as the elephant ambles along a scenic route. It’s a peaceful, almost meditative experience that contrasts beautifully without the bustling chaos of the city.
The charges for elephant rides may vary depending on the season and different occasions. However, the government has fixed rates for the rides (approx. ₹1,000–1,500 per ride), but some visitors claim that they were charged differently. (they were promised 30 minutes but sometimes reduced to 15). So, we advise you to confirm both the duration and price in advance to avoid misunderstandings.
2. Elephant Painting
This is one of the most creative activities you can do in Jaipur Hathi gaon. Here you can paint flowers, murals, abstract, birthday wishes or anything from your creativity on the elephants. The paint used here on the elephants are soft natural colors. You might have seen some elephants on the streets of the jaipur near amber with beautifully painted designs over them. This activity feels like creating a fancy dress for the elephant.
3. Elephant Bathing and Grooming
The elephant bathing and grooming is one the most heart-warming experiences you can have in this village. The elephant bath usually takes place after the painting activity to ensure that elephants do not feel uncomfortable with colors for a long time. There are 3 ponds in the village where the elephants take baths.
However, visitors are sometimes not allowed to go in the pond with the elephants as it may have some risks, so you can enjoy watching them have fun and do playful activities in the water. Sometimes elephants do not want to go to the pond, in that case there are arrangements or water through pipes near their own shelter cabins. This shows that elephants here are not forced to do anything. After the bathing session, you can help to groom the elephants by applying natural oils to their skin, brushing their coarse hair, and even polishing their tusks.
4. Feeding The Elephant : Create a Bond
Elephant feeding is one of the closest and personal activities you can do in the elephant village. This experience of getting so close to these gentle giant animals is another highlight of the village. In this activity, you can offer them their favourite treats like sugarcane, fruits and vegetables.
Feeding an animal of this huge size brings up joy and humbleness within you. Childrens mostly enjoy this as they find it thrilling to engage with the large friendly animal. The careful movement of these powerful elephants reminds us about their intelligence and gentle nature. Feeding them feels like the most powerful way to connect with them.
Elephant Village (Hathi Gaon) Jaipur
Best Time to Visit Hathi Gaon
The ideal time to visit Elephant Village is during:
Morning hours – Elephants are active, and bathing sessions usually happen.
Late afternoon – Cooler weather and softer light for photography.
Season-wise, October to March is perfect due to pleasant temperatures. Summers can be hot, but early morning visits are still enjoyable.
How to Reach Hathi Gaon from Jaipur
This elephant village is around 3-4 km from Amber Fort, and about 12 km from Jaipur city center. You can reach here by cab, tuk-tuk, or even a rented scooter. Combine your trip with a visit to Nahargarh Fort or Jaigarh Fort nearby.
