Jaipur’s Heritage & Elephant Conservation: Linking Wildlife Protection with City Wall Restoration

Jaipur’s Heritage & Elephant Conservation: Linking Wildlife Protection with City Wall Restoration

Avatar for HathiJaiGHathiJaiG
Jaipur—the Pink City of India—is a UNESCO World Heritage site celebrated for its forts, palaces, and the iconic city wall that has protected it since the 18th century. But if you look closely, this wall is cracking, crumbling, and being eaten away by neglect, urban expansion, and time. Interestingly, a growing number of Jaipur-based conservation organizations are linking this heritage loss with wildlife awareness campaigns—particularly around forest elephants and ethical elephant tourism. Why? Because both represent a shared challenge of conservation, respect for living heritage, and long-term sustainability. ... Read More
Beyond the Sanctuary: Jaipur’s Elephant Village & the Craft Heritage of Sanganer & Bagru

Beyond the Sanctuary: Jaipur’s Elephant Village & the Craft Heritage of Sanganer & Bagru

Avatar for HathiJaiGHathiJaiG
If you love wildlife and craft traditions, few places deliver a richer day (or two) than Jaipur’s Elephant Village (Hathi Gaon) and the textile hubs of Sanganer and Bagru. This is where ethical elephant experiences—think habitat walks, bathing (where appropriate), foraging, and rescue/rehabilitation stories—meet centuries-old hand-block printing and natural dye practices. The result is a slow, sensory itinerary that supports animal welfare and livelihoods in the same trip. ... Read More
Photography Ethics at Hathi Gaon & Elephant Natural Habitat

Photography Ethics at Hathi Gaon & Elephant Natural Habitat

Avatar for HathiJaiGHathiJaiG
Visiting India and photographing elephants in their natural habitat can be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Jaipur’s Hathi Gaon (Elephant Village) is one of the most popular places where visitors can interact with elephants in a controlled, semi-natural environment. But as tourism grows, so does the risk of disturbing these gentle giants if we don’t act responsibly. ... Read More
Elephant Enrichment: How Puzzle Feeders and Scent Trails Support Elephant Mental Health

Elephant Enrichment: How Puzzle Feeders and Scent Trails Support Elephant Mental Health

Avatar for HathiJaiGHathiJaiG
Elephants are famous for memory, family bonds, and complex emotions. When such intelligent beings live in human care—zoos, sanctuaries, wildlife rehab centers—their minds need as much exercise as their bodies. That’s where environmental enrichment comes in. In this guide, we’ll focus on two proven, low-cost strategies—puzzle feeders and scent trails—and show how they can brighten mood, reduce stress, and encourage natural behaviors in both Asian and African elephants. ... Read More
Word from the Frontline: Insights from Hathi Gaon’s Mahouts and Veterinarians

Word from the Frontline: Insights from Hathi Gaon’s Mahouts and Veterinarians

Avatar for HathiJaiGHathiJaiG
Just outside Jaipur’s Amber Fort, Hathi Gaon (“elephant village”) was purpose-built to house working elephants and their mahout families. Designed by RMA Architects, the project reclaimed a former sand quarry and created rain-harvesting water bodies and shaded living clusters—so elephants could bathe, drink, and rest while mahouts had nearby homes and shared courtyards. It was designed for roughly 100 elephants and their caretakers, with water as the keystone of the layout. ... Read More