Responding to a command from his mahout, while ascending the walkway leading to Fort Amer, an elephant pauses.
When I visited the Amber fortress, which was built in the 1590s, I opted to make my approach on foot. Nevertheless, I found the sight of a caravan of elephants to be a timeless one.
The practice of offering commercial elephant rides to tourists visiting Fort Amer is controversial, as discussed here. And concerns for elephant welfare exist worldwide, not just in India.
This New York Times article provides an excellent overview about the ethics of riding an elephant. It’s worth noting that I did ride an elephant in Laos in 2012 — at a complex that marketed itself as an elephant sanctuary. I’ve since read articles about how many of these businesses are largely unregulated, and that elephants often suffer abuse during their training. As a result, I have not ridden an elephant since.
Observing elephants from afar is much kinder to these gentle giants. I was fortunate to be able to do this in 2017 at the Addo Elephant National Park in South Africa.
Tricia A. Mitchell is a freelance writer and photographer. Born in Europe but raised in the United States, she has lived in Valletta, Malta; Heidelberg, Germany; and Split, Croatia. An avid globetrotter who has visited more than 65 countries, she has a penchant for off-season travel. Tricia has learned that travel’s greatest gift is not sightseeing, rather it is the interactions with people. Some of her most memorable experiences have been sharing a bottle of champagne with distant French cousins in Lorraine, learning how to milk goats in a sleepy Bulgarian village, and ringing in the Vietnamese New Year with a Hanoi family. She welcomes any opportunity to practice French and German, and she loves delving into a place’s history and artisanal food scene.
A former education administrator and training specialist, Tricia has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a master’s degree in international relations. She and her husband, Shawn, married in the ruins of a snowy German castle. They’ve been known to escape winter by basing themselves in coastal Croatia or Southeast Asia.
Her writing has appeared in Fodor’s Travel, Frommer’s, and International Living.
View more posts
16 thoughts on “Photo du Jour: An Elephant and His Mahout – Amber Fort, Jaipur, India”
Thanks, Rachael. I can understand why it’s a complicated matter. When we were in Laos, we rode an elephant at an elephant refuge. I have yet to post about it, but we were very pleased with the aims of the organization and how they treated the elephants. They actually rescue them from the logging industry, and employ them at the elephant resort. A veterinarian was even on site to provide regular care to the beautiful beasts!
It’s a dramatic ascent isn’t it? When I think back to that morning, I remember the wonderful soundtrack of drums, and those dramatic vistas. When were you there, Suzanne?
February of last year – India is such an amazing country – I love it and the people – such smiling faces and colour.
Fab shot Tricia!
The sight of these magnificent creatures ascending that hill is magical indeed, but I suspect most of them are not in the best of health. I noticed several sneezing and sniffling constantly like they had colds! Have never seen an animal with cold symptoms before! Especially not an elephant.
Madhu, that’s so sad to hear this about the elephants at the Amber Fort. I didn’t ride one then, but did get to in Laos. The elephants at the elephant refuge outside of Luang Prabang seemed to be well-pampered.
Travels With Tricia 
Nice one,Tricia!
Many thanks, Sonali! The Amber Fort is so photogenic; I really enjoyed its intricate interior too.
Very nice shot and I like the way you have processed it.
Thank you, Mark! I’ll next have to post some of the colorful photos from this fabulous fort’s interior.
Ganesha: part human, part elephant, two creatures in one being. Nice photo. :)
Alessandro, how fitting to create a ganesh-like character out of this image! I’d never thought of it that way, such is the joy of blogging. :)
It is a lovely shot. I followed and read the link with interest.
Thanks, Rachael. I can understand why it’s a complicated matter. When we were in Laos, we rode an elephant at an elephant refuge. I have yet to post about it, but we were very pleased with the aims of the organization and how they treated the elephants. They actually rescue them from the logging industry, and employ them at the elephant resort. A veterinarian was even on site to provide regular care to the beautiful beasts!
Lovely shot – I especially like the B&W. We too walked up to the Amer Fort…
It’s a dramatic ascent isn’t it? When I think back to that morning, I remember the wonderful soundtrack of drums, and those dramatic vistas. When were you there, Suzanne?
February of last year – India is such an amazing country – I love it and the people – such smiling faces and colour.
Fab shot Tricia!
The sight of these magnificent creatures ascending that hill is magical indeed, but I suspect most of them are not in the best of health. I noticed several sneezing and sniffling constantly like they had colds! Have never seen an animal with cold symptoms before! Especially not an elephant.
Madhu, that’s so sad to hear this about the elephants at the Amber Fort. I didn’t ride one then, but did get to in Laos. The elephants at the elephant refuge outside of Luang Prabang seemed to be well-pampered.
Great shot, I really like the framing on this one.
Thanks so much, Stephen! This fort definitely has character.
:)