Elephants galore, the perfect trip for Delhi’s animal lovers

All that the animal lovers of Delhi need for a perfect vacation is a weekend. Yes, you read that right as Delhiites now have a chance to volunteer and tour rescue centres in Mathura, especially built to help rescue elephants. Hardly a three hour ride away from Delhi, on the Delhi-Agra highway, the Elephant Care & Conservation Centre welcomes volunteers as well as organised tours. The centre is an initiative by Wildlife SOS, and is doing wonderful work. So much so that it has seen celebrities marching in, including mulitple Grammy winner Pharrell Williams.

The wonders that await you inside are way better than a regular eat-drink-roam weekend. Unlike elephants and other animals put on display and for rides in and around other tourist attractions such as the Amber Fort in Jaipur and various places in Kerala and Rajasthan, all the animals here are rescue animals and lead a cruelty free life. The elephants here are rescued from poachers and circuses, previously leading a deplorable life.

You can visit the centre for a short 2-3 hours tour, wherein guides and volunteers will take you along, narrating the ordeal that the animals have gone through. With some luck, you might as well get a chance to bathe and feed these gentle giants. One such tour will cost you a meagre INR 1500 (for 90 minutes), and a great bet if you are into animals and would love to spend a weekend in spreading goodness.
If the idea sounds like a great one to you, volunteering is another step ahead. You can choose to work as one at the centre (INR 20000 for a five day programme), wherein you will be in close touch with the animals. While volunteering, you will get a chance to prepare food for them, feed and bathe them, work in the gardens, as well as play with them! The best experience is to take the elephants out for their morning walk; imagine walking with these gentle giants in the jungle at dawn.

A strong interest in wildlife conservation and love for animals is all that you need to volunteer here; no prior training required. An essential experience for the perfect weekend break of a different kind.