Bring up the tallest-elephant question at any Pooram ground in Kerala and you'll get a dozen different answers within a minute. Someone swears by Thechikottukavu Ramachandran. Someone else won't hear a word against Puthuppally Kesavan. Then the measurements come out, old records get waved around, and somebody insists an elephant has "grown" since the last time anyone checked.
For people who follow Kerala's elephants closely, a few centimetres is never a small thing.
Tall tuskers are the main draw at almost every major temple festival. Their size and bearing turn them into local celebrities — the kind with fan pages, dedicated photographers, and crowds that show up just to see one particular animal walk past.
The trouble is, most "tallest elephants in Kerala" lists floating around online are stale. Heights get copied from decade-old sources, and a few lists still quietly include elephants that have since died. So here's an updated, 2026 rundown of the state's tallest living elephants — who they are, how tall they're commonly reported to be, and what's true about their situation right now.
A quick note on the numbers: elephant heights are measured at different times, by different methods, by different people — so you'll see small variations between sources for the same animal. Treat the figures below as commonly reported heights, not an official government ranking.
1. Thechikottukavu Ramachandran — around 314–320 cm
Ramachandran barely needs an introduction in Kerala. For decades he's been talked about as one of the tallest captive elephants in the country, with his height most often put at around 316 cm, though some records push it closer to 320.
His fame was never just about size, though. He's the elephant most associated with the ceremonial opening of the southern gate at Vadakkunnathan Temple during Thrissur Pooram — a moment thousands of people turn up specifically to watch.
He's elderly now, with significant vision problems, and his festival appearances have come with veterinary oversight and restrictions in recent years. Still, as of 2026, Thechikottukavu Ramachandran is alive and remains one of the most recognisable elephants in the state.
2. Puthuppally Kesavan — commonly cited around 316–320 cm
Kesavan is the name that keeps reshuffling the old rankings. Older lists put him at roughly 309 cm; more recent figures — including those shared through his own official channels — cite something closer to 316 cm, with some fan sources going as high as 320.
Given that spread, it's fairer to call Ramachandran and Kesavan the two giants at the top of the list rather than crown a definitive winner. Kesavan is one of central Kerala's best-known festival tuskers, with a large and active online following, and he's alive and still appearing at temple events in 2026.
3. Chirakkal Kalidasan — around 313–314 cm
Kalidasan picked up the nickname "Gajaraja Bahubali" after his appearance in Baahubali 2: The Conclusion introduced him to audiences well outside Kerala's Pooram circuit. He's also a regular in Thalappokkam competitions, where an elephant's posture and head are judged as much as its size. He remains alive and active on the festival circuit in 2026.
4. Thrikkadavoor Sivaraju — around 311–312 cm
Originally from the Konni elephant camp, Sivaraju is now associated with the Thrikkadavoor temple in Kollam. His build, long tusks and commanding presence have made him a longtime festival favourite, and he continues to be alive and active in 2026 — one of the safer names to include on any current list.
5. Cherpulassery Rajasekharan — around 309.5 cm
A well-known name in and around Palakkad, Rajasekharan's popularity rests as much on his overall build and appearance as on his height. He remains part of the active festival-elephant scene in 2026.
6. Pampady Rajan — around 308 cm
Rajan was originally known as Bastin, associated with the Kodanad Elephant Training Centre before becoming famous under his current name. He's a fixture at festivals across central Kerala and is still alive in 2026.
7. Cherpulassery Ananthapadmanabhan — around 306–307 cm
What stands out about Ananthapadmanabhan isn't just his height but his frame — broad and powerful enough that he looks enormous even next to other large elephants. He remains part of the active festival circuit in 2026.
8. Kuttankulangara Arjunan — around 306 cm
A familiar face to regular Pooram-goers, Arjunan has spent years on the central Kerala festival circuit and remains a popular subject for photographers. He's alive and still associated with public festival events in 2026.
9. Guruvayur Nandan — around 306 cm
Nandan is one of the best-known elephants tied to the Guruvayur Devaswom, but his situation differs from most others on this list. He's dealt with serious foot-related health problems that have limited his participation in regular processions. He's alive in 2026, but shouldn't be described as one of Kerala's more active working festival elephants right now — he's included here because this is a list of the tallest living elephants, not only the most active ones.
10. Ernakulam Sivakumar — around 301 cm
Sivakumar may be shorter than the names above him, but he's one of Kerala's most consistently working tuskers, closely tied to the Ernakulam Shiva Temple. He's alive in 2026 and still a regular presence at major festivals, with a long career and loyal following behind him.
Why height matters so much to Kerala's elephant fans
To an outsider, the fuss over a few centimetres might look strange. At an actual Pooram, it makes more sense. When a line of decorated elephants stands together, the tallest one draws the eye first — people angle for photos, follow it to the next festival, sometimes build entire fan pages around one animal.
But height alone doesn't decide who becomes a favourite. Temperament, tusk length, head shape, training and reputation all play a part — which is exactly why the tallest elephant at a festival isn't always the one with the biggest following.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the tallest living elephant in Kerala in 2026?
Thechikottukavu Ramachandran and Puthuppally Kesavan are generally cited as the two tallest, with reported heights in the 314–320 cm range. Because measurement records differ between sources, it's more accurate to treat them as jointly at the top rather than rank one definitively above the other.
Are all the elephants on this list still alive?
Yes — this list was built specifically to exclude elephants that have died, which is a common problem with older "tallest elephant" roundups still circulating online.
Why do reported heights vary so much between sources?
Elephants are measured at different times using different methods, and heights can change slightly as an elephant ages. Treat any single figure as commonly reported rather than official.
Have a correction, a more recent height record, or an elephant we should add? Drop it in the comments — this list will keep getting updated as new information comes in.
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