Kodanad, a beautiful village on the southern banks of river Periyar near Perumbaavoor, is a famous picnic location. It is widely known as one of the largest elephant training centres in Kerala. This training centre has been shifted to a much larger rehabilitation centre at Kaprikkad, another village 3 km away from Kodanad, where the elephants get much larger and open space for elephants to roam around freely.  Tourists can witness bathing and training of elephants up close here.

The riverside rural setting offers fascinating views for tourists. The rustic setting of the unspoilt village and its surroundings has attracted many film makers to the site. People visit Kodanad view point to witness sunset and sunrise in the backdrop of untouched beauty.