The short answer
Crocodile Rehabilitation Centre: what visitors should know first
Worth an hour if you have children or want something dry and shaded after the river. It is not a major zoo. Check that it is open on your day, since it is reported to be closed on Tuesdays, and treat any crocodile count you read as approximate.
History and context
The story behind Crocodile Rehabilitation Centre
Wikipedia's article on Hogenakkal Eco Tourism says the centre was established in 1975 to protect crocodiles from hunting and houses around a hundred crocodiles, though it warns that figures come from sources dated 2008 to 2018. A 2025 current-affairs item gave a lower figure, so numbers should be treated as approximate.
The Forest Department also runs the broader eco-tourism arrangement with a village Eco-Development Committee.
Useful facts
Crocodile Rehabilitation Centre facts at a glance
- Location
- Near the falls, Hogenakkal
- Experience type
- Wildlife centre with garden and children's park
- Established
- 1975, per Wikipedia
- Open
- Daily except Tuesdays (check locally)
- Also on site
- Children's park and medicinal garden
Why it matters
Why Crocodile Rehabilitation Centre is worth your time
Hogenakkal's crocodile centre was established in 1975 to protect crocodiles from hunting, according to Wikipedia. It sits within the Forest Department's eco-tourism area and is part of the argument that tourism here should support conservation as well as local incomes.
For visitors, it adds a calm, educational stop to a trip that is otherwise about water, rocks and crowds. The medicinal garden also gives some idea of the plants that grow in the Eastern Ghats foothills around the river.
Highlights
What not to miss
- 01
Rescued mugger crocodiles
A rare close look at the species that lives along the Kaveri and its tributaries.
- 02
The medicinal garden
More than 108 plant species are reported, each labelled.
- 03
The children's park
A simple play space that helps families who need a break from the river.
Plan your visit
How to experience it
Treat the centre as a quiet, shaded counterpoint to the river. Wikipedia describes a crocodile rehabilitation centre, a children's park inside it and a medicinal garden with more than 108 native plants, each labelled. Start with the enclosures, then walk through the garden, which is the calmest part and has the most shade.
Keep a respectful distance at enclosures, follow staff instructions and do not feed the animals. If you travel with children, the park gives them somewhere to run after a long day on rocks and steps.
Crocodile numbers vary by source and year, and Wikipedia's article itself notes that several figures come from older sources, so ask staff for the current position rather than quoting a figure from the web.
Plan with confidence
Small decisions that make the visit easier.
- Confirm opening days; Tuesdays may be closed
- Keep distance from enclosures and do not feed animals
- Carry water and a hat
- Ask staff for current crocodile numbers
- Combine with a meal at the riverside stalls
Know before you go
Timing, access and comfort
- Area
- Near the falls, Hogenakkal
- Time needed
- About an hour
- Best time
- Late morning or afternoon, when you want a break from the river
- Walking level
- Easy
- Senior comfort
- The grounds are mostly level and there is shade. Benches are limited, so ask about seating. A suitable stop for older travellers who do not want to go near the water.
- Tickets and access
- A small entrance fee is reported, and it is open daily except Tuesdays according to Wikipedia's summary, which relies on sources dated 2008 to 2018. Check current opening days and fees locally before going.
Best for
Plan it with
Plan the practical part
Hotels near Crocodile Rehabilitation Centre
Staying close keeps journeys short — useful for early starts and for anyone who tires quickly.
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Travelling with parents?
The grounds are mostly level and there is shade. Benches are limited, so ask about seating. A suitable stop for older travellers who do not want to go near the water.
Raahzo can arrange an arrival or day companion who handles tickets, queues and pacing, and keeps the family updated.
See concierge supportFAQs
Is the crocodile centre open every day?
Wikipedia's summary says daily except Tuesdays, based on sources dated 2008 to 2018. Check locally before going.
How many crocodiles are there?
Reports vary by year and source. Ask staff for current numbers.
Is it suitable for children?
Yes; it has a children's park inside the grounds.
Sources and further reading
Timings, fees and access rules change. Recheck with the official source before you travel.
