Feature
Thailand :
Elephant Polo
Š Stefano TORRIONE / hemis.fr
In northern Thailand, in the heart of the golden triangle, sixteen polo teams from three continents, confront each other riding on elephant’s backs. At the turn of the 20th century, to combat boredom, maharajahs invented polo with elephants and since 1982 King’s cup brings the game back into style. The rules are derived from those of equestrian polo, the team is composed of a player and a «mahout» or elephant driver who directs the pachyderm in Nepalese, the language of elephants. Spectacular and unusual, this sport from another era guarantees the privileged spectator thrills and souvenirs.
HEMIS_172412 : Thailand, Chiang Rai Province, Chiang Saen town, match between Anantara and DHL teams during the King's Cup Elephant Polo tournament
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Thailand, Chiang Rai Province, Chiang Saen town, King's Cup Elephant Polo opening parade
Thailand, Chiang Rai Province, Chiang Saen town, Mahout Den da Surin among elephants during the King's Cup Elephant Polo tournament
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Thailand, Chiang Rai Province, Chiang Saen town, match between DHL team and Team Sweden during the King's Cup Elephant Polo tournament
Thailand, Chiang Rai Province, Chiang Saen town, the Capitol Pachyderms American team enters to match court during the King's Cup Elephant Polo
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Thailand, Chiang Rai Province, Chiang Saen town, match between Angus Estates and This Is the Life.com teams followed by the referee at match court during the King's Cup Elephant Polo, match begins with throwing ball by referee
Thailand, Chiang Rai Province, Chiang Saen town, match between Mercedes Benz and Tickle & Ivories teams during the King's Cup Elephant Polo tournament
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Thailand, Chiang Rai Province, Chiang Saen town, match between Hotelplan Italian team and Angus Estates team during the King's Cup Elephant Polo tournament
Thailand, Chiang Rai Province, Chiang Saen town, match between Anantara and DHL teams during the King's Cup Elephant Polo tournament
HEMIS_172414 : Thailand, Chiang Rai Province, Chiang Saen town, match between Anantara and DHL teams during the King's Cup Elephant Polo tournament
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Thailand, Chiang Rai Province, Chiang Saen town, match between Anantara and DHL teams during the King's Cup Elephant Polo tournament, an Anantara team's elephant slipping on wet ground
Thailand, Chiang Rai Province, Chiang Saen town, polo player Uday Kalan from DHL team in action at match court during the King's Cup Elephant Polo tournament
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Thailand, Chiang Rai Province, Chiang Saen town, match between DHL team and Team Sweden during the King's Cup Elephant Polo tournament
Thailand, Chiang Rai Province, Chiang Saen town, teams'captains waiting for final of the King's Cup Elephant Polo tournament
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Thailand, Chiang Rai Province, Chiang Saen town, match between DHL team and Team Sweden during the King's Cup Elephant Polo tournament
Thailand, Chiang Rai Province, Chiang Saen town, elephants eat fruit during the King's Cup Elephant Polo opening parade at match court
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Thailand, Chiang Rai Province, Chiang Saen town, a Mercedes Benz team's supporter at match court during the King's Cup Elephant Polo tournament
Thailand, Chiang Rai Province, Chiang Saen town, local schoolchildren in yellow clothes (the Thai Monarchy's colour) waiting for the polo matches during the King's Cup Elephant Polo tournament
HEMIS_172394 : Thailand, Chiang Rai Province, Chiang Saen town, players of This Is the Life.com team getting ready for the match during the King's Cup Elephant Polo
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Thailand, Chiang Rai Province, Chiang Saen town, Mein minority women in traditional outfits at the King's Cup Elephant Polo opening parade along the main street
Thailand, Chiang Rai Province, Chiang Saen town, the King's Cup Elephant Polo opening parade
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Thailand, Chiang Rai Province, Chiang Saen town, a tourist and photographer waiting for matches of the King's Cup Elephant Polo tournament
Thailand, Chiang Rai Province, Chiang Saen town, local schoolchildren waiting for the King's Cup Elephant Polo opening parade along the main street
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Thailand, Chiang Rai Province, Chiang Saen town, Angus Estates Team's captain, James Manclark (in the middle), co-founder of King's Cup Elephant Polo
Thailand, Chiang Rai Province, Chiang Saen town, local student in traditional costume at the King's Cup Elephant Polo opening parade along the main street
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Thailand, Chiang Rai Province, Chiang Saen town, local student in traditional costume at the King's Cup Elephant Polo opening parade along the main street
Thailand, Chiang Rai Province, Chiang Saen town, mahouts wash elephants after a match of King's Cup Elephant Polo at match court
HEMIS_172390 : Thailand, Chiang Rai Province, Chiang Saen town, a little girl near the polo clubs of the King's Cup Elephant Polo at match court
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Thailand, Chiang Rai Province, Chiang Saen town, mahout washes elephant after a match of King's Cup Elephant Polo at match court
Thailand, Chiang Rai Province, Chiang Saen town, elephant in the park of Anantara Golden Triangle Resort, a mahout washes his own elephant at dawn
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Thailand, Lampang Province, Amphoe Hang Chat, Thai Elephant Conservation Center, an elephant with a bandage on a blessed leg
Thailand, Lampang Province, Amphoe Hang Chat, Thai Elephant Conservation Center, the elephants'show, an elephant painting on paper
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Thailand, Lampang Province, Amphoe Hang Chat, Thai Elephant Conservation Center, a mahout with his own elephant
Thailand, Lampang Province, Amphoe Hang Chat, Thai Elephant Conservation Center, mahouts washing elephants
HEMIS_172411 Thailand, Lampang Province, Amphoe Hang Chat, Thai Elephant Conservation Center, visitors in yellow outfits to celebrate the Monarchy's 60th anniversary offer fruits to animals and waiting for the elephants'show
HEMIS_172409 Thailand, Chiang Mai Province, Chiang Mai city, Wat Phra Singh temple
HEMIS_172424 : Thailand, Chiang Rai Province, surroundings of Chiang Saen, Anantara Golden Triangle Resort & Spa, masked party for the King's Cup Elephant Polo tournament
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Thailand, Chiang Rai Province, surroundings of Chiang Saen, Anantara Golden Triangle Resort & Spa
Thailand, Chiang Rai Province, surroundings of Chiang Saen, Anantara Golden Triangle Resort & Spa
HEMIS_172429 Thailand, Chiang Rai Province, Chiang Saen town, final of the King's Cup Elephant Polo tournament, This Is Life.com team players exulting for the final victory