Balarama carried the 750 kg golden howdah and the idol of goddess Chamundeshwari during the Mysuru Dasara procession for the first time in 1999, and retired in 2011.
Elephant Balarama, who had carried the golden howdah during Mysuru Dasara on 13 occasions died after a brief illness at Bheemanakatte Elephant camp in Nagarahole Tiger Reserve Forest near Hunsur on Sunday.