Howdah

A howdah is like a special seat that goes on the back of an elephant. It's like a big box that has a place for a person to sit and it's usually made of really strong materials like wood or metal. Howdahs were used a long time ago so people could ride on elephants safe and comfortable, and higher up so they could see better. People would use howdahs to go on adventures, for transportation or even ride on elephants during war times. Nowadays, it's still possible to ride elephants in some places but howdahs are not commonly used anymore because it is considered as unsafe to the elephants due to their heavy loads.