The Elephant Pinnawala Sri Lanka

People from all over the world love to visit Sri Lanka’s Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage. Elephants that are alone or hurt can find safety there. The public can visit the home and see these beautiful animals getting care and a safe place to live. This article has everything you need to know to visit the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage.

How Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage was built and its history

Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage was started in 1975 by the Sri Lankan Department of Wildlife Conservation as a safe place for elephants that had been left alone or hurt in the wild. At first, there were only five elephants living in the orphanage. Now, there are over 80 elephants living there, making it one of the biggest elephant preserves in the world.

The orphanage’s design is simple but effective, with open spaces for the elephants to play, eat, and get to the river. The Mahaweli River, where elephants bathe twice a day, is the most interesting feature. The orphanage also has a nursery where baby elephants are raised and a feeding stand where people can watch the adults feed the babies.

Finding Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage

About 90 km from Colombo, Pinnawala is easy to get to from the country’s capital and other big towns. Here are some of the most popular routes:

  • By train: From Colombo Fort, take a train to Kandy and get off at Rambukkana Railway stop. This is the stop closest to Pinnawala. Simply take a short tuk-tuk or taxi ride from there to get to the home.
  • By Bus: From Colombo, there are many public buses that go to Kegalle. From there, you can get on a private bus or tuk-tuk that will take you to Pinnawala.
  • By Taxi or Private Car: The most relaxing way to get there is to rent a car. The trip from Colombo to Kandy takes about 2.5 to 3 hours on the Colombo-Kandy Road.

The best times to visit Pinnawala

Plan your trip for the best time of the day and year to get the most out of your trip.

If you want to see elephants, the best time of year is from December to April, when it is dry and the weather is nice.

Best Times of Day: The best times to see Pinnawala are when the elephants come to the river in large groups to eat (9:15 AM and 1:15 PM) and take a bath (10:30 AM and 2:00 PM).

Helpful Hints for Going to Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage

A trip to an elephant orphanage is a memorable experience. Here are some tips that will make your trip better:

  1. Early Arrival: Get there before 9 a.m. to catch the feeding in the morning.
  2. Wear clothes that make you feel good. It can get hot, so light cotton clothes, sunglasses, and a hat are good ideas.
  3. Please be respectful of the elephants and do not pet, tease, or feed them without their permission.
  4. Carry Cash: Many businesses in the area will only take cash, so keep small amounts on hand.
  5. Bring a camera; Pinnawala is a beautiful place to take pictures, especially when you’re swimming in the river.

How to See Elephants Best

These spots inside the orphanage are great for seeing the elephants if you want to get the best view:

This is the most well-known place to see elephants bathing and playing in the river.

You can get a good look at baby elephants drinking milk from big bottles at the feeding station.

Observation Decks: Higher viewing areas offer wide views of the home and the trees and plants nearby.

Along the banks of the Mahaweli River, you can watch elephants taking a drink from a close but safe distance.

Strategies for Getting Ready for the Visit

Make sure you’re ready for a fun and easy trip to Pinnawala before you go.

Make sure you have an umbrella or raincoat with you when it rains.

Stay hydrated: It can be hard to walk around the home, so bring water in a bottle.

Stick to the Rules: The orphanage has strict rules about how people can associate with elephants, so make sure you follow them all.

Be Aware of the Costs: Foreigners must pay $15 to $20 to enter the country, and cameras cost extra.

Accommodations close to Pinnawala

There are a lot of great places to stay near the pinnawala if you want to extend your stay:

The riverfront rooms at the Pinnalanda Hotel are right next to the place where elephants bathe.

The mid-range Elephant Bay Hotel has beautiful views of elephants in the river.

Hotel Elephant Park is great for tourists who want a quiet place to stay with nice amenities.

Kandy Hotels: If you want to see more, there are more places to stay in Kandy, which is 40 km away.

Thoughts for now

If you love animals and want to help protect them, you have to go to Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage in Sri Lanka. If you want to see beautiful elephants up close, learn about how they are being rehabilitated, or just relax in a peaceful place, Pinnawala is the place to go. You can have a valuable and unforgettable experience with these gentle giants if you plan your trip well and follow ethical travel practices.