Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage
Sabaragamuwa Province
About Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage
Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, established in 1975 on the Maha Oya river between Colombo and Kandy, cares for one of the largest captive herds of elephants in the world - animals orphaned, injured, or born here across several generations. The signature spectacle is bath time: twice a day the whole herd ambles down the village street to the river, where they wallow, spray, and doze in the shallows for hours while visitors watch from the banks and terrace cafes. Feeding sessions, including bottle-feeding of calves, run through the day. Pinnawala is hugely popular and undeniably touristy, and travellers who prioritise fully wild encounters may prefer Udawalawe's Elephant Transit Home or a national-park safari; but for families with limited time, the chance to watch dozens of elephants at close range remains a memorable, much-loved experience.
Top Activities
- ✓River bathing sessions (morning and afternoon)
- ✓Calf feeding times
- ✓Riverside cafe elephant-watching
- ✓Paper-from-dung workshop visits
- ✓Stop-over on the Colombo–Kandy road
Nearby Attractions
Travel Tips
Check bathing times (roughly 10am and 2pm) and arrive just before.
Riverside cafe tables give the best view of bath time.
If animal-welfare standards matter to you, compare with Udawalawe's transit home, which releases elephants back to the wild.
Quick Info
Best Time
Year-round
Weather
Warm year-round; bathing happens rain or shine.
Estimated Daily Budget
7.3006°N, 80.3853°E
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