In 1975, an orphanage for orphaned and injured elephants was opened in Pinnawala. Here people take care of the elephants. Later some are sent to zoos in other countries, and the rest work in Sri Lanka.
It is better to come to the orphanage during feeding and bathing. The process looks like this: at first tourists gather around the orphanage where the elephants are fed. You can also feed them; we paid for this approximately $0.5 - $1. It is allowed to take a photo with a large blind elephant. Probably other elephants won't be very friendly when 20-30 tourists want to make photos with them. Then a herd of elephants goes through the town to the river. This is also an interesting action. All tourists move to the river and take seats to watch elephants bathe.
Approximate schedule:
08.30 opening time
09:15 feeding
10:00 herd leaving to the river
12:00 return from the river
13:15 feeding
14:00 herd leaving to the river
16:00 return from the river
17:00 feeding
17:30 closing time
Feeding the elephant ©Yuriy Buriak
Feeding the elephant ©Yuriy Buriak
Elephants in Pinnawala ©Yuriy Buriak
A blind elephant near which you can take pictures ©Yuriy Buriak
Elephants walk through the town to the river. ©Yuriy Buriak
Our guide Harsha shows us that the elephants rub against the trees when they go through the town. ©Yuriy Buriak
Elephants in Pinnawala ©Yuriy Buriak
Elephants in Pinnawala ©Yuriy Buriak
Elephants in Pinnawala ©Yuriy Buriak
Elephants in Pinnawala ©Yuriy Buriak
Elephants in Pinnawala ©Yuriy Buriak
Elephants in Pinnawala ©Yuriy Buriak
Elephants in Pinnawala ©Yuriy Buriak
Elephants in Pinnawala ©Yuriy Buriak
Elephants in Pinnawala ©Yuriy Buriak
Guess how paper is produced here :) ©Yuriy Buriak
Getting there: The orphanage is located near the main road Colombo - Kandy. The road from Colombo will take about 2.5 hours, turn left after the Kegalle town and drive about 4-5 km. The road from Kandy will take about an hour, turn right after the Mawenalla town. There are also buses from Kandy.
