The Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage is situated northwest of the town of Kegalle, halfway between the present capital Colombo and the ancient royal residence Kandy. It was established in 1975 by the Sri Lanka Wildlife Department in a 25 acre coconut property adjoining the Maha Oya River. The orphanage was originally founded in order to afford care and protection to the many orphaned Elephants found in the jungles of Sri Lanka.
 
In 1978 the orphanage was taken over by the National Zoological Gardens from the Department of Wildlife. A captive breeding program was launched in 1982. Since the inception of the program over 20 elephants have been bred here. The aim of the orphanage is to simulate a natural habitat to these elephants. However, there are some exceptions: the elephants are taken to the river twice a day for a bath, and all the babies less than three years of age are still bottle fed by the mahouts and volunteers.

We got a chance to see the Elephant herds being brought back from bathing and the walking of the herd in the sandy path is amazing.

Watch towers and pathways are created in the venue for proper movements of the tourists. Also few installations and information boards are provided to inform all about the history of the place and its evolution through years. It also talks about the mahouts or elephant keepers and tools used by them to control the pachyderms.

Duration of visit will be about 1 hour.
Laksala and souvenir shop is available at this attraction. Outside the attraction there are few small shops selling fresh cut fruits and cold drinks and snacks.

Daily features of Interest at the Pinnawala Orphanage

08.30 hours – Open to visitors
09.15 hours – Bottle feeding
10.00 hours – Herd leaving to the river
12.00 hours – Return from the river
13.15 hours – Bottle feeding
14.00 hours – Herd leaving to the river
16.00 hours – Return from the river
17.00 hours – Bottle feeding
17.30 hours – Ticket counters close
18.00 hours – Close to public

Location

Pinnawala  Elephant Orphanage is located in the village Pinnawala in the district of Kegalla at a distance of 90km from Colombo.