Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage
Government-run elephant orphanage established in 1975 near Kegalle, currently housing 90+ elephants and offering twice-daily bathing sessions in the Maha Oya River.
Duration
1.5-2 hours
Entry Fee
$15 USD
Difficulty
easy
Budget
moderate
About Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage
Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage was established in 1975 by the Sri Lanka Department of Wildlife Conservation as a sanctuary for orphaned and injured wild elephants. The facility now houses over 90 elephants, making it one of the largest elephant populations in captivity in the world. The highlight is the twice-daily river bathing session, when the herd is walked to the Maha Oya River at 10am and 2pm and herded back at 11am and 3pm. Visitors watch from the river bank and feeding platform. The orphanage has faced criticism from some animal welfare organisations regarding how elephants are chained overnight. Feeding opportunities are available for a small additional fee. The orphanage is 13 kilometres from Kegalle and is accessible by bus from Colombo or Kandy on the A1 highway.
Highlights
- Over 90 elephants in a single facility
- Twice-daily Maha Oya River bathing at 10am and 2pm
- Founded 1975 by Department of Wildlife Conservation
- Accessible from Colombo-Kandy highway (A1)
Practical Tips
Arrive 15 minutes before the 10am bathing to secure a good viewing spot on the river bank.
Entry fee for foreign adults is USD 15 (LKR 3,000) as of 2024.
The feeding platform is inside the paid enclosure — buy food at the kiosk near the entrance.
If animal welfare is a concern, research current conditions before visiting — practices have changed over the years.
Explore by Interest
Best Time to Visit
Best time of day: Year-round; morning visit (9:30am–11am) to catch the river bathing
Location
Planning Info
- Crowd level
- Often busy
- Physical difficulty
- easy
- Setting
- outdoor
- Child friendly
- Yes
- Senior friendly
- Yes
- Budget level
- moderate
- Photography
- ★★★★☆
Plan Your Visit
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