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Sri Lanka AdventureApril 18, 2025

Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage Sri Lanka

Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage Sri Lanka

This orphanage in Sri Lanka is notorious as a wildlife conservatory and the home of the orphans. With no parent to care for them, the orphaned babies are treated to a good life in the Pinnawala. The orphans would line up and get ready to go fishing. With an unforgettable deep-seated passion for animal community, this merging with nature beautifully forms a sanctuary destination for any wildlife enthusiast.


The following is calling for a brief review of the Pinnawala Orphanage:


Where the pinnawala Orphanage is located


This orphanage is in Kegalle. The their backing of being out of town adds to its charm. Falling in with its natural environment, the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage represents one of the must-visits for those of us who wish to wade out of our raucous city life into resting quiet in the embrace of natural serenity. Watching the elephants when having some serene time is a very extraordinary happenstance for a tourist.


About the Orphanage


This has its inception back in 1975. Shelter was supposed to be provided by these orphanages for orphaned elephants. At the start, there were very few number of elephants in the orphanage. And then it expanded gradually. It now looks after about eighty orphaned elephants. Some of these have been either hurt, left, or orphaned in the wild. The mission of this orphanage is to rehabilitate such elephants, to ensure their welfare, and to keep them safe. They are educating the public to conserve elephants, and this is another objective of these orphanages.


Weather


The orphanage is located in the tropical belt and staple warm temperature on an annual basis. The average temperature is about 27°C (80°F) approximately and makes it just the right place to visit year around. The seasonality of weather might have monsoon as the most likely option to come and rain. Its testimony is all over in the lush greenery, especially during the period May-September. Monsoon comes without much real impact on exploring the orphanage.


Best Time to Visit Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage


The best time must be the period between December and April when blue sky is guaranteed most of the time, offering the best chance of watching elephants bathe in the river or trek in the forest sanctuary. Alternatively, you could also come in the monsoons from May till September, when everything is lush green, so you could visit the orphanage anytime during the year.


Time Taken to Explore the Orphanage


The interesting activity to do while you are at the elephant orphanage is feeding the baby elephants. Some of them could snatch all the delicious fruits and hit you with the same fruit in the process.


Visitors love to watch feeding time. Throw out bottles and eateries inside, except for fruits and vegetables which the little fellow loves. Each little elephant may just come running toward you and snatches all the delicious fruits, yet every now and then they get a chance to take a grip on one of those fruits and hit you with it. It is also a unique opportunity to, at least gently, touch an elephant unbelievably.


The Elephant Ride-This is when the elephants walk by the orphanage and you would have a chance to walk on their backs.


Elephant Nursery-Where the baby elephants are being raised and taken care of. You can also watch how an elephant is fed.


Accommodation for Stay


There is no shortage of accommodations for the visitors from nearby areas in and around the Orphanage. The list includes budget guesthouses as well as luxurious resorts. Importantly, most of these accommodations are in the proximity of the Orphanage. Apart from these, boutique hotels and eco-friendly accommodation options may also be availed of by the visitors. A unique thing is that accommodations providing a view of elephant bathing are located right next to the Orphanage.


Restaurants in the vicinity of the Orphanage.


Mostly, you will find restaurants serving local Sri Lankan cuisine in this area. Quite a few restaurants offer beautiful views of the river, where the elephants bathe and the surrounding environment looks inviting. If you are someone who would eat rice and curry, kottu roti or seafood then there are a number of nice clean joints in Pinnawala, while an authentic local dish made of local ingredients offers a kinder implication of good health. So, a good quality food experience is assured. Pinnawala also provides options for buffet meals, if that is what you're looking for.


The Length of the Trip to Pinnawala


Before you decide to include the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage in your schedule, it is necessary to know the distance and the time it would require to get there. This aspect will depend on the starting location, the type of vehicle you will be travelling in, the drastic nature of traffic, and other criteria. A list of the different periods required for various key locations to reach the orphanage has been outlined below.


From Colombo Airport: Distance (approx): 59 kilometres journey time: 1 hour by car.


From Negombo: Distance - - about 75.2 km


Duration -- around 2.5 hrs --to say the least--


From Kandy to Pinnawala: Distance: about 40 km


Travel Time: approximately 1.5 hours


From Kegalle to Pinnawala: Distance: about 13 km


Travel Time: approximately 20 minutes


from Sigiriya to Pinnawala: Distance: around 206 km


Travel Time: about 4 hours and 16 min


All the feet of the immense building distances from the hour and starting place. The type of vehicle you choose as well as the route you will prefer is greatly influential on the hours too. These open hours can transform with time.


The Temple of the Tooth in Kandy: This was a royal palace in the last Kingdom of Sri Lanka and holds the most sacred and world-famous temple where Buddha's relics are venerated.


Peradeniya Botanic Gardens: A paradise made during the Kandy Era is always packed!


So, while the place is well known for its elephants, this is not the sole reason to visit the place. Here at this place, you can add many things to your existence by learning how to love them with affection and not harm them. To someone who loves animals, nature, or a unique experience just for the hell of someone; the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage in Sri Lanka is the place. They talk to you about illusions and imprints of the great elephants living in Sri Lanka and how happy their daily life is. So, make sure that then you put the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage on top of your bucket list for being part of this day-long immense experience!


pinnawala-elephant-orphanage-sri-lanka-sanctuary-and-visitor-guide


Sri Lankan skimps are always seen roaming-both poor and young.

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