Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, Pinnawala, Sri Lanka


Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage is situated in the Sabaragamuwa province of Sri Lanka which is about 87 Kilometers away from Colombo. To reach Pinnawala you have to turn from the 82nd kilometer post of the Colombo - Kandy main road and come through Rambukkana road. If you travel by train the nearest railway station to reach Pinnawala is Rambukkana (2 Kilometers from this railway station).

The orphanage has a bunch of 84 elephants at the moment which is also considered as the biggest bunch of elephants in the world that are living under the human supervision. The age groups of these elephants are from One week to 50 years of old.

The orphanage starts at 8.30 am daily for the visitors. At about 10.00 am this bunch of elephants starts walking towards Ma-Oya where they refresh with their daily bathing. Ma-Oya provides the water for drinking bathing for these elephants. The Elephant bathing at Ma-Oya provides a picturesque scene every morning & evening. Most of the visitors enjoy this scene every day while 84 elephants having their bath in this picturesque river according to their own rhythm.

At 13.15 pm the staff of the orphanage starts feeding baby elephants with milk. This is another eye catching event for which most of the visitors enjoys themselves. At 14.00 pm again these elephants are accompanied for bathing at Ma-Oya. They bring back to the orphanage at about 16.00 pm and they are sent to the respective cages where they stay the night.

The elephant orphanage enriches with a restaurant to provide delicious foods & refreshments for the visitors who likes to have some refreshment.

The daily routine of the Orphanage is

  • 08.30 AM - Open for visitors
  • 09.15 AM - Feeding the baby elephants with milk
  • 10.00 AM - Accompanying the elephants for bathing
  • 12.00 - Return to the orphanage after bathing
  • 13.15 AM - Feeding the baby elephants with milk
  • 14.00 PM - Accompanying the elephants for bathing
  • 16.00 PM - Return to the orphanage after bathing
  • 17.00 PM - Feeding the baby elephants with milk
  • 18.00 PM - Close the Orphanage


Safety Tips

  • Please do not enter the restricted areas
  • Smoke only the allocated areas
  • Keep the distance with the elephants
  • Keep the ticket with you
  • Do not disturb the elephants
  • Do not bring the pets



Destination: Asia/Sri Lanka

Special interests: Elephants bathing

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