Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage in Sri Lanka
If you’re heading up to Dambulla or Kandy, you’re going to pass by the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage. Here’s everything you need to know.
Situated about 90 km northeast of Colombo, Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage is one of the most popular places visited by many tourist. It was started in 1975 by the Sri Lanka Department of Wildlife Conservation with the introduction of 05 abandoned baby elephants. It’s currently a home to 93 elephants.
Essential information
Travel distance – Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage is situated about 90 km northeast of Colombo (2 hours 45 mins drive).
How to get to Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage – Hire a modern A/C car or van with the service of English speaking driver or Book A Day Trip from Colombo to Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage. You can also get there by train and the closest train station to Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage is Rambukkana Railway Station.
Where to stay – There are a very few choices when its come to the hotel accommodation in Pinnawala, Sri Lanka.
Visitors Information
Entrance fee for Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage : 3000 LKR per foreign adult and 1500 LKR per foreign child of age 03 – 12 years ( in January 2019). A special fee of 800 LKR per adult and 400 LKR per child is applicable for visitors of SAARC countries.
Opening hours: from 8:30 am – 5:30 pm.
When is the best time to visit – You can visit the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage all year round.
How much time do you need in the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage – We would recommend staying for 3 hours.
Daily features of Interest
08.30 am – Open for visitors
09.15 am – Bottle feeding
10.00 am – Herd leaving to the river
12.00 noon – Return from the river
01.15 pm – Bottle feeding
02.00 pm – Herd leaving to the river
04.00 pm – Return from the river
05.00 pm – Bottle feeding
05.30 pm – Close the ticket counter
06.00 pm – Close for visitors
