A Day Trip to Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage from Kandy

While UNESCO-listed Kandy is full of nature-kissed heritage allure from its graceful colonial buildings commanding misty mountain vantages to its panoramic hikes, quirky tea museum, and storybook Royal Botanical Gardens, this historic elephant sanctuary is well worth the hour-long drive.

Elephants being fed at an orphanage | Image by Taru Goyal on Unsplash

Playing with Gentle Giants

After a hearty Sri Lankan breakfast, set out from your Kandyan hotel around 8 am and enjoy a picturesque drive to the world’s largest sanctuary for wild Asian elephants, comprising 93 elephants. Nestled amidst plush plantations and riverside vistas, you can savour plenty of immersive activities, from watching these mammoth animals solemnly splash in the river during bath time to feeding an adorable baby elephant from a milk bottle.

Family-Friendly Edutainment

Established in 1975 as a home for these gentle giants, visitors are provided with fascinating insights into a day in the life of these intimidating yet mild creatures; their diet, schedule, how injuries are treated, their dynamics with each other, as well as the playful antics in the elephant nursery. If you’re seeking to gain more knowledge on wondrous enticements in and around Kandy, Sri Lanka, venture no further than blogs such as Kandy Escapes.

Best Time to Visit

If you want to catch these beautiful beasts during the favourite parts of their day, head there in time for breakfast at 9:15 am or lunch at 1:15 pm, while their bathing is scheduled for 10 am and 2 pm.

For Optimal Enjoyment

It’s easy to fall in love with this wildlife-rich oasis and its inhabitants, but it’s also important to be respectful towards the animals and keep to the guidelines advised by the trained staff members at all times.