How to plan a day trip to Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage - A memorable day with the gentle giants!

As the name suggests, the site is an orphanage for elephants - it is a place that provides sanctuary for injured or elephants who are unable to live in the wild on their own. Though it is a sad sight to see these magnificent creatures not living in their natural habitats, they have been taken here to offer them a better chance in living. The facility was established in 1975 and it runs with the purpose of protecting and caring for elephants that are unable to thrive and survive in their natural habitat and visiting here will certainly be an eye opening experience where one can learn about animal conservation and species protection efforts by a government.

There are plenty of ways to get to Pinnawala, the most cost effective way being by Bus. If you are taking a bus from Colombo, you will need to get on the bus to Kegalle which will take approximately 3 hours and 15 minutes. From Kegalle, you could either take a tuk-tuk or another bus to Pinnawala which is approximately about 13.5 kilometres away. However, if you prefer comfort over cost, you can directly book a cab or a taxi from Colombo which can directly take you to Pinnawala. One important thing that you need to remember if you are planning for a day trip to the orphanage is that it is open from 8.30 am to 5.30 pm. However the best time to visit here is between 9.00 am to 1.00 pm during which the elephants come out to bathe in the river and are fed. Hence, make sure that you reach here by 9.00 am. It also takes approximately 3 hours if you are planning to leisurely explore the sanctuary.
If you are considering the time of the year to visit here, months between January and April are considered ideal since the weather will be pleasant during this window.

There are plenty of things visitors could do when they visit the orphanage. You could feed the elephants, watch them bathe, observe their behaviour and can take pictures and videos of your interaction with the gentle giants. Being a popular travel destination, there are also souvenir shops around the attraction where you can buy paintings and handicrafts to take back home as memorabilia. There are also a few eateries and restaurants close to the orphanage where you could have local delicacies and snacks. You could also explore the region by visiting the nearby villages and towns but it is recommended that you book your stay at an accommodation option nearby, If you are planning to do so, you have plenty of Kandy bungalows and hotel establishments the likes of Hanthana Boutique Villa by Amaya.

Since the orphanage is located in the semi-arid zone, it could get too warm and humid during the months between May to September. If you are visiting the orphanage during these months, make sure that you wear comfortable clothing, a hat and shades along with sun cream that is rated at least SPF 50. Also ensure that you drink plenty of water and bring along a water bottle that could contain at least a minimum of 1.5 litres of water. 

The elephant orphanage is an idyllic destination to visit if you are a curious soul who loves to be with nature and animals. The gentle giants (elephants), though being put here due to unfortunate circumstances, remind you of the importance of conservation and the necessity to protect wildlife. All in all, visiting here will certainly be an enlightening experience where you will uncover the dilemma between conservation and the right to freedom for animals.