Pinnawala

Imagine the sight of more than 80 elephants marching from their feeding ground to take bath in the nearby Maha River. Fascinating isn’t it? Well, one can witness this once in a lifetime experience at Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage which was opened by the government of Sri Lanka in the year 1975 as there was a drastic rise in the number of baby elephants who got separated from their mothers. Pinnawala is one of the major tourist attractions in Sri Lanka which is a must visit when touring the country. This elephant orphanage is situated 90 km from Colombo towards Kandy and it opens in the morning and allows visitors till the evening for them to develop a little contact with the elephants. Pinnawala not only lets you watch the herd of elephants in their natural habitat but also brings you closer to one of the largest mammals on planet earth. After buying the tickets tourists are required to flock towards the viewpoint and later the showstoppers make the grand entry from the narrow lanes lead by their mahouts after being fed by their human parents.

This daily bath ritual is followed by animal cleansing and then they are again bottle fed. The elephants are harmless as they have been used to having humans around, so the visitors are also allowed to take part and feed these harmless orphans. The orphanage has gained a lot of popularity among tourists worldwide and is thus one of the highly recommended sightseeing spots in Sri Lanka. Take your kids on a family getaway and give them an opportunity to come really close to wildlife. A short distance from Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, there is yet another elephant sanctuary, Club Concept. The herd here is small with some elephants being the star attractions. There is a small museum on the premises which also has an interesting explanation of the habits and life cycle of the Sri Lankan elephants. There are also two spice gardens in close-proximity to Pinnawala which are also worth a visit. Two spice gardens close by are also some good places to see. So, what are you waiting for? Book your tickets for the experience that you will never forget.