Pinnawala - Holiday Tour Packages
Pinnawala, Sri Lanka is a small rural village that is located in the Kegalle District of Sri Lanka, specifically about 90 kilometers away from the capital, Colombo, Sri Lanka. Primarily, it is known for its elephants that are housed in an orphanage that is visited by local and foreign tourists all year round. Basically, this orphanage, which is open to the public, is the dwelling place for about 84 protected elephants, a captive breeding ground for wild Asian elephants and a nursery. This and other things the village has to offer to tourists make it a great stop for a vacation in Sri Lanka.
Top places to visit in Pinnawala
Most travelers head to Pinnawala, specifically in the turn off from just past Kegalle along the Kandy-Colombo main road, for one reason alone — the elephants. As you can see, the village houses the largest elephant orphanage in Sri Lanka, where such animals who are left with parental support, as well as those that are unable to fend for themselves, are adopted, taken care of and then released to the wild if possible. Among the elephants in Pinnawala are said to be those with poor eye sight, victims of land mines and those that cannot survive in the wild. The primary residential care area is located on the east side of Highway B199, where there are also a number of refreshment stands, restaurants and management buildings, which include veterinary facilities and sleeping sheds. The area for viewing elephants, particularly when they bath, is along the Oya River, which is directly opposite of the highway’s west side.
Top things to do in Pinnawala
As mentioned above, tourists come to Pinnawala for the elephants. The main activity here is:
- Elephant Watching - You will be able to watch the elephants bathing at the broad bank of the Oya River, as well as playing and interacting socially. The elephant orphanage opens its doors every day to the public, and all admission fees it collects will be used to look after these animals. You will also be able to view the daily routine and care of the elephants, such as bottle feeding of the calves and the feeding of all other elephants, where you yourself would get the chance to feed milk to the young. Aside from elephant watching, you can also take a ride on these animals along the river with private tour operators in the area.
Top attractions and landmarks in Pinnawala
For a great stop in this village, make sure you visit the following for a complete holiday in Sri Lanka.
- Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage - This is an orphanage, captive breeding ground and nursery for wild Asian elephants, which is located 13 kilometers northwest of Kegalle in the Sabaragamuwa Province. As you can see, the village is noted for having the world’s largest herd of captive elephants, with 88 elephants—37 males and 51 females from 3 generations—in 2011. The orphanage was established by the Department of Wildlife Conservation of Sri Lanka in 1975.
Pinnawala holiday packages
To get the most out of your trip to Pinnawala, book Sri Lanka holiday packages with us here at La Vacanza Travel. Enjoy and have a safe trip!