Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Sri Lanka. Located in the quaint village of Pinnawala in the Sabaragamuwa Province, this iconic establishment has been attracting large numbers of locals and tourists to its enchanting territories since its inception.
History
Established back in the year 1975 by the Sri Lanka Department of Wildlife and Conservation, Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage has been providing shelter to large herds of Sri Lankan elephants. It was created with the noble aim of caring for baby elephants that were abandoned in wild by their mothers. Today it serves as an orphanage, captive breeding ground as well as a nursery for these gentle giants of wild. The establishment boasts of the largest herd of captive elephants in the world too! So it definitely is a must visit tourist attraction in the island. You will be able to have tours to Pinnawala arranged with great ease through Green Holiday Centre.
Elephants
The elephants are taken twice a day to the river that is located adjacent to the orphanage. Watching the majestic beasts enjoying the cold waters of the river in their herds is indeed quite captivating. The large herd of elephants creates a stunning sight to behold for sure! Tourists can take plenty of splendid photos as the elephants bathe and play in the river. There is a small eatery located right next to the river which provides an excellent vantage point to the breathtaking scene.
Tourists who visit Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage are often delighted with the prospects of bottle feeding the young elephants too! It will certainly be a memory that will enchant you throughout your life! The female elephants are chained individually in their stalls at night while the males are often used to carry the food around. Large quantities of coconut, tamarind, grass and jackfruit are brought to the orphanage everyday to feed the elephants here.
If you are traveling in the area don’t forget to pay a visit to this enchanting attraction and you will not regret it!
