Pinnawala

Pinnawala is a popular village in Sri Lanka located in the Kegalle District, famous worldwide for its elephant conservation and tourism activities.

The main attraction here is the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, which was established to care for orphaned and injured elephants. It has become one of the largest captive elephant herds in the world.

A key highlight for visitors is watching elephants being taken to the nearby river (Maha Oya) to bathe and play in the water twice a day. This is one of the most photographed wildlife experiences in Sri Lanka.

The area itself is peaceful and green, surrounded by nature, small villages, and riverside scenery. Apart from elephants, you can also explore nearby spice gardens and cultural spots on the way to Kandy or central Sri Lanka.