Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, Pinnawala

This is a place located before the city Sigiria. They have a orphanage for the elephants. They everyday take care of these elephants. There are around 400 500 elephants in this orphanage. If you visit around 10.30 am you could see elephants taking bath. The view from there is also amazing a flowing river along with green lush mountains behind and these elephants taking bath. They have well thought and planned out this place. Towards the bath the orphanage people have allowed the locals to establish their shops in the lane where they sell elephants wood carvings and paper made from elephants dung. But its bit overpriced. Inside the orphanage you are also allowed to feed the elephants. The area of orphanage is quiet huge.

Its not an Orphanage, it’s a business model and the elephants are paying the price. No information about the organization and what they do. If you really want to help DON’T visit it. If you really want to see elephants in their natural habitats go on a safari in a national park. Not chained and abused in a so called orphanage.