Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage is one of the most beloved tourist attractions in Sri Lanka, particularly families with children love this site. A viewing area at the elephant bathing place is part of the orphanage, though located on the opposite side of the main road crossing Pinnawela. Be aware, that there are several elephant camps in Pinnawela. The state-run elephant orphanage has by far the largest amount of elephants, with almost a hundred individuals it‘s actually the largest herd of elephants held in captivity in the world, whereas the private camps have smaller groups of about a dozen elephants. The advantage of the private camps is that they organize elephant rides and give you a chance to take part in the washing of the elephant. In contrast, there are no jungle tours on elephant backs with elephants from the orphanage. However, the Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage is the best place to take part in bottle feeding of baby elephants. The sanctuary, a combination of nursery and artificial herd, was established by the Sri Lankan Department of Wildlife Conservation in 1975.

Lahugala is both a national park and an archaeological site. The Lahugala-Kitulana National Park is one of the smallest wildlife sanctuaries in Sri Lanka. In fact, it is mainly a protected habitat for Asian elephants and an important part of the southeastern elephant corridor if the island nation. During the annual dry season, wild elephants migrate from Yala National Park to the large reservoir known as Senanayake Samudra in Gal Oya National Park. They cross the area of Lahugala-Kitulana National Park, as it provides some smaller freshwater lakes and areas with their favourite grass (Sacciolepis interrupta).

The Magul Maha Viharaya in Lahugala is an important excavation site of an ancient Buddhist monastery. The structures are mainly from the late Anuradhapura period (7th to 10th century AD). However, there is evidence of an earlier monastic use of this area and local legend has it that it was built in the 2nd century BC, viz for the marriage of the local king Kavantissa of Rohana to the Princess Viharamahadevi from Kelaniya in western Sri Lanka.

Kaudulla National Park is part of Sri Lank’s most important elephant corridor, the route of annual migratory movements of elephants from the northeast of the island. During the dry period, which falls into northern-hemisphere summer months, wild elephants take refuge at the large reservoirs of Minneriya and Kaudulla, where there’s still enough fresh grass growing at the banks of the tanks. Minneriya is the focal point of this so-called elephant gathering, with up to several hundred Asian elephants. But Kaudulla National Park also has large seasonal herds during this period and is an alternative to the much more crowded Minneriya National Park. In October and November, the elephants migrate back to the jungles in the hinterland of Trincomalee and form small groups. On their way from Minneriya to the northeast, they usually take a break at the Kaudulla reservoir. That’s why Kaudulla National Park becomes Sri Lanka’s main attractions for elephant enthusiasts in the month of November. Both reservoirs, Minneriya and Kaudulla, were constructed already in antiquity, namely by the famous King Mahasena (late 3rd century AD). The tanks served two purposes right from the beginning, not only providing water for newly cultivated paddy areas downstream but also providing water and food for the wild beasts upstream. In a sense, Sri Lanka‘s famous elephant gathering – the largest natural herd of Asian elephants at all – is man-made, for more than one and a half centuries.         

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Pinnawela is one of Sri Lanka's most popular tourist destinations, it has the largest herd of elephants in Asia, almost 100 animals. (Wasgomuwa, Minneriya or Kaudulla have more elephants gathered only seasonally). But the Pinnawela herd is artificial. The elephants do not belong to a natural enlarged family, they are domesticated.

The elephant camp in Pinnawela is not only a breeding ground for elephants, it is a nursery in the first place. Trapped elephant babies left by their families would be doomed to death. Rescued in time they will be transferred to one of Sri Lanka's three elephant orphanages, two of them will return them to the wild later on, but Pinnwela will domesticate them Pinnawela also integrates injured adult elephants. It is a sheer miracle that the Pinnawela herd accepts alien babies and adults.

You can observe several activities of domesticated elephants in Pinnawela. At about nine o'clock in the morning you can take part in the bottle feeding of babies and at 10.00 am you can see the herd bathing, two restaurants offer perfect observation platforms. You can study human elephant interaction. Mahouts help washing the elephants, it would not be necesarry, but strengthens social ties. Female adults and babies take their bath together. But male adults have to be led to a separate bathing place.

You can not take part in elephant rides in the Pinnawela Elephant Orphange. But there are smaller private elephant camps in the surrounding organizing elephant rides in the jungles. You can join half an hour, one hour or two hour excursions. You can also wash animals yourself here, they are used to it, oder study exhibitions. But be aware, this is not included in the Pinnawela Orphanage ticket.