Pinnawala

It is a state-run elephant orphanage, established to protect abandoned or orphaned elephants. It is located near the town of Kegalle. The orphanage was founded in 1975 with the original aim of caring for five orphaned elephant calves. Over time, the number of elephants increased, and the orphanage became one of the most popular tourist attractions in Sri Lanka. Here you can see not only orphaned and abandoned elephants but also those injured in the wild (often after conflicts with farmers).

Among its famous residents is the female elephant Sama, who lost a leg due to a landmine. With around 80 elephants, it is the place where you can see the largest number of elephants together—not only adults but also calves, whose feeding is one of the highlights for visitors. Another remarkable experience is the elephants' regular bathing in a nearby river, which takes place twice a day at the same time. Each year, one or two calves are born here.