Established in 1975, Pinnawala is home to one of the world's largest herds of captive elephants, including orphaned and injured animals cared for since infancy. Visitors can watch the herd walk to and bathe in the nearby Maha Oya river twice daily, one of the most photographed sights in Sri Lanka.
90 kmDistance from Colombo
~2 hrsTypical drive time
The facility draws some ethical debate over captivity practices, and travellers weighing a visit may want to research current welfare standards before deciding whether it fits their own values.