Negombo > Pinnewala Elephant Orphanage > Kandy

We are going to be arriving in Sri Lanka at the end of December and planning to stay in Negombo for the first couple of nights before heading to Kandy.

Wondering how feasible it would be to leave Negombo in the morning, travel to Pinnewala Elephant Orphanage and spend some time there, before travelling on to Kandy later in the day.

Is this doable in a day? If we got a driver to take us on this route and drop us off in Kandy then roughly how much would it cost us?

Also, I have read in various places that the train journey from Colombo to Kandy is spectacular. Would we be missing out on something special scenery-wise if we went part/all of the journey by road instead?

Edited by: Walt

hello Walt,
I've never done it that way before but it sounds feasible. I have the map in front of me.
First, Pinawella is on the main Colombo to Kandy road. The turning for the orphanage is the next main stop after the big town of Kegalle.
Its easy by bus. There are buses from both Negombo and colombo, the driver might not like the idea of you going to Pinawella, the reasoning being that; its only half way (and half the fair) and so your seat may be empty from the pinawella turning onwards. Nevertheless ; the bus is both the easiest and cheapest way, and you should have plenty of time. i think the feeding time is around 1pm.
You could also take the train part of the way.
Instead, may i be so bold as to suggest? For your train journey. Why not take the Badulla train from Kandy for a day trip. Get off at Nuwara Elliya or better still Nanu Oya. From Nanu Oya , just outside the station, get a small bus back to Nuwara Ellia and then a bus )from the Nuwara Ellia bus station) back to kandy.
If you are prepaired for more than a day, stay on the train. Its wonderful, the only problem is that its a slowish train and so there won't be eough time to return in a day. From Nuwara Ellia to NanuOya thew views just get better and better, the train is also amazing. I usually stand or sit between the compartments and wedge the door open, sit and eat sandwiches and wait for life to unfold.
Best wishes
Chris

definitely do able in a day, we paid about 4000 rs a day for driver, you can probably get for less if youre feeling hardnosed! negombo to kandy about 3 hr drive total , pinnewala about 30 mins off main road, i found the actual orphanage a bit disappointing, feeding time over and done with in about 10 minutes and they only feed about 2 elephants, all the mahouts want tips for photos etc, but the bathing in the river was lovely to see as the elephants clearly enjoy it so much, you dont actually have to pay to go in the sanctuary to see that as that are walked down a lane opposite the sanctuary entrance ( lined with handicraft stalls) to the river, they are washed twice a day between 1100- 1300 and 1400 -1600
the botanical gardens just outside kandy are definitely worth a visit also- very peaceful and the javan fig tree really amazing .
enjoy your trip

I've done this by car and spent time at both - early start from Negombo - get to Pinnewala for morning feeding and bathing - then on to Peradeniya botanical gardens which are magnificent and need a good two hours or more to appreciate it all - then to Kandy by late afternoon, no problem.

The train ride is pretty spectacular but you get good views by road as well. The train on from Kandy towards Badulla is much more spectacular if you have time for the excursion from Kandy - best around Haputale and Ella which is quite a journey - you could stay there overnight and train back to Kandy next day.

I was going to ask the same question.since I'm planning to do the same thing. I'll be arriving at 9am(Jan 24) and wanna go to Kendy the same day. Since the orphanage is somewhat on the way I wouldn't mind stopping there for a while(especially since it'll be Friday, hopefully fewer people than Weekend).I know the place gets mixed reviews. Patsyd, you mentioned that bathing time is the most interesting and if I understood correctly you can see it without actually buying ticket. Does it mean that the place in the river where the elephants are washed is outside the sanctuary and it's possible to go there without the ticket or that you just can see it from the gate? I'll probably be bit tired after long flight and it would be cool just to ask the driver to stop there for a while without having to spend 15 bucks.

Hello again,
The river is where all the bathing takes place is down a road opposite the orphanage. I think several people must have realised that it is outside the orphanage grounds (and so free to everyone) . thertefore, they recently put a barrier across the road and two security guards here check tickets , to make sure bonifide paying 'tourists' proceed.
I had a word with one of these guards and he told me that he arrives around half an hour before the time for bathing.
You go past many leather bag shops down to the river and once there, there are resturaunts with free seating overlooking or you can stand around. Its good to wait for the elephants , then they will pass you by inches.
Be creful though , these are after all wild animals.
best wishes
Chris
p.s if you have time the feeding alone is well worth 1000rs