The Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage, about 40 km northwest of Kandy, houses a large herd of elephants including orphaned calves, injured adults, and a substantial population of captive-born animals. Twice daily the entire herd walks down to the Maha Oya river for a bath — a remarkable spectacle best seen from the riverbank restaurants that line the opposite shore.
The ethics of Pinnawela are debated: some animal welfare organisations have concerns about riding, chaining, and breeding practices. The daily river bath, however, is genuinely impressive and not staged — the elephants walk down on their own schedule and the bathing is real. Most visitors combine it with a stop at one of the riverside restaurants. The drive from Kandy takes about an hour; shared taxis or organised tours are the easiest options.