How to Reach Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage (From Kandy & Colombo)

Kandy to Pinnawala: distance, time and the quickest route

Kandy to Pinnawala is about 40 km along the A1 Kandy to Colombo road, through Kadugannawa and Kegalle. A taxi or private car covers it in roughly an hour to an hour and a quarter, depending on how slow the climb down Kadugannawa is. The direct bus takes about 90 minutes, and the train to Rambukkana runs about 1 hour 10 minutes plus a short last-mile hop to the gate.

If you only remember one thing, remember this: the fastest and least fiddly option is a taxi or a PickMe booking, the cheapest by a wide margin is the bus, and the train is the one to take if the journey itself is part of the fun. The orphanage sits on the bank of the Maha Oya, so whichever way you come in, the last stretch drops you close to the river where the herd is bathed.

By train: Kandy to Rambukkana, then the last mile

The nearest railway station to Pinnawala is Rambukkana, about 3 to 4 km from the orphanage. (Older guides, including an earlier version of this page, name Polgahawela. Rambukkana is closer and the one to aim for.) Rambukkana sits on the main Colombo to Kandy line, so you board at Kandy station and reach it in about 1 hour 10 minutes. Trains run through the day, from early morning until late evening.

From Rambukkana, a tuk-tuk covers the last few kilometres to the entrance for a small fare, usually settled before you set off. The ride from Kandy is slow and genuinely scenic, winding past paddy and rubber country, so it suits anyone who is not racing the clock.

By bus, taxi or tuk-tuk

By bus. The direct bus is the cheapest way in. Services between Kandy and Pinnawala leave through the day and take about 1.5 hours. Before you board, ask the conductor whether the bus actually passes Pinnawala, because some Kandy routes skirt the edge of town. Get off at the Pinnawala stop, a short tuk-tuk ride or walk from the sanctuary.

By taxi. A taxi or PickMe is the quickest door-to-door option from Kandy, around 45 minutes to an hour with no changes, and it drops you at the gate. It is the easiest choice if you are travelling with children or on a tight schedule.

By tuk-tuk. A tuk-tuk can do the full 40 km and usually runs about two hours with a photo stop or two, though most people hire one only for the last leg from the train station or bus stop straight to the entrance. Agree the fare before you climb in.

Colombo to Pinnawala, and from the airport (CMB) or Negombo

Colombo to Pinnawala is about 90 km to the northeast and takes 2.5 to 3 hours by car on the A1 through Kegalle. By train, take a main-line service from Colombo Fort to Rambukkana, then a tuk-tuk for the last few kilometres. Because Pinnawala sits almost on the Colombo-Kandy road, a lot of visitors fold it into a one-way transfer and see the elephants on the way up to the hills.

Flying in, Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) at Katunayake is about 80 km away, roughly 1.5 to 2 hours by car, and Negombo, handy for a first or last night near the airport, is a similar distance. If Pinnawala is your first stop off the plane, a pre-booked car is the simplest way to skip the Colombo traffic. When you are ready to plan the wider trip, our Sri Lanka tour packages cover Pinnawala alongside Kandy and the hill country.

Distance, time and fare table

Rough figures for the main routes to Pinnawala. Fares are approximate and change with fuel prices and season; confirm locally before you travel.

Cheapest vs fastest: from Kandy the bus wins on price, a taxi wins on time and ease, and the train wins on views. Once you have planned the journey, check the entry fees and opening times so you arrive in time for a feeding or bathing session.

Distances, journey times and fares on this page are checked by our Sri Lanka trip team against current road maps and operator timetables, and refreshed each season.