Clean room with AC. Amazing view of the river with the elephants in the morning. However it feels a little artificial, the elephants are chased out by men with sticks and by 10am there are tourists paying to touch/clean them in the water, and they are chained up for this which is sad to watch. Otherwise they seemed happy enough however and it was nice to eat breakfast while watching elephants in the river. The hotel was fine for the price, restaurant was OK.

Stayed in March 2024

A little bit dated

The room is just in front of water where elephants bath and chill. Everyday they come 8;30 AM (first 6 old ones) and 10:00 AM (rest of the group). If you come on bike or car there is a nice parking. Hotel is a little bit old but still good. Checkin is 4 PM or you can pay entrance ticket to checkin early (imo not worth it since you see main attraction in front of your room in the morning)

Stayed in March 2024

We were bitten by some small bugs in the evening. After i asked to give us repellent, the problem was solved (but it took up to 2 hours)

The view to the river from room is awesome!

Stayed in March 2024

Look, the place could do with a bit of paint, but being so close to the elephants, the outstanding staff and the whole atmosphere on the river made it all priceless.

The best stay ever. Had the elephants just outside our room two times a day. The staff was fantastic and so helpful with everything. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay.

Stayed in March 2024

Menu. Coffee.Lack of parasols around pool.

Location superb, breakfast was ok, room was a little tired and staff were very helpful. Menu for lunch/evening was very limited. Nowhere to just sit and have a drink.

Stayed in February 2024

The only issue was the Internet in our room, but they tried hard to fix it, probably already fixed

Everything was really good, great experience!!!

Stayed in February 2024

Taking meal only outside restaurant ,

Wonderful Location

Stayed in February 2024

Try to arrive in the evening to check in. If you arrive earlier in the day you have to pay entrance fee to the street and elephant viewing area.

Perfect location for viewing the elephants. Clean with swimming pool and well trained staff. OK breakfast included and I enjoyed my other meals there. Great value as includes full access to the high street and viewing areas. Special mention to Mohammed who was very helpful and extremely thorough in his cleaning duties. He didn’t know I was watching when he was cleaning the washbasin in a vacated room. Lots of attention and very thorough. Andrew helped me out with a lift in his car to the local train station (Rambukkana) about 4 km away after the Tuk Tuk let me down.Try to stay 2 nights to fully appreciate the pool and the elephant viewing areas.

Stayed in February 2024

The arrival procedure with the extra payment of 2.500 lkr per person for the Elefant Orphanage if the arrival is before 4 pm. Such cost should be included in the room rate. The client should not be responsible for getting tickets after his long journey. Even the procedure of getting the tickets was not easy.

The atmosphere at the river with the elefants.

Stayed in January 2024

The hotel is old and a bit warn down, but you get what you pay for (price is still really good for what you get). I would gladly pay a bit more for a room at the hotel if it had been renovated. We booked a room with river view, what is not mentioned in the description is, that a lot of turists not paying to stay at the hotel will use the space in front of the room doing elephant bathing.

Location was really nice, and the price is really good. You get to use the pool at the hotel next to hotel pinnalanda. A really good option for one night, to see the elephant bathing in the morning

Stayed in December 2023

The rooms might need some small make-overs, but all good to stay for 1-2 nights.

Very nice location with direct view onto the elephants while they’re resting next to the river. Nice breakfast and dinner. Thilina, who is operating as the senior transport manager from that hotel was extremely helpful to organize our trip and still takes care of us for the time being in Sri Lanka. Our highest recommendation and thumbs-up goes out to Kaveesha, who’s driving us around Sri Lanka and who’s doing an amazing job. Super safe and reliable driver, the best you can ever imagine !!!

Stayed in December 2023

Excellent view Nice staff Good breakfast

Stayed in December 2023

Brilliant location. No need to go anywhere else to see elephants

Stayed in December 2023

I am a little upset that looked like elephants were more going to work than enjoying their bathing.

The place is great. Rooms are a little old but absolutely ok. There is a nice restaurant and “instragram” pool. And absolutely friendly stuff.

Stayed in December 2023

We enjoyed seeing the elephants - it felt like a zoo though, and in hindsight we would not have come as ethically didn’t enjoy seeing the elephants being paraded around / forces to bath.

We decided to come to pinnalanda for the night/ day to see the elephants but also have a relax at the hotel whilst travelling for our honeymoon! The check inn process was abit scary - we had been told by our tuk tuk driver (who spoke to the hotel 5 mins before on the phone) to not speak to anyone on the road leading to the hotel. We knew we had to get a ticket for 2500 rupees each, however we thought as the hotel was offering a reduced price that the hotel must sort it for us, or there was somewhere to buy a ticket from inside the hotel. When a lady in the road was telling us we couldn’t walk to the hotel and had to go around another road to get a ticket we thought this was a scam - as our driver had told us not to speak to anyone - straight after he had just spoken to the hotel on the phone! We got to the hotel and whilst enjoying lunch we were told the police was here as we didn’t pay for the ticket! very scary! The hotel sorted it for us and the issue was dealt with - however YOU MUST WALK TO THE TICKET OFFICE WITH YOUR LUGGAGE BEFORE CHECKING IN AT THE HOTEL!! YOU CAN NOT WALK TO THE HOTEL WITHOUT A TICKET,WHICH YOU MUST BUY BEFORE GOING TO THE HOTEL - EVEN THOUGH THE HOTEL OFFERS A REDUCE RATE! Our room had flowers on as it was our honeymoon, and we were given a lovely complementary dessert for our dinner, the manager tried to make it as romantic as he could with music etc! very special experience! We enjoyed the pool and watching the elephants from the pool - please please get some more sunbeds!

Stayed in December 2023

Wifi was a bit weak in my room, no seating options in front of the room. There was currently a reconstruction in progress above my room, so lot of noise during day and late evening.

Great location, nice stuff, amazing breakfast.

Stayed in December 2023

The hotel is a little dated. Could use freshening up.

Staff were kind and helpful, especially as I have knee problems climbing stairs - and there are a lot of them. The food was delicious. I had a really sweet balcony, but the river was flooding so there were no elephants to watch.

Stayed in November 2023

The biggest advantage is the location. You can see the elephants from the hotel’s balcony. The room is modest but the value for money is really good.

Stayed in November 2023

It smelled a little bad in the room and we did not have wifi in the room.

Good location and value for money. Kind staff.

Stayed in August 2023

Bit crowded when outside visitors come to see elephants bathing.

Good view of elephant bathing from the room balcony and friendly staff.

Stayed in August 2023

Around that hotel there are many businessman. the problem is they sales higher price for foreigners. This should be regulated by the government.

I recommend to all nation in the world who like to visit elephant. Easily we can visit elephants very close. As well as we can feed some elephants.

Stayed in June 2023

Great view of elephants having bath during breakfast.

Stayed in April 2023

The hotel is a little dated and there are not too many places nearby to eat, unless you use the hotel. The check in at this hotel isn’t until 4pm. Although the hotel isn’t responsible for the care of the elephants, it wasn’t pleasant to watch the elephants being hit with sticks and being scared of their handlers.

The property is right on the river where the elephants bathe in the morning. The buffet breakfast had plenty of choices and was a great place to watch the elephants from.

Stayed in April 2023

Wifi connection is poor but others are good

Nice view with elephants

Stayed in March 2023