Kithulgala

The river that does not negotiate. The jungle that was here before the road.

Kithulgala is a small town on the Kelani River in the wet zone foothills --- where the mountains begin their descent from the central highlands and the rainfall is high enough to keep the jungle dense and the river fast. The white water rafting section of the Kelani River here --- Grade 3 to 4 depending on rainfall --- is the finest in Sri Lanka. The same jungle was used as the filming location for David Lean's Bridge on the River Kwai in 1957.

Experiences at this stop

• White water rafting --- Kelani River Grade 3--4

The full rafting section runs approximately 6km and takes 2 hours. The Grade 4 sections require no previous experience but do require a willingness to be out of control for approximately 8 seconds at a time. The guides are experienced and safety-certified.

• Jungle trek --- endemic bird watching

A morning trek with a birding guide offers the Sri Lanka blue magpie, the red-faced malkoha, and the green-billed coucal in the same two hours. Among the best wet zone endemic birding in Sri Lanka.

• Bridge on the River Kwai film location

The bridge pylons from the 1957 film are still in the river. The jungle still looks exactly as it did in 1957 --- a small, accurate data point about the rate of change in this part of Sri Lanka.

• Waterfall swim --- Makandawa forest

A 45-minute trail to Duwili Ella --- plunge pools deep enough to swim and cold enough to matter after a morning on the river.