Kitulgala is a small town in the west of Sri Lanka. It is in the wet zone rain forest, which gets two monsoons each year, and is one of the wettest places in the country. Nevertheless, it comes alive in the first three months of the year, especially in February, the driest month. The
Academy Award-winning The Bridge on the River Kwai was filmed on the
Kelani River near Kitulgala, although nothing remains now except the
concrete foundations for the bridge (and, supposedly, the submerged
train cars that plunged into the river in the climactic scene) . Kitulgala
is also a base for white-water rafting, which starts a few kilometres
upstream.Large numbers of people make the excursion from Colombo at
weekends to enjoy the beautiful scenery, play in the river, and have an
excellent rice and curry lunch at the local restaurants.The Kelani river is wide at Kitulgala, but it is shallow apart from a deep channel near the opposite bank, so in the drier months it provides a safe and attractive place to swim, wash and play.
The river can be crossed by walking out across the shallows and crossing the deep channel in a dugout canoe, which is stabilised with an outrigger.
Sri Lanka's most recently discovered bird, the Serendib Scops Owl was originally heard calling by Deepal Warakagoda in these forests.
The hills above the rubber plantations also have Mountain Hawk Eagle, Crested Treeswift and Layard's Parakeet.
