Kitulgala is the place for outdoor adventure in Sri Lanka. It is a town in the jungle with a lot of plants and trees. The Kelani River runs through the town. It is very famous for white-water rafting and other water sports. People also like to visit the caves and see the different kinds of plants and animals that live there. A time ago a famous movie called The Bridge on the River Kwai was filmed in Kitulgala.
Fun Water Activities on the Kelani River
The best thing to do in Kitulgala is to go white-water rafting on the Kelani River. The river has waves and it is very exciting. You can go on a five-kilometer trip down the river. See the beautiful jungle around you. This activity is good for people who’re over ten years old and want to have some fun.
If you want to get closer to the river you can go canyoning and rock sliding on the Kataran Oya stream. You have to walk through the jungle to get to the stream. Then you can slide down the rocks and jump into the water. It is a fun activity.
Some people like to do waterfall abseiling, which’s when you climb down a waterfall using a rope. It is an exciting activity and you need to be brave to do it.
Walking in the Jungle and Learning About History
If you do not like water sports you can walk in the jungle. Explore the Makandawa Forest Reserve. You can take a boat or walk on a suspension bridge to get to the other side of the river. The forest is very beautiful. You can see many different kinds of birds and plants.
You can also visit the Belilena Cave, which’s a very old cave with a lot of history. A time ago people lived in the cave and you can still see their old bones and tools. It is an interesting place to visit.
How to Get to Kitulgala and What to Bring
Kitulgala is not hard to get to. You can take a bus. Drive from Colombo or Kandy. The trip takes a hours and the road is very scenic.
The best time to visit Kitulgala is from January to March or July to August. These are the months when the weather’s good and you can do water sports and walk in the jungle. You should bring clothes that dry fast shoes that’re good for walking in the water and a bag to keep your things dry. You should also bring something to keep the leeches away because they are very common, in the jungle.
