Exploring Makandawa Forest Reserve

The Makandawa Conservation Center is the way to get to one of the beautiful and untouched rainforests in Sri Lanka. It is on the side of the Kelani River from Kitulgala, a place where people go for adventure. The Makandawa Forest Reserve covers over eleven hundred hectares of land that protected. It helps keep the water clean and’s home to many different kinds of plants and animals. People who love nature will find it a great place to see birds and beautiful natural sights.

The River Crossing and Entry

To get to the forest you have to cross the Kelani River. People usually cross the river in a canoe or a small ferry. This is a way to start your journey into the forest. When you get to the side you walk a little bit to get to the official entrance of the forest, which managed by the Forest Department.

A Paradise for Avian Enthusiasts

The Makandawa Forest Reserve is famous for being a great place to watch birds. There are over fifty kinds of birds that you can only find in this forest. You can hear the Sri Lanka magpie and the red-faced malkoha calling. If you look closely you might see the chestnut-backed owlet or the orange-billed babbler eating food from the trees.

Hidden Waterfalls and Natural Pools

There are streams and big rocks inside the forest. You can follow the trails to find waterfalls like the Sandun Ella waterfall. There are also pools of water under the rocks where you can rest and listen to the sound of the water. The forest is always wet. This helps many kinds of frogs, butterflies and reptiles that  only found in this forest to live here.

Ancient Caves and Historic Cinematic 

Deep in the forest there is a cave , Belilena Cave. This cave has human bones and tools that are thirty thousand years old. The forest and the river were also used as the place to film the movie The Bridge, on the River Kwai.