Kithulgala

Kitulgala is a small town in the west of Sri Lanka. The Academy Award-winning The Bridge on the River Kwai was filmed on the Kelani River near Kitulgala, Kitulgala is also a base for white-water rafting, which starts a few kilometres upstream and also popular as a location for adventure based training programs. The Kelani river is wide at Kitulgala, The agriculture around Kitulgala is typical of the hilly wet zone.

Key Attractions & Activities
White-Water Rafting: The most popular activity, featuring 5 major and 4 minor rapids along a 5km stretch of the Kelani River.
Cinematic History: It was the filming location for the 1957 Academy Award-winning film The Bridge on the River Kwai; though the bridge is gone, its concrete foundations are still visible.
Beli Lena Caves: A significant prehistoric site where archaeologists discovered skeletal remains of the “Balangoda Man,” believed to be over 32,000 years old.
Nature & Wildlife: The area is a hotspot for bird watching, home to endemic species like the Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot and the Layard’s Parakeet.
Adventure Sports: Beyond rafting, visitors can engage in canyoning, confidence jumping, trekking, canoeing, and abseiling