Kitulgala

Rapids, Rubber and Relaxation

White-water rafting on the Kelani River, Kitulgala, Hill Country, Sri Lanka

Southwest of Kandy and north of Adam's Peak, Kitulgala hugs the Kelani Ganga (river) as it meanders through the Sri Lankan 'jungle'. Made famous by the Oscar-winning epic Bridge on the River Kwai, which was filmed here in 1956 by Sir David Lean, Kitulgala is now a popular area for nature walks and bird watching, and it is one of the few places in Sri Lanka where white-water rafting is possible.

Why visit Kitulgala?

Nestling between the hot sandy beaches of the west coast and the vertiginous Hill Country, Kitulgala is a convenient place to break your journey either into or out of Sri Lanka's cooler 'Up Country' region. Whether interested in nature walks, bird watching, white-water rafting, or relaxation, Kitulgala is a quiet and peaceful retreat.

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Nearby Locations

Explore the Hill Country and areas near Kitulgala.

“It was a simply excellent holiday from start to finish. We loved the variety of things to see and do and the comfortable hotels we stayed in – each with something special about them. It was a really well-crafted programme and we felt that your knowledge of the country was apparent in the way you put everything together. ”

Jenny & John