Things to Do in Kitulgala

Kitulgala was the filming location for the 1957 British classic film 'The Bridge on the River Kwai', which still draws cinema tourists to the village.

The town sits on the Kelani River, one of Sri Lanka's most important waterways, making it Sri Lanka's white-water rafting capital.

Kitulgala is surrounded by rainforest and sits at the gateway to the central highlands, receiving some of the island's highest rainfall.

The village was originally established as a rest stop on the colonial-era mountain pass route between the coast and Kandy.

Local residents practice traditional spice cultivation and gem mining, industries that have shaped the region for centuries.