Kitulgala

Are you looking for an adventurous holiday? Then Kitulgala is the place for you! This small town is located west of the island. In Sri Lanka, Kitulgala is a haven for outdoor adventurers and nature lovers. The scenery here is breathtaking. It consists of beautiful waterfalls, lush  greenery of nature along with a mixture of wildlife. This town is famous for white water rafting where many who visit have a fun filled experience rafting in the kelani river. There are various other activities such as kayaking, canyoning and hiking.  David Lean’s 1957 Oscar-winning epic “Bridge on the River Kwai” was once filmed in this river. To all the adventure seekers who are Sri Lanka, why not start your adventure rafting on the kelani river where the thrill of adventure is experienced by all who visit.

White Water Rafting

White water rafting should be on your to do list if you’re visiting Kitulgala. You could go on this adventurous journey in the Kelani river since it’s known to be one of the best. You could get in touch with some of the tour organizers to organize this rafting journey for you. You would be provided with all the essentials such as the raft,safety jackets, helmets and all other items needed for rafting by the organizers. The guides will ensure your safety. Any adventurer with a love for nature who  took the chance to tide the kelani river has never left disappointed.

If you want to spice up your rafting adventure further give the white water rafting a try at night. It would be a thrilling experience if you ride those wild tides under the moonlit sky.  The guides will ensure your safety at all times.

Safety Tips

Safety is a must if you decide to explore this town for an adventure. If you are going on the white water rafting make sure to follow the tips below.

• Wear proper clothing, attire and shoes for rafting
• Make sure to follow the instructions of the Guide at all times. Their years of experience and knowledge will ensure your safety.
• Bring a change of clothes after all, this wild water adventure will for sure get your clothes wet.
• If it is your first time rafting it is better to try out 2 or 3 rapids.

Best Time to Visit Kitulgala

Kitula is situated in a wet zone therefore experiences a lot of rainfall throughout the year. If you are not interested in going rafting, January to March are the best months to visit since they are the driest months. The peak season is from June to August where the most rainfall is seen.The best time to visit Kitulgala if you are looking forward to a rafting adventure, is from the month of May  to November. During this time period the river’s water level is higher due to the southwestern monsoon in Sri Lanka. Therefore it paves the way to have thrilling wild rafting experience for those visiting during these months.

Try out the various Sri Lankan cuisines

Sri Lanka is world famous for its spices and herbs. Their main dish would be rice and curry. It normally consists of fish or meat and vegetable curries along with it. Unlike the western

The people of Sri Lanka love to eat spicy foods. Make sure to try out some of their unique Sri Lankan dishes such as Kottu, Hoppers and various other varieties of food.

Kitulgala is also famous for its desert known as  “curd”. It is made of fermented buffalo milk and is eaten with a syrup known as Kitul palm honey. Kitul treacle and Kitul jaggery are famous products made by the villagers of Kitulgala, you can pay a visit to the villages and watch them make these delicious sweet products.

Things to see and do in Kitulgala

Explore the Kitulgala Forest Reserve

Nature lovers would enjoy the beautiful green landscape of this forest. It is the best place to capture memories with nature. Where a bird lover would surely be excited to spot the unique beautiful species of birds that live there. 

Hiking

If kayaking wasn’t tiring enough, you may go on a thrilling trip through the pristine forests. As you walk down the trail you would come across the lush green tea plantations, Beautiful rivers. Streams and waterfalls with natural caves as well. It is said remains of prehistoric man’s tools were found here. The surroundings of the caves are beautiful scenery but be careful of wild creatures such as snakes while you explore.

The Norton Dam

This dam is located at Norton Bridge,in Sri Lanka’s Central Province. The Kehelgamu Oya, a significant tributary of the Kelani River, is blocked by the gravity-built Norton Dam. Visit this amazing structure and  gain more insight.

Kadiyanlena Falls

The fact that you can see the falls in a closer view is an opportunity you don’t want to miss out on. If you are looking forward to having a bath surrounded by nature this is the place for you.

Ways to reach Kitulgala

Taking a bus and a Taxi

This is the cheapest way to reach Kitulgala. You can take a bus from Colombo and get off at Kegalle. It would take you about 2 hours to reach Kegalle and then from here you can take a taxi to Kitulgala, which would be another hour’s journey.

Taxi

Taking a taxi from Colombo would be a bit more expensive compared to the bus, but you can reduce your hours on traveling. It would take you about 1 hour and 28 minutes to reach your destination. You could travel with ease and comfort.

Even though Kitulgala is a small town it has a lot in store for travelers who visit. The scenic peaceful villages, the evergreen rain forests,  a taste of the delicious desserts and treacle made by the villagers along with their traditional cooking. The rushing waters of the beautiful rivers would not escape the travelers ears  as it calls  out for an adventure. What more can a traveler look for than explore. Come experience the thrill of adventure at Kitulgala with nature to keep you company throughout your journey.