Set beside the fast-moving Kelani River in the wet zone foothills, Kitulgala combines some of Sri Lanka’s best white-water rafting conditions with exceptional lowland rainforest birdwatching. The Grade 3 and 4 rapids through the forested gorge are exhilarating without being extreme; the forest flanking the river is among the best sites outside Sinharaja for lowland endemic species. The filming location for The Bridge on the River Kwai adds a piece of cinematic history to what is already an excellent nature and adventure destination.