Kitulgala’s main claim to international fame is as the filming location for the Bridge on the River Kwai – but the river itself is the real attraction. The Kelani Ganga runs through a landscape of dense lowland rainforest that supports outstanding endemic birdlife, and the white-water rafting through its Grade 2 and 3 rapids is the best adventure activity on the island in terms of scenery-to-thrill ratio. For birdwatchers, the surrounding forest is one of the most productive sites in Sri Lanka for lowland endemics. For everyone else, the rafting alone justifies the journey.