Makandawa Forest Reserve is the lowland rainforest across the Kelani River from Kitulgala, kept as a reserve to protect the river’s catchment. Most visitors to Kitulgala come for the white-water rafting on the river itself; Makandawa is the forest behind it, reached by boat and walked rather than paddled.
Come for rainforest walking and birdwatching, either alongside or instead of a rafting trip at Kitulgala. It’s the forest side of a Kitulgala visit rather than a repeat of the river. It isn’t a flat, paved nature walk: you cross the Kelani River in a small boat, and the trails inside are rough underfoot, with steps and climbs.
The Bridge on the River Kwai connection
The Kelani River at Kitulgala, which the reserve’s boat crossing follows, was the filming location for The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957). David Lean’s film won seven Academy Awards. A wooden bridge was built across the river for the shoot and later dismantled; what’s left today are the concrete foundations in the riverbed, with little else to mark the spot. It’s a curiosity on the way into the reserve rather than a sight in its own right.
Trails and wildlife
Inside the reserve, trails wind through primary and secondary rainforest, with rock pools and at least one named waterfall, Makulu Ella, along the way. Birdwatchers come for the lowland rainforest species found here, which overlap with those at Sinharaja further south. Local guides list species such as the green-billed coucal, Sri Lanka spurfowl and Layard’s parakeet, all endemic to the island’s wet lowlands. Treks typically run a few hours. Local guides call them easy, but after rain “easy” still means wet rock, mud and the odd leech.
Visiting
You reach Makandawa by crossing the Kelani River by boat from the Kitulgala side, usually a small dugout canoe. No official fee or opening hours are published for the reserve. Visitors report paying a modest entry charge at a counter near the crossing point and hiring a local guide. A guide is worth having anyway, as the paths aren’t signposted for walking on your own. Wear shoes you don’t mind getting wet and muddy, and bring something waterproof if rain is likely.
Around Kitulgala
Makandawa sits right beside Kitulgala, where most visitors base themselves for both the forest and the river rafting. Many people combine a morning raft with an afternoon forest walk, or the other way round, since both start from the same stretch of riverbank.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Where is Makandawa Forest Reserve?
On the far bank of the Kelani River from Kitulgala town, in Kegalle District, Sabaragamuwa Province.
How do you get into the reserve?
By small boat across the Kelani River from the Kitulgala side, then on foot along forest trails.
Is Makandawa the same as the Kitulgala rafting trip?
No. Rafting happens on the Kelani River itself; Makandawa is the rainforest reserve on the far bank, visited on foot rather than by raft.
Is there anything left of the Bridge on the River Kwai set?
Only the concrete foundations in the riverbed; the wooden bridge built for the 1957 film was dismantled after filming.
Do I need a guide?
It’s not compulsory, but worth hiring one locally. The trails aren’t signposted for independent walking, and a guide will help you find wildlife you’d otherwise miss.
