Makandawa Forest Reserve – wonderland in Kithulgala – By Arundathie Abeysinghe
Sri Lanka is a small island in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), similar to a droplet of water and despite being a small island, it is endowed with a diverse collection of landscapes, climates, awe-inspiring vistas which have enticed tourists for decades.
Well-known as an island of magical proportions, it was known as the “Pearl of the Indian Ocean”, “Serendib” and “Taprobane”. In 2019, Lonely Planet (travel guide book publisher founded in Australia, in 1973) voted Sri Lanka as “number one country to visit” and in 2020, Sri Lanka has been named “the best country in the world to visit” by readers of Conde Nast Traveller (a US based travel publication).
A spectacular island endowed with cascading waterfalls, breathtaking mountain ranges, verdant tea gardens, wildlife parks with endemic wildlife and stunning beaches, Sri Lanka has attracted many European and Asian merchants to the ports of ancient Sri Lanka.
The breathtaking island is home to a vast plethora of hidden treasure troves with bio-diversity and nature’s infinite magic. Makandawa Forest Reserve hidden in the vicinity of the scenic and serene hamlet *Kithulgala, the most popular destination in Sri Lanka for adventure seekers, hub of water sport activities including white water rafting to abseiling.
A paradise for avifauna enthusiasts, Makandawa Forest Reserve is home to endemic migratory species too. A popular activity in the nature reserve is bird watching and nature trekking. To explore the forest reserve, it is necessary to travel on a wooden, handcrafted catamaran (derived from the Tamil word “kattumaram” meaning logs bound together), a popular mode of transport for villagers on the opposite bank of the river. The lush jungle with a canopy of trees is thick enough to blot out harsh rays of the sun, although filtered rays of the sun is visible in certain parts of the forest that can be seen through the spaces among the branches of thick vegetation. Hence, visitors can explore the forest till midday.
Spanning an area of approximately 195 hectares and home to several rare species of flora and fauna that are endemic to Sri Lanka, the forest reserve is one of the most untouched rainforests in Sri Lanka. Makandawa Forest Reserve is also where the filming of the movie Word War II epic directed by David Lean “*The Bridge on the River Kwai”, the award-winning 1957 British-American war film (winner of seven Academy Awards in 1958) took place.
Among the many bird species in the forest, some species are unique. There are 54 rare species such as the Green billed coucal (Centropus chlororhynchos), Yellow fronted barbet (Megalaima flavifrons), Sri Lankan junglefowl (also known as the Ceylon junglefowl or Lafayette’s junglefowl – Scientific name- Gallus lafayettii) Sri Lanka spur fowl (Galloperdix bicalcarata) and Serendip scops owl (Otus thilohoffmanni). Giant squirrel (Ratufa macroura) and Red slender loris (Loris tardigradus) are some mammals that can be seen in the forest reserve. The forest reserve is also home to several rare species of fish and butterflies.
Apart from visiting the forest reserve, many visitors also engage in “Rock Pooling,” another adventure that can experienced in Kataran Ella Fall located inside the reserve. Adventure tourists wear safety gear and take the seven-meter incline along the waterfall either on a raft by sliding or by trekking on foot and enjoy a swim.
As the rainforest receives most of its rainfall during Sri Lanka’s two major monsoon, the best times to visit it is from December to February or August and September when the weather is dry and ideal for exploring. During the rest of the year there is rainfall.
- Kelani River – One of the major rivers in Sri Lanka and is 145 kilometers long.
- Kithulgala – A small town located in the wet zone to the west of Sri Lanka situated approximately 92 kilometers from Colombo often spelt as “Kitulgala” is a spectacular hamlet well-known due to the Academy Award-winning film ‘The Bridge on the River Kwai’ directed by David Lean and filmed on the Kelani River. At present, the only evidence of the filming scene is the foundation of the Bridge used for filming. According to locals, the submerged train compartments of the train (used for filming) had been found at the bottom of the *Kelani River at Kithulgala many years ago. Currently, Kithulgala has become the island nation’s number one attraction for adventure holiday makers, foreign as well as local tourists, especially those who indulge in white water rafting or enjoy a picnic in a delightful setting. “Kithulgala” is derived from the words “Kithul” palmtree (Caryota urens) and the common Sinhalese toponym suffix “gala” for “boulder” or “rock”.
Kitulgala Beli Lena Cave – archaeological treasure trove – By Arundathie Abeysinghe – November 8, 2020
White Water Rafting in Kitulgala – adventure capital of Sri Lanka – By Arundathie Abeysinghe – November 30, 2020
Kithulgala – iconic location of the Gem of the Silver Screen “The Bridge on the River Kwai” – By Arundathie Abeysinghe – November 17, 2022
