The Kelani Valley Forest Reserve in Kitulgala was established to protect the watershed of the Kelani River and is home to many of Sri Lanka’s endemic fauna & flora. This area is also famous for its adventure activities including rafting on Grade 3 and 4 rapids down the Kelani River and jungle trekks or mountain bike rides through jungle-clad hills and plantations growing low-country tea and rubber. The breathtaking scenery here was used for the filming of the Oscar-winning classic `The Bridge over the River Kwai’ by David Lean. The unique experience of visiting this Kitulgala forest reserve is the boat trip across the river. Second to Sinharaja, the Kitulgala forest reserve would be the ideal rainforest habitat to spot most of the lowland endemic species of birds including the Green-bill Coucal, Chestnut-backed Owlet, Dollar Bird, Red-faced Malkoha, Sri Lanka Spot-winged Thrush, Grey Hornbill, Sri Lanka Spurfowl, Ceylon Frogmouth and Yellow-fronted Barbet. The newly discovered Serendip Scops Owl was also first heard in this forest. Plenty of insect repellent and anti-leech socks, if you have a pair, are useful to wear when entering the forest. Green-billed Coucal, Ceylon lorikeet, Layard’s Parakeet, Ceylon Grey Hornbill, Chestnut-backed Owlet, Red-faced Malkoha, Ceylon Blue Magpie, Ceylon Jungle & Ceylon Spur fowl, Ceylon Frogmouth, Ceylon Crested Drongo, Broad-billed Roller, Spotted-winged Thrush, Yellow-fronted Barbet, Black naped Monarch, Common Hill Mynah, Crested Serpent & Hawk eagles, Black Eagle , Mountain Hawk Eagle etc