Whitewater Rafting Kithulgala
Trip overview :-
They organized it. Rafting company was Action Lanka.
.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
My Special thanks goes to
Nilan Karunarathna
who works in Jet Airways for sending me
This "Sri Lankan Kithulgala Whitewater Rafting" trip report...
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The trip was to Kithulgala on a weekend with my school buddies.
Started the journey at 7am, on Saturday the 11th September, from the Colombo Fort.
We took the Colombo-Hatton bus (route number 18)
from Pettah,
and it took 2 and half hours to reach Kithulgala town, including a tea break stop of 20 minutes.
The return was by a friend’s car, which took more time due to inbound traffic back to Colombo on Sunday evening.
Kithulgala climate is cool (24’c-28’c),
drizzling and high in humidity. Same as Kukuleganga!
The town is small with few shops and nice temples,
but many tourist hotels and boat shops.
Kithulgala Rest House is a popular attraction.
The Kelani river is flowing very fast besides the area.
Many rocks, bends, deep places, steep and sudden falls make it an ideal place for White Water Rafting.
The water is very clear and white
(unlike the Kelani river we see passing Colombo).
Kithulgala is also famous because, it was the shooting location for the the Academy award-winning film
"The Bridge on the River Kwai".
We stayed at the Adventure Base Camp, located about 3km passing the town.
Had to walk. River bath was superb.
Many places are dangerous to have a bath because of the deepness and fast water.
The Adventure Base Camp organized a BBQ night for us and a camp fire for a N.G.O. student club.
Saturday night was full of food, beverages, songs and jokes.
Following morning after breakfast, we went on white water rafting, conducted by actionlanka.com.
For the first time in my life I had to sign for an agreement saying that
“I understand that injuries and even death could occur in this adventure, and I do not put the responsibility on the rafting company”.
This procedure was taken after a death of a girl occured during a ride, few years back. Sad but the reason was that she had not worn the helmet for protection.
Hmmmm! First time I signed something like that.
They gave a briefing and a small training.
When it came to rough waters, everybody were excited and trying hard to keep the boat smooth.
So hard sometimes. Less than 15 minutes, suddenly a big wave hit the boat from side and 2 buddies fell off the boat.
One (Pata) managed to hold to the rope and recovered after 3 minutes. Dushan was bit far away from the boat.
He was so shocked and frightened as he didn’t know how to swim. Life jacket was there, which saved him.
We shouted with a pedal but he did not respond. Boat fell from a small fall and he followed after few seconds. He was under water for about 15 seconds after that fall.
We could not do anything as our boat was also moving faster.
After about 7 minutes from the fall we paddled backwards and managed to grab him and put inside the boat.
It was so fun, thrilling and exciting for us to watch that, but for him it was matter of saving his life.
He he he! We felt serious and sorry about it, after he explained his underwater experience and his shouting towards our smiling faces. He he he!
After sometime we went on body rafting.
It is optional. For people who have the courage can do it.
Others can remain in the boat.
For that we have to jump out of the boat with jackets.
Free flowing.
That is only done in fairly smooth waters, but very deep.
As soon as I jumped to the water waves went over the face. I was struggling with breathing.
That time I was thinking
“Mona ehekata waturata pannada manda. Nahayeth watura yanawa. Lassnata bottuwey inna tibba “
There is a method of floating with the jackets. You have to go as a dead body, feet towards the downstream, so that even if you hit an obstacle it will be safe.
White water rafting always comes with fear and challenges. That’s why it’s so exciting. I love it so much.
Somehow we survived and that is why I am alive to write this note.
Started the journey at 7am, on Saturday the 11th September, from the Colombo Fort.
We took the Colombo-Hatton bus (route number 18)
from Pettah,
and it took 2 and half hours to reach Kithulgala town, including a tea break stop of 20 minutes.
The return was by a friend’s car, which took more time due to inbound traffic back to Colombo on Sunday evening.
Kithulgala climate is cool (24’c-28’c),
drizzling and high in humidity. Same as Kukuleganga!
The town is small with few shops and nice temples,
but many tourist hotels and boat shops.
Kithulgala Rest House is a popular attraction.
The Kelani river is flowing very fast besides the area.
Many rocks, bends, deep places, steep and sudden falls make it an ideal place for White Water Rafting.
The water is very clear and white
(unlike the Kelani river we see passing Colombo).
Kithulgala is also famous because, it was the shooting location for the the Academy award-winning film
"The Bridge on the River Kwai".
We stayed at the Adventure Base Camp, located about 3km passing the town.
Had to walk. River bath was superb.
Many places are dangerous to have a bath because of the deepness and fast water.
The Adventure Base Camp organized a BBQ night for us and a camp fire for a N.G.O. student club.
Saturday night was full of food, beverages, songs and jokes.
Following morning after breakfast, we went on white water rafting, conducted by actionlanka.com.
For the first time in my life I had to sign for an agreement saying that
“I understand that injuries and even death could occur in this adventure, and I do not put the responsibility on the rafting company”.
This procedure was taken after a death of a girl occured during a ride, few years back. Sad but the reason was that she had not worn the helmet for protection.
Hmmmm! First time I signed something like that.
They gave a briefing and a small training.
When it came to rough waters, everybody were excited and trying hard to keep the boat smooth.
So hard sometimes. Less than 15 minutes, suddenly a big wave hit the boat from side and 2 buddies fell off the boat.
One (Pata) managed to hold to the rope and recovered after 3 minutes. Dushan was bit far away from the boat.
He was so shocked and frightened as he didn’t know how to swim. Life jacket was there, which saved him.
We shouted with a pedal but he did not respond. Boat fell from a small fall and he followed after few seconds. He was under water for about 15 seconds after that fall.
We could not do anything as our boat was also moving faster.
After about 7 minutes from the fall we paddled backwards and managed to grab him and put inside the boat.
It was so fun, thrilling and exciting for us to watch that, but for him it was matter of saving his life.
He he he! We felt serious and sorry about it, after he explained his underwater experience and his shouting towards our smiling faces. He he he!
After sometime we went on body rafting.
It is optional. For people who have the courage can do it.
Others can remain in the boat.
For that we have to jump out of the boat with jackets.
Free flowing.
That is only done in fairly smooth waters, but very deep.
As soon as I jumped to the water waves went over the face. I was struggling with breathing.
That time I was thinking
“Mona ehekata waturata pannada manda. Nahayeth watura yanawa. Lassnata bottuwey inna tibba “
There is a method of floating with the jackets. You have to go as a dead body, feet towards the downstream, so that even if you hit an obstacle it will be safe.
White water rafting always comes with fear and challenges. That’s why it’s so exciting. I love it so much.
Somehow we survived and that is why I am alive to write this note.
..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Trip overview :-
- Left Colombo Saturday morning.
- We were given a welcome drink first.
- After bath we had lunch (normal rice and curry).
- All meals are buffet type. Can eat as far as you willing to
- Then at night we had a BBQ (Pork, chicken, fried fish, "bathala" (local potatoes).
- That is actually apart from the dinner.
- Dinner is separately cooked (noodles), but we couldn't eat noodles as we were full with BBQ.
- Following day for breakfast we had bread/string hoppers.
- Then we went for white water rafting.
- Lunch we had again rice and curry.
- We had four meals. 2 rooms given with 2 beds each and attached bathrooms. One night stayed.
- For 2 rooms (one night) and for the 4 bufffet meals, they charged only LKR 2250/person.
- The price of rafting is ususally for locals varies from LKR1200-1800/person.
- A boat can take 8 people (including 2 guides), so 6 guests.
- For foreigners they charge about LKR4000/person.
- Therefore if foreigners request, they even take only 2 or 3 guest only.
- Because we went through the Adventure Base Camp,
They organized it. Rafting company was Action Lanka.
- That's why we paid LKR3000/person for the whole package to the Adventure Base Camp.
- It's very worth; compared to the thrilling experience and fun we had in the river
.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
My Special thanks goes to
Nilan Karunarathna
who works in Jet Airways for sending me
This "Sri Lankan Kithulgala Whitewater Rafting" trip report...
• Join our
දිගටම රැදී සිටින්න ...එලකිරි සංචාරකයා සමග
• contact us :- [email protected]
Last edited:
R+
bayath hithenawa agreement ekata sign karanna giyaama . yanan ona dawasaka . habai ara yaaluwata wuna wade wunoth sorry.com 
