Just two hours of easy driving from Colombo and under 100Km, nestling in the foothills of Sri Lanka is Kitulgala , a village by the rushing Kaleni river, world famous as the location of the bridge in the film "Bridge on the River Kwai" Misty mornings, cool starry nights, peace and quiet, and always the sound of the river.

Down a well worn flight of steps are the cool inviting waters of the Kaleni river for a dip. But for the more adventurous is a rafting trip starting from a point several kilometers upriver, drifting down stretches of calm water and swirling through rocky rapids …. known as butter crunch, killer falls and head chopper …… WOW and here we go.

May be just a dip before a meal in the Rafter's Retreat “Cat Fish” restaurant offers varieties of local and eastern dishes with spices from the forest. Private dining and barbecues have only to be asked for.

A seven kilometer bike ride takes you to Beli Lena, the caves of shells, a huge cavern once inhabited by pre-historic stone age people. Its floor strewn with shells of river snails which seem to have a major part of their diet.