The Kitulgala Rest House, the former colonial riverside stopover now managed by the Ceylon Hotels Corporation, can be reached by an 86Km drive from Colombo on the Colombo/Hatton highway. The journey from Colombo takes about 2.5 hours. The small town, blessed with a beautiful location, is an ideal stopover destination on the cross roads for many travellers.

Kitugala Resthouse boasts a magnificent location overlooking the wide Kelani River, a tributory carving its way through a southern strip of low rolling hills covered with lush vegetation. It has a colonial air and was indeed orgininally built for travelling colonial administrators. The 20 bedrooms, all with ensuite bathrooms, are relatively basic but clean and comfortable. Only four are airconditioned. Like many resthouses it has become a popular lunchtime stop, the kitchen serving up a fine traditional rice and curry. The resthouse is well-located for those wishing to break the journey from the coast to the hills or from the deep south to Colombo. Adventure junkies flock for the whitewater rafting -- the best in Sri Lanka -- and movie buffs can still admire the original location for the classic 'A bridge over the River Kwai'.

Facilities:
The resthouse has 20 bedrooms. Four are airconditioned and the others are cooled by overhead ceiling fans -- which are quite adequate because of the cool forest air. All rooms have en suite bathrooms with hot water. Most rooms have televisions but beware that they only receive one channel! 16 rooms have mini-fridges. All rooms have room service. Note there is no swimming pool but it is safe to bathe in the river. Whitewater rafting and canoeing can be organised on the river -- do book in advance. The surrounding area also provides rich birding and trekking in the local forests.