Movies Filmed in Sri Lanka: Famous Film Locations to Visit

Film locations at a glance

Please note: film sets were temporary, and most were removed long ago. What you'll see today is the landscape that made these places so cinematic.

1. The Bridge on the River Kwai, Kitulgala

David Lean's Oscar-winning war film was set in Thailand but filmed in Sri Lanka, at Kitulgala, on the Kelani river in the rainforest between Colombo and the hill country. A huge wooden bridge was built across the river for the film, and blown up in the famous final scene.

Visiting today - A short walk through the forest and village leads to the river bank where the bridge once stood. Local guides can show you the spot and the concrete bases left behind. - Kitulgala is also Sri Lanka's centre for white-water rafting and canyoning, so you can combine film history with adventure. - It's an easy stop between Colombo and Nuwara Eliya or Kandy.

See Kitulgala, our Kitulgala rafting tour and white-water rafting.

2. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Kandy

When the production of the second Indiana Jones film couldn't get permission to film in India, it moved to Sri Lanka. Scenes were filmed in the hills around Kandy, including the famous rope bridge sequence over a deep gorge. Local villages and landscapes stood in for India.

Visiting today - Explore Kandy's hill country, rivers and gorges; many travellers combine film history with the Victoria reservoir area and the Mahaweli river valley. - Kandy itself is a must-see, with the Temple of the Tooth, the lake and the botanical gardens.

See Kandy, things to do in Kandy and our Kandy city tour.

3. The Second Jungle Book: Mowgli & Baloo, Udawattakele

Much of this 1997 adventure film was shot in Udawattakele, a protected forest reserve right behind Kandy's Temple of the Tooth. The forest, once a royal reserve, is full of giant trees, birds and monkeys.

Visiting today Walk the forest trails of Udawattakele, a peaceful escape from the city. Go in the morning for birdwatching. See bird watching and rainforests.

4. Tarzan, the Ape Man, the hill country

The 1981 version of Tarzan, starring Bo Derek, used jungle and hill country locations in Sri Lanka, with waterfalls, rivers and forests standing in for Africa.

Visiting today Explore the waterfalls and forests of the hill country, or swing through the canopy in spirit at the Sinharaja rainforest. See waterfalls in Sri Lanka and Sinharaja Forest Reserve.

5. Elephant Walk and the tea country

Elephant Walk (1954), starring Elizabeth Taylor, tells the story of a tea planter's bungalow in Ceylon. It captured the romance of colonial-era tea estates. The film's connection with Sri Lanka lives on in the planters' bungalows and gardens of the hill country and near Bentota, where the Brief Garden, created by Bevis Bawa, welcomed some of the era's stars.

Visiting today Visit tea estates around Nuwara Eliya and Haputale, or stay in a restored planter's bungalow. See tea factories to visit in Sri Lanka and Geoffrey Bawa architecture.

6. The Road from Elephant Pass

This Sri Lankan film tells a story set around Elephant Pass, the narrow causeway that links the Jaffna peninsula to the rest of the island. Today you'll cross Elephant Pass on the road or train to Jaffna.

See Jaffna, Colombo to Jaffna and things to do in Jaffna.

Bollywood and Indian films

Sri Lanka is a favourite location for Indian film songs and scenes, thanks to its beaches, tea country, waterfalls and colonial buildings, all close to India. Galle Fort, the south coast beaches, Nuwara Eliya and Kandy have all appeared on screen. Indian visitors often recognise locations from films. See Sri Lanka trip from India.

Sri Lanka in literature and TV

• Arthur C. Clarke, the science fiction writer, lived in Colombo from the 1950s until his death in 2008 and loved diving off the Sri Lankan coast.
• Travel and wildlife documentaries have filmed leopards in Yala and Wilpattu, elephants at Minneriya and blue whales off Mirissa.
• The Ramayana, the ancient Indian epic, is linked to many places in Sri Lanka. See the Ramayana trail in Sri Lanka and our Ramayana trail tour.

A film locations tour

You can plan a film-themed route around the island with a private driver:

See our private driver page and our private tours.

The most cinematic places in Sri Lanka

Even if they weren't in a famous film, these places look like they belong on screen: - Sigiriya at sunrise, from Pidurangala. See Sigiriya. - The Nine Arch Bridge with a train crossing. See Nine Arch Bridge. - Galle Fort's lighthouse and ramparts. See Galle Fort. - Horton Plains' World's End in the mist. See Horton Plains. - The palm swing at Dalawella. See Dalawella Beach. - Elephants at Minneriya in the dry season. See the elephant gathering.

Photography and filming tips

• Drones: flying a drone in Sri Lanka needs permission from the authorities, and drones are banned at many sacred and archaeological sites and national parks. Check the current rules before you travel.
• Professional filming: commercial film crews need permits. We can advise and help with logistics. See our DMC services.
• Ask permission before filming people.
• Golden hour makes everything look cinematic.

Best time to visit film locations

See the best time to visit Sri Lanka.

Film locations for families

Children who love adventure films will enjoy Kitulgala's river, Kandy's forests and the hill country trains. Combine film history with rafting (for older children), elephants and beaches. See Sri Lanka with kids.

Responsible travel at film locations

• Respect villages around Kitulgala and Kandy; ask before photographing homes and people.
• Stay on paths in forest reserves.
• Take your rubbish with you.
• Support local guides who show you the sites.

See our responsible travel guide.

Sri Lankan cinema

Sri Lanka has its own film industry, with Sinhala and Tamil films. The celebrated director Lester James Peries brought Sri Lankan cinema to international festivals from the 1950s onwards, and his films are still admired today. If you're interested, ask about screenings at Colombo's cinemas or cultural centres.

Why filmmakers love Sri Lanka

Within a few hours' drive, filmmakers can find rainforest, mountains, tea estates, colonial towns, ancient ruins, deserts of dry scrub and tropical beaches. Add warm weather for much of the year, skilled local crews and English widely spoken, and it's easy to see why Sri Lanka has stood in for so many other places on screen.

Film-inspired experiences

• Raft the river at Kitulgala where the famous bridge once stood.
• Walk the forest at Udawattakele like Mowgli.
• Ride the hill country train through landscapes that look like a film set.
• Watch sunset from Galle Fort, a favourite backdrop for film songs.

See train travel in Sri Lanka.

A Kitulgala film-and-adventure day

• Morning: drive from Colombo (about 2.5–3 hours).
• Late morning: white-water rafting on the Kelani river.
• Lunch: rice and curry by the river.
• Afternoon: walk to the Bridge on the River Kwai filming site.
• Late afternoon: continue to Nuwara Eliya or Kandy.

Kandy for film fans

After the Temple of the Tooth, walk the forest trails of Udawattakele, then drive into the surrounding hills, where the landscapes of Indiana Jones were filmed. Your driver can suggest viewpoints over the Mahaweli river valley.

Making your own film memories

Sri Lanka is a dream for travel videos. Film the train from the window, the stilt fishermen at sunrise, elephants at Udawalawe and the Kandy Esala Perahera. Keep your gear protected from rain and dust, carry spare batteries, and always ask before filming people up close. See the Kandy Esala Perahera guide.

Film locations and the weather

Kitulgala, Kandy and the hill country are green all year, but heavy rain can close roads or rafting. Plan film-location visits early in the day, when the weather is often clearer, and keep a flexible day in your plans.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Expecting the original film sets; most were temporary and removed decades ago.
• Flying a drone without permission.
• Skipping Kitulgala on the drive between Colombo and the hill country.
• Visiting the hill country in thick mist expecting cinematic views; go early in the day.