We Trekked Kanneliya Rainforest: Here's What You Need To Know

A hectic week in Colombo sure calls for a nature escape. This time we decided to head to the jungles of Sri Lanka to get some fresh air and stretch our limbs. Located close to Sri Lanka's largest rainforest, Sinharaja (8,864 hectares), is a relatively smaller jungle called Kanneliya (5,306 hectares). We went there back in 2021 but it was a brief trek.

We did the entire trip within a day. Our total hike was 8km as we stopped by the giant tree to turn back. Here's all about it!

Where is Kanneliya Rainforest in Sri Lanka?

Kanneliya Rainforest is located in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka, about a 3-hour drive from Colombo, and 1 hour away from Galle. It's part of the Kanneliya-Dediyagala-Nakiyadeniya forests, and is the closest in size and density to Sinharaja Rainforest.

How much is the Entrance Fee to Kanneliya Rainforest?

Entrance tickets cost LKR 1240 ($3.75) for foreign adults, and LKR 125 for locals. Visitors can choose to trek on their own or get a guide. Guide rates start from LKR 1300 ($4) depending on your stop. The full hike is 12km, and practically very few go that distance. If you're visiting Kanneliya solely for hiking, you don't need a guide because the pathway is clear.

But it's a UNESCO-recognised forest reserve, there are so many unique flora and fauna, so a guide makes the hike more interesting.

How to get to Kanneliya Rainforest?

Well, there are only two ways to get here: from Colombo and Galle. And here's what you need to know.

From Colombo

Take the Southern Expressway and exit from Hikkaduwa and go inland towards Nagoda town. It's about a 45-minute drive to Kanneliya Rainforest from here, which goes through Udugama Road.

By Train and Bus

Take the Colombo-Galle Train from Fort Railway Station to Galle (2.5 Hours). Get the Galle Udugama Bus to go inland. (1 hour). Then take a tuk from Udugama town to Kanneliya.

Note that the further inland you go, the harder it is to get reception. We don't recommend ride-hailing here.

From Galle

If you're joining from the Southern Expressway from the South, take the Pinnaduwa exit, and follow through the Udugama road, driving inland. From Galle it's a 1-hour drive inland.

What to See in Kanneliya Rainforest?

It's a natural paradise, and we just saw about 10% of the entire forest in our 4km hike. The pathway is already paved, so there's no new exploration required. The story dates to the 1980s, before the forest became a reserve - the pathway was used as a crossroad for vehicles to carry trees. The same road still exists and that's where you'll be primarily walking.

In Kanneliya Rainforest, you get to see so many endemic species of plants and insects on your journey, and the leeches are a real worry.

We went with a guide, and he showed us some interesting flora and fauna.:

1. Maha Badulla Tree (Semecarpus subpeltatus): Located at the entrance of the forest to your left. It's a highly poisonous tree with sap that is so toxic upon touch, it could cause blisters, permanently blind you if it comes in contact with your eyes, and higher doses can be fatal. However, this endemic plant is also used in traditional medicine.

   
   

   

   Wild Grape Vines

2. Wild Grapes: They look bright and inviting, but it's literally named after a villager's death in Sinhala. It's toxic that even animals can't consume it.

3. Millipede: We saw these chunky fellows all over the place. They're easy to be mistaken for leeches, which are sprawling the forests nonetheless, but millipedes are quite harmless. They're often found on logs and tree leaves.

4. Forest Spider: We came in contact with at least 5 giant cobwebs on our trek, and these golden forest spiders were at the centre of them. They're not harmless to humans, but just be mindful you don't get tangled in their weaved traps.

   
   

   

   Green Vine Snake Upclose

   

   
   

5. Ahaetulla (Green vine snake): We spotted two of these harmless green vine snakes during our trek. They do carry venom, but the poison is mild for humans. They're safe to touch, and they rarely bite humans.

6. Variety of Fish: While you may not come direct in-contact with fish, but if you're patient enough, you may be able to sspot some of these endemic species.

Apart from the living things, you also get to see 2 main off-track sites in the first 4 kms. The Giant Nawada Tree (carbon dating suggests it's more than 500 years old), and the Anagimala Waterfall. Legend has it that a tragic suicide of a woman named 'Anagi' took place in the rocky falls. 'Mala' means death in Sinhalese.

The waterfall is quite dangerous to bathe, so just view it from a close distance.

What to Buy in Kanneliya Rainforest?

Besides the canteen food and snacks, the forest reserve also has some of the unique plants up for sale, with prices as low as LKR 100 (less than a 1$). My husband bought a Tropical Pitcher Plant - a carnivorous plant that consumes insects - to grow in his backyard. The tree still survives after 1 week.

Is Kanneliya Rainforest worth visiting?

If you're a nature lover, yes. If you're a serial hiker, yes. So it's a double yes if you're interested in both. Especially if it's your first rainforest trek experience, experts recommend Kanneliya over Sinharaja as it's more beginner-friendly.

Sinharaja Vs. Kanneliya: Which should you visit on your Sri Lanka trip?

If it's your first time: Kanneliya. If you've done Rainforest adventures before, you'll be ready for Sinharaja. I love nature and trekking, but I also like having some sort of control over my surroundings. Completely losing myself in an unknown habitat is not for me, so I will choose Kanneliya over Sinharaja.

How should you prepare for your Kanneliya Hike?

We planned our Kanneliya Hike in just a day. Dressed up, packed our stuff, and drove down south, and here's how we prepared.

Dress

Leggings and a t-shirt, full-length socks (to protect from leeches), and walking shoes. If you don't have long socks, apply some oil on your calves and ankles. The key is to cover your full legs. Remember to walk right in the middle of the pathway, and avoid standing in one place for long.

You may also need a raincoat because rain in the forest is unpredictable.

Transport

We recommend booking a cab or taxi service for the entire length of the trip, even if you're coming from Galle. The forest is located on the elevated hillside, though it's in the Southern Province. The larger part of travellers they get are locals, hence the infrastructure for solo-travel or ride hailing isn't built, which is also why the experience is worthwhile.

Food

You'll need to start your journey early, and we recommend a light but healthy breakfast. You can find many roadside eateries, but rule no 1: if there are too many flies, it's not clean enough.

We found a clean, nice roadside shop on Udugama Road (About 10 minutes away from the Kanneliya Rainforest) called 'Sandhu Sweet Shop'. We initially dropped by for some breakfast herbal porridge, but later found they do home-cooked meals for pre-order, and we ordered lunch. Our hike lasted 4 hours, and we made it on time for a delicious local home meal.

You can contact the shop on +94717167005. It isn't available on Google, but the approximate location is pinned below:

If you miss this stop, you can find a shop at the entrance of the Rainforest premises that sells a killer coconut rotti with lunu miris, you'll be covered in the food aspect.

Things to Know Before You Go to Kanneliya Rainforest

Anagimala Waterfall

Keep this info in mind before you go:

1. No plastic allowed in the forest reserve: This means no plastic bottles either. But don't worry, there's a refreshing natural spring that you can drink water from.

2. The park closes at 4 p.m.: Make sure you go early and finish the hike by 3 p.m.

3. Reception isn't available inside the forest: Apart from maybe one spot, you won't be able to find signal inside the forest, so make those calls ahead.

4. Avoid school holidays: It's a famous nature site for local school children. If you want a peaceful hike, avoid school and national holidays.

5. Pack some towels and bathing suits: The river is a great place to take a break and a freshwater dip.

Best Time to Visit Kanneliya Rainforest in Sri Lanka

December to April and August to October are the best times to visit Kanneliya Rainforest. But you can't really predict rain in a rainforest. Even during the dry season, there'll be sudden pours.

And that brings us to the end

If you're planning on visiting Kanneliya for a hike and need more clarification, drop your doubts in the comments, and we'll be more than happy to help you.