Nine Arch Bridge, Demodara

When you visit the central highland of Sri Lanka, you can't miss the Demodara Nine Arch Bridge. The stunning architecture and the surrounding scenic beauty are truly amazing. And wait for the magic, until a train passes by you!

This place is one of the most photographed locations on the island, attracting thousands of travellers daily. That's why we make this place a priority on our short trip to Ella. So, let me take you through it.

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The Location

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Well, as you know, Ella is a picturesque destination in the hill country. The Nine Arch Bridge is located in Demodara, between the Ella and Demodara railway stations.

So, there are multiple ways to reach the location. From Ella, you have to go around 3.5km along the Ella-Passara main road (You can either walk/ take a bus/ a tuk tuk). From there, it's a small hike, travellers. Well, it's a bit rough road, and will take around 15-20 minutes on sloped ground. Anyway, you can get a tuk-tuk up to 2/3 rd of the hike (LKR.800/ 20 Steem), but it's too much and sometimes they may trick you with higher rates.

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It's always hiking for us, and you can enjoy the roadside view of the jungle path and tea plantations. There is a small lake, roadside vendors of sweets, drinks, and toys, a singing lady, etc.

And when you see a distant peak of the place from a viewpoint, your heart will pump for its beauty. The giant pillars are rising from the bottom to withstand the railroad.

Captured from a viewpoint

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The bridge was crowded with hundreds of people, both locals and foreigners. It's managed by Sri Lanka Railways. Anyway, there is no ticket counter, gates. You can just visit the place and stay freely.

History and the overview of the place

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Well, the Sri Lankan railroad system is one of the major things we received from the British Colonial era. The Nine Arch Bridge is a part of it, which shows the Engineering excellence of that era.

The construction was carried out by British Engineer, Harold Cuthbert Marwood, under Chief Construction Engineer M. Cole Bowen, with the help of local labour. Even though it was planned to use steel for the work, it couldn't be done due to World War I. So, it was built entirely using stone, brick and cement, changing the design. The construction ended in 1919, which is a huge fleet

Total length	91 m (300 ft)
Width	7.6 m (25 ft)
Height	24 m (80 ft)
No. of spans	9

Well, as you can see, there are 9 pillars/ arches in the structure, hence the name. In Sinhala, we called it, ආරුක්කු නමයේ පාලම.

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Fascinating things

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So, there aren't many features here. It's an Engineering masterpiece in an amazing neighbourhood.

Amazing Views

There is a stunning view on both sides of the bridge. Tree plantations, big trees, mountain ranges, clouds, everything adds up a magical place.

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When a train passes by

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Well, you should plan your visit early in the morning or evening to enjoy the sunrise or when a train passes by. Because that's a different experience, and some trains stop for a bit, allowing you to take photographs. We were lucky to watch two trains, and remember that your safety depends on your behaviour.

Regular timetable of trains passing the place - 6:30 AM, 9:30 AM, 11:30 AM, 3:30 PM, 4:30 PM, 5:30 PM

The tunnel

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On one side, there is a tunnel along the railroad.

A paradise for the photographers

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Most travellers go here for photography purposes. Everything makes a perfect background. So, we also didn't forget to collect some memories.

The Place	Nine Arch Bridge, Demodara
Type of place	Rail road/ bridge
Time	Open 24x7
Entrance	Free
Location	on Google Maps, on Steem Atlas
Social Media/Website	Instragram, Facebook - not official
Sources	Wikipedia
Time of Visit	31th of May, 2025

So, as a whole, visiting this should be on your bucket list, especially if you are a Sri Lankan/ visiting our beautiful island.

Until the next time! Enjoy!

Thank you.
Best Regards!