Nine Arch Bridge in Ella, a stone viaduct in the Sri Lankan hills

On the hillside above Ella in Sri Lanka’s Uva Province, Nine Arch Bridge carries the upcountry railway line across a forested ravine between Ella and Demodara stations. Completed in 1921 during the British colonial period, this stone and cement viaduct has become a landmark of the hill country rail route, known locally as the Demodara Nine Arch Bridge and poetically as the Bridge in the Sky.

A colonial-era stone viaduct in the Sri Lankan hills

Nine Arch Bridge is a masonry railway viaduct on the Badulla line, set between Ella and Demodara railway stations in the steep terrain of the central highlands. The bridge spans a jungle valley at an elevation that brings trains out above dense vegetation before they curve away along the slope, a scene that has made the structure one of the best known pieces of colonial railway engineering in Sri Lanka.masonry arch bridge on the Badulla line

The viaduct consists of nine stone and cement arches set in a gentle curve, carrying a single railway track across the ravine. Its length is around 91 m (299 ft) and its height is about 24 to 30 m (79 to 98 ft), figures that place it among the taller railway bridges in the country.built entirely from rocks, bricks and cement The absence of steel in the main structure is often noted: the bridge relies on its masonry arches and massive supporting piers to carry the weight of locomotives and carriages.

From colonial construction to hillside landmark

The bridge dates from the early twentieth century, in the period when the British administration extended the railway network through Sri Lanka’s hill country. It is traditionally dated to 1921, and several accounts attribute its construction to a local builder, P.K. Appuhami, who worked alongside British engineers.construction attributed to P.K. Appuhami The combination of local labour, imported engineering practices and masonry materials ties Nine Arch Bridge directly to the wider story of colonial infrastructure in the island’s interior.

Although Nine Arch Bridge forms part of a working railway line, it has also become a destination in its own right in the hills above Ella. Trains continue to cross the viaduct on the route towards Badulla, while footpaths on the surrounding slopes lead to vantage points beside the track and on the opposite hillside.curved viaduct of nine stone and cement arches The relationship between the operational railway and the paths, tea plots and small cafés around the ravine is part of the experience of visiting: trains, vegetation and masonry share the same narrow valley.

Approaching Nine Arch Bridge on foot and by rail

Geographically, the bridge lies a short distance north-east of Ella, between the town and Demodara, in Sri Lanka’s Badulla District. The structure stands near the small settlement of Gotuwala, where minor roads and tracks drop towards the rail line from the main routes through the hills.located between Ella and Demodara stations The railway itself forms part of the line that links the highland tea country with lower-altitude towns.

Visitors reach Nine Arch Bridge along several footpaths that thread through tea gardens and patches of forest, some connecting with the popular trail towards Little Adam’s Peak and others turning off from the Passara road near a small brightly coloured temple.stone train bridge between Ella and Demodara Another well-used route follows the railway itself from Ella station, passing through a tunnel before emerging directly beside the viaduct, where the nine arches and the slope of the valley are visible at close quarters.

Visiting Nine Arch Bridge: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• Nine Arch Bridge stands in the hills of Uva Province in south-central Sri Lanka, between Ella and Demodara on the Badulla railway line, and can be reached on foot from Ella or by local transport towards Gotuwala.
• The terrain around the bridge includes earthy footpaths through tea plots and forest, short but relatively steep slopes, and uneven ground beside the railway track, so sturdy footwear is useful for moving between viewpoints.
• In Sri Lanka the official languages are Sinhala and Tamil and the currency is the Sri Lankan rupee; English is also widely used in the tourism industry.
• Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.

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Frequently asked questions about Nine Arch Bridge

Where is Nine Arch Bridge located?

Nine Arch Bridge is in Sri Lanka’s Uva Province near the town of Ella, spanning a ravine between Ella and Demodara railway stations on the Badulla line.

What can visitors expect when they reach the bridge?

Visitors find a curved stone and cement viaduct with nine arches in a forested valley, trains passing overhead and footpaths on the surrounding slopes offering different views.

What makes Nine Arch Bridge distinctive among railway bridges?

The bridge combines nine masonry arches, a gently curving plan and a hill-country setting, and its main structure was built without steel, relying on stone, bricks and cement.