Famous Nine Arch Bridge in Ella, Sri Lanka

Interesting facts Famous Nine Arch Bridge in Ella, Sri Lanka

Transcript

00:00Ella is has become one of the major tourist hotspots of Sri Lanka and it is largely due

00:06to the epic scenery and hikes in the region such as Ella Rock and Little Adams Peak.

00:14However, it's the smaller attractions, hidden gems, and laid-back vibes of the town that

00:22keep people in Ella for up to a week at a time.

00:29One of those unique attractions is the 9-Arch Bridge in between Ella Station and Demodara

00:36Station.

00:40One of the highlights in the mountain village Ella is the 30-meter-high Demodara 9-Arch

00:46Bridge.

00:47With a small 30-minute walk through the jungle, you will reach a piece of beautiful architecture

00:56that is hidden between lush green tea fields.

01:03It is allowed to walk on the bridge and it's one of the things you must do in Sri Lanka.

01:11The bridge was built at Gotuwala between the Ella and Demodara stations during the British

01:17colonial period.

01:22Locally it is known as Ahas Namai Palama, meaning Nine Skies Bridge in Sinhala.

01:32The name derives from the visual experience.

01:38When you stand below the bridge and look up you can see the sky through the nine arches.

01:47The unique part about this bridge is that it is built entirely from rocks, bricks, and

01:53cement with no use of steel or metals throughout the structure.

02:00The bridge was commissioned in 1941 and the story goes that as the bridge was being planned

02:07World War I broke out.

02:12The steel and metal materials destined to be used in the bridge were reassigned to be

02:17used for military purposes.

02:23The materials were then gathered in the form of rocks, bricks, and cement to make sure

02:29the bridge construction still went ahead.

02:35The train ride in the highlands with the Kandy to Ella train is named as one of the most

02:41beautiful train rides in the world.

02:46You have multiple options and ways to reach the train bridge.

02:51Follow the road towards Little Adams Peak and turn left at the small colored temple.

03:00Follow Lakefront Cottage on Google Maps.

03:06For safety reasons it's better to not walk alone when it's dark outside.

03:12Either join a group of other travelers walking there or visit during the daytime.

03:21The easiest way to get to the Nine Arch Bridge is by a around 2 USD tuk-tuk ride from Ella.

03:33To save time, ask them to drop you off near the tunnel and walk to the bridge the last piece.