The Nine Arch Bridge in Sri Lanka (Demodara Nine Arch Bridge) is one of the most recognizable and “instagrammable” sights. 9 out of 10 tourists visiting the mountainous part of the country took a photo here. The famous Nine Arch Bridge in Sri Lanka, built in the village of Gotuwala, looks like it has just stepped out of the pages of a fairy tale.
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| Nine Arch Bridge Sri Lanka |
Why is the Nine Arches Bridge Famous?
Nine Arch Bridge in Sri Lanka was built by the British colonialists. During the construction, no metal and concrete were used - only stones and bricks. At that time, the Sri Lankans considered him a real miracle of engineering. Since then, the bridge has never been restored - it has retained its charm in its original form and is still functioning. All trains going to Badulla pass through it.
The Nine Arch Bridge has become popular among tourists due to its unusual appearance for the modern world and the picturesque landscapes that surround it. This is one of the most beautiful places in the country, which must be visited during a trip to Sri Lanka.
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| Nine Arch Bridge Sri Lanka |
Day Tour to the Nine Arch Bridge
The booking service - Viator, which is part of Trip Advisor, offers a day tour, during which you can visit not only the Nine Arches Bridge, but also climb the mountains, enjoy the most beautiful sunset from Adam's Peak and visit a tea plantation.
You can book a day tour by clicking on the link. The cost of the tour is $78 per person.
The price of the day tour includes an English speaking guide, lunch, water and an air-conditioned car. For the trip, choose light clothes and comfortable shoes.
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| Nine Arch Bridge Sri Lanka |
Nine Arch Bridge: How to get there
To visit this place, you need to drive to the city of Ella, located in the province of Badulla, in the region of the central mountainous Sri Lanka, which is 200 km from Colombo and 50 km from Nuwara Eliya. If you want to cross the legendary bridge, then buy a ticket for any train going to Demodara.
Many decide to walk along the bridge on their own to take photos. To get to the sights, you need to go along the railway lines from Ella towards Demodara for 1.5 km. You can also take a tut-tuk: it will take you for 200 rupees. You can hire a tuk-tuk on the main street of Ella. He usually does not take passengers to the bridge itself, as this can cost unreasonably large amounts of money. Therefore, the last part of the way to the bridge, passengers pass on their own. To avoid conflict situations, negotiate the cost in advance.
On a bike or car, you will have to go in a circular way. The road goes next to the tracks and is about 6 kilometers long. Signposts lead along the asphalt road from Ella, and the name of the bridge (Nine Arch Bridge / Demodara Bridge) can be entered in the navigator - the attraction is on all maps, so the path will be laid accurately.
The Nine Arch Bridge from Ella can be reached on foot. There are many roads leading there, you can follow the following hints: go from the Chill cafe, which is located in the center of Ella and follow the Ella-Passara road to the Ella hostel. Your path will pass by a large number of cafes. Then, you will only have to follow the signs leading to the arched bridge.
You can walk along the bridge itself and see how the trains run (12 times a day, the first one at 9 am). But the most beautiful pictures are obtained from the observation platform nearby.
It is not intended for tourists, so it is not so easy to find it. A little further than the bridge there is a settlement with several houses. You need to reach them, and then follow the makeshift signs, which will lead to the site. The way to the arch bridge in Sri Lanka can always be asked from the locals - after all, it was they who built the gazebo. The "owner" of the observation deck lives right behind it. He is always happy to chat with foreigners, and he also writes down all visitors in a notebook - on its pages they leave wishes as a keepsake. For a nominal fee, you can drink juice or coffee offered by the hosts.
Another option to take beautiful photos of the Nine Arch Bridge is from tea plantations, which are located on the opposite side of the tunnel.
It gets dark early in Sri Lanka, so plan your walk in the morning. Walking along the tracks in the dark is dangerous.
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| Nine Arch Bridge Sri Lanka |
Best Time to Visit Nine Arch Bridge in Sri Lanka
Considering that the Nine Arch Bridge is one of the most popular attractions in Sri Lanka, a large number of tourists from all over the world come here every day to take beautiful photos. You can enjoy the views in silence only at dawn, at the same time you can take incredibly beautiful photos.
Already at 7 am, the first groups of tourists begin to gather, and at 9 am it is already full of people. Another option to take a stunning shot is to capture the moment the train races over the arched bridge. Against the backdrop of saturated hills of tropical greenery, it looks especially impressive. Photo and video shooting from drones is officially banned in Sri Lanka.
Trains pass over the Nine Arch Bridge in Sri Lanka at 9.30, 11.30, 15.30, 16.30, 17.30. Please note that trains may be delayed.
In recent years, more and more hostels have been opened, with stunning views of the Nine Arch Bridge. The only negative is the remote location from the city of Ella, so you will have to think in advance about how to get to the nearest restaurant. But these are, of course, trifles, compared with the gorgeous view from the window. If you don’t know where to stay, then you can consider the following hostels and mini-hotels as accommodation options: Nine Arch View Ella, The Secret Ella, The Chillout Ella, Green Hill.