The Nine Arch Bridge (Sinhala: ආරුක්කු නමයේ පාලම) is a masonry arch bridge located on Badulla railway line in Badulla District, Sri Lanka. The bridge is situated between Ella and Demodara railway stations and about 2.2 km distance from Ella town along the Passara road.
The bridge was built by the British in the early 20th century by joining two bog mountains when the Badulla-Colombo railway was being built. The bridge was commissioned in 1921.
Located almost 3,100 ft. above sea level, the bridge is 300 ft. (91.44 m) in length, 25 ft. (7.62 m) in width and 78.7 ft. (24 m) in height. It has been built entirely of solid rocks, bricks and cement without using a single piece of steel. The bride contains 9 arches and therefore, it is known among the locals as "Nine Arch Bridge" or "Ahas Nawaya Palama (nine skies bridge)". Presently, the bridge is popular among local and foreign tourists as a picturesque spot especially as it is located in a dense jungle and agricultural setting.
A protected monument
The Nine Arch Bridge situated on the upcountry railway track of Gotuwela and the area in the extent of 100 m per the direction of the railway track runs towards eastern and western directions of the same in the Grama Niladhari Division of, Maduragama in Ella Divisional Secretary’s Division is an archaeological protected monument, declared by a government notification published on 1 February 2023.
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References
1) The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka: Extraordinary. No: 2317/57. 1 February 2023. p.9A.
Location Map
This page was last updated on 11 April 2023
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ReplyDeleteGood Article.It's interesting to read.I have visited Nine Arch Bridge last December.A beautiful place and hope to come again.
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