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Nestled in the charming mountain village of Ella, Sri Lanka, the Nine Arch Bridge, affectionately known as the "Bridge in the Sky," is an architectural marvel that captures the essence of colonial-era railway construction. This iconic bridge gracefully spans 91 meters at an awe-inspiring height of 24 meters, presenting a striking testament to the blend of local craftsmanship and British engineering expertise that went into its creation.
This remarkable structure is often credited to the vision of a local Ceylonese builder, P. K. Appuhami, who collaborated closely with British engineers. Notably, the chief designer and project manager behind the ambitious 'upcountry railway line of Ceylon' was the distinguished Ceylonese engineer and inventor, D. J. Wimalasurendra. The viaduct's intricate design was brought to life by Harold Cuthbert Marwood, a key figure in the Railway Construction Department of Ceylon Government Railway.
For those eager to delve into the historical archives, the 1923 report titled "Construction of a Concrete Railway Viaduct in Ceylon" by the Engineering Association of Ceylon provides a treasure trove of details, including original plans and drawings. Located in Demodara, between Ella and Demodara railway stations, this site has witnessed a surge in tourism, thanks to the bridge's architectural splendor and the lush, verdant hillsides that envelop it.
Legend has it that during the initial stages of construction, as the rumblings of the Great War echoed across Europe, the steel allocated for this project was diverted to support Britain's wartime efforts on the battlefront. Undaunted, the local community stepped in, using stone bricks and cement to complete the bridge, bypassing the need for steel. This captivating backstory adds an intriguing layer to the bridge's history.
The Nine Arch Bridge stands as an idyllic panorama, set amidst a dense jungle and a patchwork of vibrant agricultural fields. As you traverse its nine graceful arches, the lush forest stretches behind, while below, the rolling hills are adorned with thriving tea plantations. It's a picture-perfect fusion of nature and human ingenuity, a must-visit destination that seamlessly weaves history, engineering, and natural beauty into the fabric of Ella's enchanting landscape.
"We came for a wedding and then embarked on an amazing holiday. Cyril show us magnificent sights and scenery of Sri Lanka. To do the country just we need to return with more time. Many of the sites we visited just made us want to know more about them, even though Cyril was a fountain of knowledge. We have thoroughly enjoyed spending time with Cyril and his excellent company, and it was so nice to go home a guardian angel looking after us. He is consistently courteous & good humored and now fe..." Andy Powell UK
"We had an excellent and memorable trip and all credits to Cyril. In-depth knowledge about the places, roads and history and culture. From the airport assistance - Food, accommodation provided and the vehicle was excellent. Very matured and patient, We being on safe hands. Thanks for making it a memorable experience for all of us. " Aubry De Souza and group from Dubai
" Dear Cyril We spent a wonderful week with you. We were so pleased to have to visited your beautiful country and we will recommend you for all of our relatives and to friends. It has been a pleasure to spend these days with you, we will never forget nice smile on your face all the time. Thank you and if one day you would like to visit Switzerland we will be raedy take you around snowy mountans! All the best, Franz family" Dr. David franz from Swiss
"Traveled in April 2013 with Cyril . Family with three young children. Cyril match the trip plan problem on his part. Familiar with every corner of this beautiful island and we have managed to produce a great 17 days. Prices respect as well - we tested three competing proposals and was the cheapest. The fact that he was working independently and not through an agency that collects coupon trips generally significantly reduces the price of the package. A modern and spacious vehicle (van with seven ..." Maozd
"Dear Cyril, We just got back to Singapore today...I am will be back to work tomorrow.. :) Sad but true ha ha……. We were very lucky to have you as our guide. I don’t think there will be anyone else who could have done an excellent job that you have done. We will spread the word around and will surely sell your services...do keep in touch so we can work something out. Thanks for the photos they are great Will visit your website soon and put in some good words for you.. Ti..." Shuhanth Haridas from Singapore
"Thank you Cyril for making our Christmas holiday fun so smoothly and easy. We loved Sri Lanka and look forward to retuning again. Cyril, your knowledge and service was outstanding and it was so refreshing to have such a very highlevel of service. We will be sure to recomond your service and travel agency to our friends. Please feel free to use us as a reference, you can use my email or phone number to clients." Bruce Larson & family from USA
" Hi Cyril We have had a fabulous holiday driven and guided by Cyril from CYRIL TOURS. Hotel recommendations were perfect and knowledge supertb. We would happy to introduce CYRIL TOURS to our frieinds and relatives. Thank you for the photos you are taken and send to us, they are a great reminder of our amazing experience in Sri Lanka. We had a truly memorable time and we are grateful to you for all your knowledge and guidance throughout our trip, it would not have been..." Mr. Richard & Mrs. Bridget Simson and family from
"Hi Mr.Cyril, Hope you and family and grandchild are doing fine. Hope to come to Sri Lanka again. We really enjoyed our trip especially with your special help and guidance. We will definitely contact you if at all we wish to visit Sri Lanka again. Thanks & Best Regards Mr. & Mrs.Pillai Singapore 29/7/11 " Mr & Mrs.Pillai from Singapore
"CyrilWe are now back at home after the lovely time with you in Sri Lanka, andvisiting Hong Kong.Thank you for driving for us while we were in Sri Lanka.In particular, we appreciated - your smooth, calm and efficient driving through varied traffic conditions - your calmness when things did not go quite as expected - your being available at all times of day - I'm remembering our late arrival at the airport, and our late departure - your information about all sorts of ..." Cliff Hooker and Jean from Australia
"Thank you so much Cyril for guiding us around your beautiful country. We thoroughly enjoyed our time which was made particularly special by your professionalism, enthusiasm and friendliness. We wish you all the best in the future. Warm regards from, Aonghus O'Keefee and Sheela Hendricks- Ireland " Aonghus and Sheela Hendricks- Ireland
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