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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 had a exellent and memorable trip. That all credit to you Cyril.Indepth knowledge about the place, roads, Culture and history. Very matuared and patient. We were in very safe hands on all the time. Thanks a lot, mainly it's memorable expeirience for all of us. We always recomond CYRIL TOURS to our friends and relatives in Dubai and in India." Awdhesh Kumar and gruop
"Dear Cyril, Thank you very much for wonderful holiday. Your attention to detail and care of your clients is extraordinary. We certainly hope to cross paths again and we will recommonding you to all of our friends and to family too. Many thanks again. Paul nad Machelle Brisbane, Australia. Visited during 10/10/2012 - 26/10/2012" Mr. Paul and Mrs. Machelle from Australia
"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
"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 for wonderful Sri Lanka trip.We had a great time. The trip was very relaxing as well as fun. My daughter MAHI who lovingly started calling you "Cyril Dada"(grand farther) Had a memorable trip. She cannot stop talking about elephants. Our trip to Sri Lanka will be full of great memories, its because of you. Thank you for showing us your beautiful country the way we wanted, eating local food, lots of King coconut and Corn stops. We will be surely coming back to see rest o..." Mithil Patel
"We had a fantastic holiday in Sri Lanka, thanks Cyril Tours, Our driver, Amiila, was brilliant and nothing was too much trouble for him. The places we visited were really interesting and we saw some lovely scenery.I would definitely recommend your company to other people. Emma - UK 2010 December " Emma Patterson
"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, Here are some photos for you as we promised, and also little gift to you. Here is some photos of elephant boy which we were took on elephant ride. Please give to them when you go to Habarana again. We are very grateful to you for your services that you have done to make our holiday in this beautiful country. Still we are thinking over our nice trip with you. It was fantastic, really! Here in Holland, life is normal again. Greeting for your wife and daughter too. George and Cala ..." George and Cala
" 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
"We found Cyril on-line and after checking with lots of other guides we decided he is the one for us, that decision was the best one we did for our trip From the beginning, in our emails, Cyril listen to us and was very helpful, he gave us information and helped us to create the best trip for us.We had 10 days trip, for our honeymoon, to many parts of Sri-Lanka. the country is amazing, green, nice people and good food.Cyril was a great driver and even greater guide, he has so much knowledge and e..." Coral and Oded from Israel
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