Quick answer
The Demodara loop is a spiral on Sri Lanka's main hill country railway just beyond Ella, where the line circles a hill and passes beneath itself to lose height in a tight space, with Demodara station sitting on the loop. Trains from Ella cross the Nine Arch Bridge, run through the loop and reach the terminus at Badulla in roughly one to one and a half hours. Riding this last stretch is an easy half day from Ella and shows the railway's engineering far from the crowds.
Key takeaways
- The Demodara loop is a railway spiral where the line circles a hill and passes through a tunnel beneath its own track.
- The loop sits just beyond the Nine Arch Bridge on the line from Ella to Badulla.
- Ella to Badulla by train usually takes roughly one to one and a half hours; confirm timetables locally.
- The railway reached Badulla in the mid-1920s, completing the main hill country line from Colombo.
- Badulla is the terminus of the line and the provincial capital of Uva, roughly 45 minutes to an hour from Ella by road.
What the Demodara loop is
The Demodara loop is a spiral on Sri Lanka's main hill country railway, a few kilometres beyond Ella. To lose height in a narrow valley without an impossibly steep gradient, the line curls around a hill and then passes through a tunnel directly beneath the track it has just run along.
Demodara station sits on the loop itself, which means a train standing at the platform is positioned above the tunnel it will shortly pass through. Spirals like this are rare anywhere in the world, and the Demodara loop is the best-known example in Sri Lanka.
It sits very close to the Nine Arch Bridge, which carries the line across a ravine at Demodara. Most visitors walk to the bridge from Ella and never realise the loop is just down the line.
- →Type: a railway spiral, circling a hill and tunnelling beneath itself.
- →Location: just beyond the Nine Arch Bridge on the line from Ella to Badulla.
- →Station: Demodara station stands on the loop.
- →Purpose: to lose height in a tight valley at a gradient trains can manage.
Why the line beyond Ella was built this way
The railway beyond Ella was the final and most difficult section of the main line from Colombo into the hills. The steep country around Ella and Demodara demanded bridges, tunnels and curves, and the Nine Arch Bridge and the Demodara loop were both products of that challenge, completed in the early 1920s.
The line reached Badulla, the provincial capital of Uva, in the mid-1920s, making it possible to carry tea from the eastern estates and passengers from the far end of the hills all the way to Colombo by rail. It remains the terminus of the line today.
Riding the train from Ella to Badulla
Riding from Ella to Badulla is the easiest way to experience the Demodara loop and the Nine Arch Bridge from a moving train. The journey usually takes roughly one to one and a half hours, and the trains are far quieter than on the Kandy to Ella stretch because most tourists have already left.
Timetables change and delays are common, so check the day's departures at Ella station rather than relying on a published schedule. From Badulla you can return by train or take a car or tuk-tuk back, roughly 45 minutes to an hour by road.
- →Ella to Badulla: roughly one to one and a half hours by train.
- →Highlights on the way: the Nine Arch Bridge, the Demodara loop and the valley beyond.
- →Crowds: far lighter than on the Kandy to Ella section.
- →Return: by train, or by road in roughly 45 minutes to an hour.
What you see on the line beyond Ella
Beyond Ella the railway crosses the Nine Arch Bridge high above a ravine of forest and tea, which is a very different experience from watching it from the viewpoint. At Demodara you may notice the track below you as the train circles the hill, and then the darkness of the tunnel as you pass beneath it.
After the loop the line descends through tea, villages and paddy towards Badulla, where the landscape opens into a broader valley. The final stretch feels less dramatic than the ridges between Nanu Oya and Ella, but it is quieter, more local and much more authentic.
Staying safe around the railway at Demodara
The railway around Demodara and the Nine Arch Bridge is a working line, and trains can appear quickly around the bends. Walking on the tracks is risky and in places prohibited, and the narrow bridge and tunnels leave nowhere to step aside.
On the train, leaning out of doorways for photographs causes serious injuries on this line every year. Take photographs from inside the carriage or a window, and keep well back from open doors when passing through tunnels and over bridges.
- →Do not walk through the tunnels or across the bridge when a train is due.
- →Never lean out of carriage doorways for photographs.
- →Keep children well back from open doors and windows on bridges.
Adding the Demodara loop to your time in Ella
The line beyond Ella works well as a half day from a two-night stay, combining a morning train to Badulla with a visit to the town's temple or Dunhinda Falls and a drive back. It is also a quiet alternative to the crowded Kandy to Ella stretch for travellers who want the railway without the scramble for seats.
Lankan Stays & Trails can arrange a driver to meet you in Badulla, so the train runs one way and the afternoon stays flexible.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Demodara loop?
The Demodara loop is a railway spiral just beyond Ella, where the line circles a hill and passes through a tunnel beneath its own track to lose height in a narrow valley. Demodara station sits on the loop, close to the Nine Arch Bridge.
How long is the train from Ella to Badulla?
The train from Ella to Badulla usually takes roughly one to one and a half hours, crossing the Nine Arch Bridge and passing through the Demodara loop. Timetables change and delays are common, so check departures at Ella station on the day.
Can you see the Demodara loop from the train?
Yes, though it is easier to feel than to photograph. As the train circles the hill you may glimpse the track below, then pass through the tunnel beneath it. The Nine Arch Bridge, crossed shortly before, is more obviously visible from the carriage.
Is the train after Ella worth riding?
Yes, for travellers interested in the railway or looking for a quiet half day. The stretch beyond Ella crosses the Nine Arch Bridge and the Demodara loop with far fewer passengers than the Kandy to Ella section, and ends in Badulla, a working provincial town.
Where does the hill country train line end?
The main hill country line ends at Badulla, the provincial capital of Uva. Badulla lies roughly one to one and a half hours beyond Ella by train, or roughly 45 minutes to an hour by road.
Is Demodara near the Nine Arch Bridge?
Yes. The Nine Arch Bridge is at Demodara, and the loop and station lie just along the line from it. Many travellers walk to the bridge from Ella without realising that the spiral is only a short distance further down the track.