Aerial View of Demodara Rail Loop | දෙමෝදර රේල් ගැටය කුරුළු ඇසින්, Demodara (2017) – 3 of 3

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Demodara Railway Station is the third last station on the Main Line, and is 277.71 km (172.56 mi) away from Colombo. It is located 912.5 m (2,994 ft) above mean sea level and 8 km (5.0 mi) from Badulla, the capital city of Uva Province. All the trains that run on the Main Line, including the Podi Menike and Udarata Menike express trains stop at the station.

The station is most notable for its spiral rail line at this location, popularly known as the 'Demodara Loop'. The rail line passes under itself, going around the loop and emerging from a tunnel, which runs directly beneath the Demodara Railway Station. The rail loop is approximately 900 metres (3,000 ft) long and the tunnel is 320 m (1,050 ft) in length. It is considered the only loop in the world with a railway station situated exactly over a tunnel at spiral loop.

During the construction of the rail extension to Badulla the engineers and surveyors found that elevation between the hills at Demodara was too much for the track to negotiate, with the maximum inclination allowed by the Ceylon Government Railway being one foot per 44 feet (1/44), an innovative track design had to be devised. Local folklore has it that one of the engineers, Devapura Jayasena Wimalasurendra, was inspired after observing a Kankany (Supervisor) in a local tea estate undoes his Talappawa (Turban) and re-ties it around his head.

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Special Note for the Viewers:

I’ve done this video to make you aware of the beauty of this place and please don’t misuse this information in order to ruin it. I’ve spent so much of time/money bringing this to you so that you may enjoy it.

I also have a very kind and humble request to make. Should you ever visit this place, you’re kindly requested to adhere to the following in order to save our Mother Nature not only for the future generations but for the current one as well:

* Avoid careless/irresponsible/money-oriented/mega tour groups or organizers.

* Travel in small groups as Mother Nature can’t afford so many footprints at once. Stick to the designated trails or hardback surfaces at all times.

* Minimize the use of polythene/plastic and do bring them back. Please don’t burn them in the wilderness. Even organic/bio-degradable waste is harmful to the nature and animals. Please stick to the simple rule of “if you pack it in, pack it out”.

* Use reusable water bottles, plates and cups. Even paper cups/plates are harmful and take years to decompose.

* Remain quiet and vigilant. Don’t disturb the tranquility of the nature. Respect wildlife and don’t disturb them in anyway. Also be considerate of other trekkers.

* Please collect and bring any litter/garbage left behind by other careless travelers.

* Don’t light fires unnecessarily and do try to use portable cookers instead of using firewood when camping. If you must, only use firewood on the ground and don’t cut any trees for this.

* Don’t bring any plants back with you or cut any trees/branches unnecessarily..

* Don’t use soap/ shampoo when bathing in natural streams as they contaminate them and kill wildlife.

* Don’t do anything that harms the Mother Nature.

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