NINE ARCH BRIDGE ELLA SRI LANKA – The Complete Guide
Visiting the Nine Arch Bridge is one of the awesome things to do in Ella Sri Lanka. With its beautiful setting in between the tea fields and with the lush jungle in the background, the Nine Arch Bridge is a very beautiful and picturesque spot. It has become one of the main tourist attractions of Sri Lanka. In combination with its amazing natural scenery and some epic hikes in the region such as Ella Rock and Little Adams Peak, Ella is a great place to stay for a few days.
Visiting the Nine Arch Bridge is one of the must things to do in Ella. But taking the famous blue train and experiencing the ultimate Sri Lanka train ride, is also something you can’t miss. The journey goes from Kandy to Ella, but you can make stops in between. For example at Nuwara Eliya to explore Sri Lanka’s beautiful country side and waterfalls. But let’s dive into all the information you need to know about the Sri Lanka Nine Arch Bridge. In this blog you’ll find everything from its history, how to get to the bridge and how to get to the viewpoint which you can’t miss while visiting the Nine Arch Bridge!
Book here your private guided tour to hike Little Adams Peak and visit Nine Arch Bridge
Best tours in and around Ella
If you’re planning to explore the best of what Ella has to offer, then these are the best guided tours. All of these tours include air conditioned transport with hotel pick up and drop off, certified guides and sometimes also lunch and the entrance fees. You can reserve now and pay later, with cancellation up to 24 hours in advance to receive a full refund.
- Ella Rock & 9 Arch Bridge, Little Adams Peak with transfer. Take a guided hike to the famous Ella Rock, 9 Arches Bridge, and Little Adam’s Peak. Hike through beautiful tea plantations and enjoy sweeping views of the island’s hill country on this private tour.
- 1-Hour Mega Zip Line Adventure in Ella. Get the adrenaline pumping with this 1 hour mega dual zip line at Flying Ravana located amidst the luscious green estates of Ella.
- Private guided sunrike hike Ella rock. Take an early morning hike up Ella Rock to meet the sunrise with breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and valleys.
- Diyaluma Falls Full-Day Tour with Lunch from Ella. Take a trip to Sri Lanka’s second-highest water fall and experience the natural beauty of Diyaluma falls, enjoying a small hike, lunch, and a refreshing dip in pristine waters along your journey.
- Safari to Udawalawe National Park from Ella. Enjoy an unforgettable safari tour at Udawalawe National Park, a sanctuary for many Sri Lankan wild animals. See the beautiful elephants and a diverse range of species with the assistance of an expert guide.
- 2 day tour to a Tea factory in Nuwara Eliya, Ramboda falls, Horton Plains and more. Visit the scenic hill country, surrounded by the evergreen valleys and tea estates. Witness the beautiful Ramboda waterfall and Horton Plains National Park.
- Ella & Little Adam’s Peak All-Inclusive Tour. Discover the mountain village and stunning scenery on a full day hiking tour to Ella. Experience Ella Gap from the top of both Ella Rock and Little Adams Peak and visit 9 Arch Bridge, one of the iconic bridges in Sri Lanka.
- Tuk-Tuk Safari Day Trip and Tea Fields Hike with Lunch from Ella. Drive through the Sir Lankan countryside on a tuk-tuk safari on this day trip from Ella. Take a guided hike on a tea plantation and stop for a picnic lunch before visiting the Dambatenne Tea Factory.
- Haputale: Tea Plantation, Safari, & Lipton’s Seat Day Tour. Discover Sri Lanka’s historic tea plantations and imagine life as a tea farmer, on this tour of the most prominent sites in Haputala and Kandy. Ride a trusty tuk-tuk rickshaw through the well-kept farms and wild mountainsides.
- Ella: Lipton’s Seat tour with Dambetanna Tea Factory visit. Enjoy the panoramic views of Lipton’s Seat in the central highlands of Sri Lanka. Enjoy a Sri Lankan lunch before you wander through tea plantations and see the full process of tea making at the Dambetanna tea factory.
How to get to the Nine Arch Bridge Ella
There are multiple options and ways to get to the Nine Arch train bridge. The bridge is quite close to Ella’s main street, so you can decide if you want to walk or get a Tuk Tuk for 200 rupees to bring you to the entrance. If you are confident enough driving a motorbike, you can also get there by yourself.
When you decide to walk, it takes about 20 minutes to get there. You have to follow the road towards Little Adam’s Peak and turn left at the small colored temple. Then follow Lake Front Cottage on Google Maps.
But for a more quiet walk in between the jungle, turn left at the parking spots after Art Cafe Umbrella. From there you have to follow the path for about 10 minutes until you reach the bridge. Here you will have an unique view over the bridge and the journey towards it is also lots of fun!
History of the Nine Arch Bridge
The Nine Arch Bridge has an interesting history. Built during the British Colonial era, the story goes that not long after the bridge had been commissioned by the British, World War I broke out between Europe’s Empires. The steel and metal materials intended to built the bridge with, were suddenly assigned to be used for military purposes. But as solution to keep the bridge construction going, materials like rocks, bricks, and cement were used. Nowadays the Nine Arches Bridge spans 91 meters at a height of 24m and connects Ella to Demodara station. It is one of the best examples of colonial-era construction and is an incredible architectural achievement. The Demodara Nine Arch Bridge gained more popularity and became very famous for its similarity with the bridge towards Hogwarts in Harry Potter movies.
Best time to visit the Nine Arch Bridge
Depending on what your goal is, our advice would be to visit early in the morning. Of course with sunrise or sunset is the best time to take pictures. The light is soft and warm, and you avoid the crowds. By 9 AM and during the rest of the day, it is busier with tourists paying a visit to this famous spot. We went two times, one time with sunrise and one time with sunset and we can say at both times it is not busy! But we found sunrise better than sunset for the perfect picture because of the angle of the sun.
Train times at the Nine Arch Bridge
The trains pass the bridge about 6 times a day. The exact times change all the time because the trains are quiet often delayed in Sri Lanka. But usually there should be one every hour. You can check the train schedule here. Don’t worry that you have to wait long because it’s a great place to photograph and there are small local cafes where you can buy drinks and food.
Nine Arch Bridge viewpoint
The viewpoint of Nine Arch Bridge is also really worth a visit. There are actually three points where you have to check the bridge and take photos. From below in the tea fields, walking on the rails of the bridge and from the viewpoint. If you follow the path from the parking lot as showed on the picture below, you will see the sign to the viewpoint, it is at Asanka Cafe. There you will get to a small local cafe where you can order a drink and food. There is a small bench from where you can admire the bridge or wait for the train to pass. If you want to continue to walk down to the bridge, just follow the path and sign.
Nine Arch bridge drone picture
It is officially not allowed to fly the drone close to the Nine Arch bridge. However, if you take off from a further distance, you can get some stunning angles. One morning in Ella we flew the drone and we were blessed with amazing circumstances. Some fog in the valley and the iconic Nine Arch Bridge as eye catcher.
Ella tours
If you are in Ella and you want to hike to Little Adam’s Peak but also climb Ella Rock and visit the Nine Arch Bridge, there is a great day-tour that goes to all of these three. It’s good value considering you can tick off all three attractions in just one day for about $70. It is called the Ella Three Icons Day Tour.
More Sri Lanka travel inspiration
We hope you enjoyed our blog post about the Nine Arch Bridge in Ella Sri Lanka.
For more Sri Lanka travel inspiration, head over to our other Sri Lank travel guides.
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