Visit Sri Lanka’s amazing Nine Arch Bridge – Ella a famous spot to take pictures. It’s a special place where history and beauty come together. The bridge has nine big arches that tell stories from a long time ago.
Here, we will cover you all the important information you should know before you go to the Nine Arch Bridge.
Credit: @christina.explores
Travel Time
6 H
Elevation
1,141 m
District
Badulla
What is the Nine Arch Bridge?
The Nine Arch Bridge in Ella is a one of the popular tourist attraction places in Sri Lanka. The bridge is famous because it is built with 9 arches in British colonial period using rocks and bricks, also there is a railway on the bridge, and it is still functioning. It has an old British architectural look that people find fascinating. The bridge is 300 feet in length, 25 feet in width and 80 – 100 feet in height.
This is located in between the Ella and Demodara railway stations. The bridge also known as the “Bridge in the Sky” since it was constructed by connecting to the Big Mountains when building the Badulla to Colombo railway.
Where is the Nine Arch Bridge?
The Nine Arch Bridge is located in the Badulla District between Ella and Demodara railway station.
Ella is one of the major tourist attractions places in Sri Lanka. The meaning of “Ella” is a waterfall and the town stands up to its name due to the many waterfalls found in and around the area.
Ella is a simple town in Uva province, approximately 200km east of Colombo and at an elevation of 1,041m above sea level. The area is rich in biodiversity. The falls are surrounded by mountains covered with cloud forests and tea plantations. The city has a cooler climate than the surrounding lowland due to its elevation.
Credit: @stephi_lk
Best Time to Visit Nine Arch Bridge
During the January to May season is the best time to visit Nine Arch Bridge when there is low rain and the best scenic view with a clear blue sky and lush greenery.
If you can reach the bridge before 9 AM you can enjoy the fascinating view of sunrise at Nine Arch Bridge and take perfect photographs of the sun bathing the rail tracks and bridge. Also, at this time, there is less crowd.
Nine Arch Bridge Train Time Table
The Nine Arch Bridge is a functioning railway which runs trains on following times.
9:30
11:30
15:30
16:30
17:30
This time can be varied due to several reasons. Since that always be aware if you are on the railway.
Credit: @waypointofview
How to get to the Nine Arch Bridge?
There are several ways to reach Ella using public transport or personal vehicles. Visit our Ella Full Guide for more information.
From Colombo
- By Bus – take a bus from Colombo to Badulla and drop off at Ella
- By Train – take a train ride from Colombo to Badulla and drop off at Ella Station
- By Car/ Bike / Tuk Tuk – through Colombo > Ratnapura > Haputale > Ella Google Map Route
- By Car – Using Southern Expressway can reach to Ella less than 4 Hours Google Map Route
From Galle or Matara
- By Bus – take a bus ride from Galle to Wellawaya, then Wellawaya to Ella
- By Train – take a train from Galle to Colombo, then Colombo to Ella
- By Car – Travel through Southern Express Highway, exit from Mattala, then Wellawaya to Ella Google Map Route
- By Tuk Tuk / By Bike – Travel through Matara > Tangalle > Hambantota > Mattala > Wellawaya to Ella Google Map Route
Route Map from Ella to Nine Arch Bridge
On Foot
There are main four ways to reach Nine Arch Bridge by walking.
- You can walk from Ella to Bridge, through Little Adams Peak Road (Ella Passara Rd B113) and take the turn on Nine Arch Bridge Path Google Pin
- Walk on (Ella Passara Rd B113) and take the opposite down direction from Flying Ravana Entrance Google Pin
- Walk on the rail lines from Demodara station to bridge
- Walk on the rail trail from Ella station to bridge
By Bus
There are specific two ways to reach the location by bus,
- Take a bus from Ella – Passara rd (Ella Passara Rd B113) and drop off from the above 1 or 2 options on foot and take the direction from there to bridge.
- Take a bus from Ella – Passara rd and drop off from the Nine Arch Bridge Jungle Rd Google Pin and walk on there / hire a tuk tuk
By Car/ Bike/ Tuk Tuk
Travel through Ella – Halpe rd and follow the direction on Google Map Route
Hire a Tuk Tuk
You can hire a Tuk Tuk from Ella town, they will drop you on the nearest location to the bridge, from there you can walk to the Nine Arch Bridge.
Why Little Adams hike is interesting
There are various viewpoints to view the Nine Arch Bridge. Among them, there are three excellent viewpoints.
Credit: @bubiczlbn
- South End:
If you are going to the Nine Arch Bridge to watch the sunrise. It is best to look from the end closest to the tunnel, the south end. This is a great place to watch the valley light up as the sunrises behind the mountains. There is also the beautiful curve of the bridge in front of the place.
Credit: @dinafelde
2. The Northern End Of The Tea Estate:
The northern end of the bridge is most popular for viewing the beauty of the tea plantation close to the foot of the bridge.
Credit: @nadia_kotishevskaya
3. The North End of The Bridge:
Go to the north end of the bridge or the side without the tunnel and go up the path to the right. You will pass the small building with a blue root and a lager opening. You can get cold drinks and enjoy the beautiful view from there.
All you need to Know before going to Nine Arch Bridge
Here are the tips to follow on your next trip to Nine Arch Bridge.
Safety Tips
- Trains pass through the bridge frequently, so be aware of the train sound and vibration on the rails and leave the tracks.
- There are no safety barriers on the bridge. This facilitates to capture wonderful pictures by sitting and standing on the edge of the bridge, but keep mind your safety first.
- The surface can be slippery, specially after rainfall.
- Keep in mind that the surrounding tea fields and jungle may have snakes and leeches.
- Be aware of bees. If any bee attack happens, run in a straight line and find a secure enclosed space.
Electronic Devices
- Currently, it is prohibited to fly drones around the bridge.
- Be aware of mobile phones and cameras if you are using them at the edge of the bridge.
- Avoid using headphones while on the rail line, as it can be risky since you won’t be able to hear the train’s sound.
Credit: @margotjakobson
What are the nearby locations of Nine Arch Bridge?
The best 11 places to visit near 9 Arch Bridge
- Little Adam's Peak - 3 km ➡
- Kuda Ravana Ella - 4 km
- Ravana's Cave - 5 km
- Uva Halpewatte Tea Factory Tour - 7 km
- Ravana Waterfall - 9 km ➡
- Ella Rock View Point - 10 km ➡
- Pallewela Waterfall - 13 km
- Secret Waterfall - 13 km
- Nildiya Pokuna - 15 km
- Upper Rawana - 19 km
- Ellewala Waterfall - 31 km
All other nearby places
- Gotuwala Ella – 3 km
- Kombukara Nature Pool and Secret Waterfall for Open Bath – 10 km
- Porawagala Viewpoint – 14 km
- Kinigama falls – 15 km
- Ellatota Ella Waterfall – 16 km
- Iron Bridge Obodaella – 16 km
- Natural Pool – 18 km
- Tonocombe Viewpoint – 18 km
- Visari Water Falls – 19 km
- Habaraththaawa waterfall – 22 km
- Prabhawa Mountain Day Viewpoint – 25 km
- Dunhinda Waterfall – 27 km
- Main Viewpoint Haputhale – හපුතලේ ප්රධාන නැරඹුම් ස්ථානය – 27 km
- Lipton’s Seat – 28 km
- Pilkington Point – 32 km
- Wewassa Ella Falls – 32 km
- Millennium Viewpoint 33 km
- Wewassa Top Division- View point – 36 km
- Diyanagala Viewpoint – 39
- Diyaluma Falls 43 km
Summary
| Name | Nine Arch Bridge |
| Location | Ella (Between Demodara and Ella ) |
| District | Badulla |
| Construction end | 1921 |
| Elevation | 1141 m |
| Temperature °C | 19° - 25° |
| Lenght | 300 ft |
| Width | 25 ft |
| Height | 80 - 100 ft |
| No. of spans | 9 |
| Trip types | Nature walk |
| Best days to visit | January, February, March, April, May, |
| Special instructions | Be aware of trains and bees Take care of your cameras and phones when using edge of the bridge Avoid dumping waste into the environment Drones not allowed |
