The Nine Arches Bridge in Ella is simply stunning and if you’re visiting Ella, it’s very likely that photos of the Nine Arches Bridge drew you to this area of Sri Lanka. Sometimes referred to as the ‘Bridge in the Sky’ or otherwise ‘Nine Arches Bridge’ (the plural version), the Nine Arch Bridge is one of the most Instagrammable locations in Sri Lanka and therefore finding the best photo spots at the Nine Arch Bridge is a must.
Suggested read: How to find the Unawatuna palm tree rope swing.
How to get to the Nine Arch Bridge in Ella, Sri Lanka?
Don’t make my mistake and get a tuktuk unless you have mobility issues.. Find out more and information on the two walks to get to the Nine Arch Bridge here: Don’t take a tuktuk to Nine Arch Bridge Walking Trail and here’s why.
Best time for photos at the Nine Arch Bridge in Ella
Surprise, surprise the best time to take photos at the Nine Arch Bridge in Ella is near sunrise or as close to sunrise as you can. I had initially read this online and thought it was just due to the crowds but after visiting it is definitely also due to the light. Once the sun has properly risen the Nine Arch Bridge is under quite harsh and direct sunlight which impacts any photos you want to take at the Nine Arch Bridge. If you visit earlier in the morning, the Nine Arch Bridge enjoys a beautiful soft golden light until the sun gets higher in the sky and it turns harsher.
Suggested read: The two ways to walk to Nine Arch Bridge from Ella
In terms of crowd, I arrived about 30 minutes after sunrise and (probably due to the fact that a train had already been through) there was already quite a number of people. So don’t expect to have the Nine Arch Bridge to yourself even if you are arriving early but do expect that the later you arrive the more crowded it will get. Although I thought there were a number of people already at the Nine Arch Bridge when I arrived early, I was a bit shocked by how crowded it got later in the morning after this.
Suggested read: The two ways to walk to Nine Arch Bridge from Ella
Best photo spots at the Nine Arch Bridge in Ella
So, you want to get the best photos at the Nine Arch Bridge in Ella so you need a list of Nine Arch Bridge photo spots. These are the spots that I considered the best for photos of the Nine Arch Bridge.
1. The photo spot tea fields below the Nine Arch Bridge
The most Instagrammable spot on the Nine Arch Bridge and arguably the most Instagrammable spot in Sri Lanka (although I imagine the Unawatuna palm tree rope swing might try to compete here). The best photo spot at the Nine Arch Bridge in Ella is undoubtably looking up at the Nine Arch Bridge from the tea fields below.
This Nine Arch Bridge photo spot is easy to find. Once you arrive at the bridge, cross over to the other side where you’ll see tracks through the tea fields. Be careful, for those who have never been to a tea field below, they are very muddy and dirty (including the tea leaves not just the ground). If you are wearing nice clothes expect them to get a bit dirty and be very careful as you make your way through the tea fields as the mud and the angle means it is very easy to slip over.
However, there are many beautiful spots to take the perfect picture of the Nine Arch Bridge. I recommend setting up your camera and then placing yourself in the tea field row further down like I have below so you are framed by tea on both sides.
2. Sitting on the Nine Arch Bridge photo spot
Taking a photo while sitting on the Nine Arch Bridge is a classic photo shot. However, this is definitely the section of the bridge that gets the busiest for photos. While I believe the best Nine Arch Bridge photo spot is from the tea fields below, there it is easier to seperate yourself from other people taking photos whereas unfortunately on the bridge itself you are going to struggle to get photos without other people in them. If you arrive early, I recommend getting your sitting on the Nine Arch Bridge photo then because it will only get busier and busier throughout the day.
3. The surrounding view from the Nine Arch Bridge
While you’re there taking photos sitting on Nine Arch Bridge, don’t forget to snap some of the view. It is absolutely stunning overlooking the jungle, valley and tea fields.
4. Admiring the Nine Arch Bridge from the side photo spot
You can get an easy photo of Nine Arch Bridge from the side by heading to Cocinita Bar (Google Maps location here). You’ll likely see it from afar as when I went there were a bunch of orange coconuts out the front. From here you can turn back to the bridge and snap a photo showing it from the side.
5. At the Instagram famous Cafe Soul Ella photo spot
If you have seen photos or videos of the Nine Arch Bridge in Ella from above, it’s likely they were shot at the Instagram famous Cafe Soul Ella. This cafe overlooks the Nine Arch Bridge, with probably one of the best viewpoints. I took my photos at the bottom before making my way up to the cafe here.
When I visited the cafe opened at about 8am, with food starting from 830am. I ordered a juice for 880LKR ($4.45AUD/£2.30) and chocolate banana pancakes for 1320LKR ($6.70AUD/£3.45) which included a 10% service charge. My pancakes did take almost an hour to come out but I was there quite before the train came through. While the food isn’t cheap for Asia standards, it did come with the view and they did not mind how long you stayed.
I arrived first so was able to get the best table, but there are a number along the edge and space to take photos if you don’t get a table on the edge of the balcony. Mobility warning though, this cafe is found up a bit of a muddy steep walk. There are steps built into it but you will need to be careful as you ascend and descend. You can find Cafe Soul Ella on Google Maps here.
6. At Asanka cafe, slightly higher up
If Cafe Soul Ella is full or you want to view the Nine Arch Bridge from slightly higher up, continue walking up the path and you’ll arrive at Asanka Cafe. From here you can also enjoy juices and other drinks and watch the train pass by. You can find Asanka Cafe on Google Maps here.
7. Walking up the pathway to Cafe Soul Ella and Asanka Cafe
While you may think you know when the train will go past, that doesn’t guarantee it. The train I waited to see arrived about 30 minutes after it was scheduled to but while I was there there was also a completely different train that came through as well. This caught me off guard as I was on my way up to the cafes near the bridge so I snapped a quick photo from the pathway as you can see below. I actually loved how the surrounding trees framed the train.
8. On the mountainside on the other side of the Nine Arch Bridge
While I didn’t visit this photo spot myself, I did see a number of people on the mountain on the other side of the bridge. This would also be another great shot of the train as it passes along the bridge. This is the rough location on Google Maps here but you’ll be able to see it once you arrive at the bridge.
9. From afar as it approaches
This is more a photo of the train rather than the Nine Arch Bridge but when I visited the train was heading into Ella rather than leaving Ella and therefore we could see it in the distance to the right of the bridge before it arrived at the bridge. You can probably only get this shot from Cafe Soul Ella or around that area as the cafe looked directly across the valley to where the train approached from whereas the other photo spots mentioned in this guide are unlikely to have the same viewpoint. A nice extra shot to take while you’re here.
10. In the Ella Tunnel before the Nine Arch Bridge
While we’re looking for more photo spots, I have to include the tunnel. This is a short tunnel on the other side of the bridge. Many people were taking photos either from within the tunnel or at its entrance. I didn’t take a proper photo here but took these to show what I am talking about. You can find the tunnel basically at the bridge (it’s in almost every photo you see) but here is its location on Google Maps as well.
11. Drones aren’t allowed at the Nine Arch Bridge – for good reason
There are signs saying that the drone stir up wasps in the area and therefore aren’t allowed. I still saw drones in the air as people ignored these signs which is sad given that the reason drones aren’t allowed is due to everyone’s safety/comfort from the wasps rather than just not wanting them there. Just listen to the signs, don’t bring your drone.
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