Looking how to get to Nine Arch Bridge from Ella? This ultra popular location in Sri Lanka is a must for everyone visiting Ella (in fact, it may be one of the reasons why you’re visiting Ella in the first place!). While there are a number of blogs about how to get from Ella to Nine Arch Bridge, I found them quite confusing to something that is actually very simple. I can let you know now not only is it possible to walk to Nine Arch Bridge from Ella, there are two different ways to do so and both ways to walk to Nine Arch Bridge from Ella are very easy and straight forward. Read on to find out the two ways to walk to Nine Arch Bridge from Ella.
Suggested read: The best photo spots at Nine Arch Bridge in Ella, Sri Lanka.
Why you don’t need a tuktuk to get to Nine Arch Bridge from Ella
After reading online I ended up jumping in a tuktuk to get to the start of the Nine Arch Bridge walking trail. The tuktuk ride was about 4 minutes long – I was not impressed.
Suggested read: Don’t take a tuktuk to Nine Arch Bridge and here’s why.
You don’t need to get a tuktuk from Ella to Nine Arch Bridge walking trail. If you want to visit Nine Arch Bridge from Ella without walking at all, then there are tuktuk options that take you all the way to the Nine Arch Bridge for about 1,000-1,500 LKR ($5AUD-$7.50AUD or £2.60-£3.90) but if you want to do the pretty easy walk to Nine Arch Bridge from Ella, read on.
Don’t follow the Google Maps directions when choosing to walk to Nine Arch Bridge from Ella
Although Google Maps tries its best, it definitely isn’t up to date on Asia. You need to use Google Maps with caution in Asia due to its inaccuracies and walking to Nine Arch Bridge from Ella is no exception. If you type in Nine Arch Bridge or any of the viewpoints that come up in Google Maps and change it to walking directions from your location in Ella it doesn’t take you correctly. You will need Google Maps to find the entrance to The Forest Walking Trail and the Train Tracks (both of these trail entrance spots explained below) but don’t use Google Maps to get to the actual Nine Arch Bridge from Ella as, as the time of writing, it isn’t accurate.
How to walk to Nine Arch Bridge from Ella: The Forest Walking Trail
Out of the two ways I know to walk to Nine Arch Bridge from Ella, this is the more enjoyable one. The forest walking trail is lush (especially if you go first thing in the morning) and it is easy to navigate.
First, put Nine Arches Bridge Path into Google Maps. (Note: I see the name Nine Arch Bridge and Nine Arches Bridge used simultaneously). You will see this takes you just a street outside of the main street in Ella. The Nine Arches Bridge Path marking here on Google Maps is the start of the forest walking trail that will take you from Ella to the Nine Arch Bridge.
Walk to the Nine Arches Bridge Path from your accommodation. If you are staying in the centre of Ella like I was, this should take approximately 15 minutes.
The walk from the centre of Ella to the Nine Arches Bridge Path is sealed, wide and easy – it’s just along the road. Hence why you can trust Google Maps on this part of the directions! Be sure to keep your eye out for any traffic. This was the part I was told I needed to get a tuktuk for. I can tell you now (and I tell you again in this article: Don’t take a tuktuk to Nine Arch Bridge and here’s why) you don’t need to get a tuktuk to the entrance of the Nine Arches Bridge walk. You can just walk there yourself.
You’ll know you have arrived at the Nine Arches Bridge Path entrance and the start of your official Nine Arch Bridge walk because it is signposted.
Follow the sign down the forest walking trail and onto the Nine Arch Bridge walk. The trail is very easy to follow. There are one or two smaller paths that lead off it but it was very clear not to follow those and to stick on the main walking trail. You just follow the trail along (at some points it does go up and down and, while it is not sealed, it is pretty smooth) until you arrive at Nine Arch Bridge.
The forest walking trail from the sign posted start to Nine Arch Bridge only takes about 15 minutes if you have no breaks. On this walking trail you will come out about the spot where Nine Arch Bridge meets the Ella Tunnel – so pretty much the perfect spot to arrive when you walk to Nine Arch Bridge from Ella.
Overall, the entire walk from Ella to the Nine Arch Bridge takes about 30 minutes and if you have no mobility issues is quite easy.
How to walk to Nine Arch Bridge from Ella: The Train Tracks
There is another easy way to walk to Nine Arch Bridge from Ella, which is via the train tracks. The Nine Arch Bridge is not that far from the Ella Railway Station (Google Maps location here).
Walk to the Ella Railway Station from your accommodation. If you are staying in the centre of Ella like I was this should take only about 5 or so minutes and the walk to the train station is easy.
Once you arrive at the Ella Railway Station you want to head along the train tracks. You want to make sure you are heading in the right direction so if you enter the platform from the carpark/street area and are looking at the tracks turn right. You’ll see a sign saying to stay off the tracks so this is up to you. There are cafes along the tracks selling food and drink to people walking along so I don’t think there is any enforcement of this rule but as everything it has to be by your own choice.
This is a very simple walk. You just follow the train tracks until you come to the Nine Arch Bridge.
Before arriving at the Nine Arch Bridge you will enter Ella Tunnel. Originally when I had heard there was a tunnel on the way to Nine Arch Bridge going the train track method I was too nervous to initially do this. However, the tunnel is very short and you’ll hear or see a train before you get stuck in there. Again this is all completely at your own risk and your own decision making.
Make sure the entire time you are walking to Nine Arch Bridge from Ella (or vice versa) that you are constantly on the lookout (and listen out) for trains. When I was at the bridge there was an extra train that no one was expecting so don’t assume you know the timetable (and even if you do know the timetable it doesn’t always run on time anyway).
The entire walk to Nine Arch Bridge from Ella via the train tracks took about 35 minutes so pretty much on par with the walk to Nine Arch Bridge from Ella via the forest walking track.
Which walk to Nine Arch Bridge from Ella should I take?
When I visited Nine Arch Bridge I took the forest walking trail to walk to the Nine Arch Bridge from Ella and I took the train tracks to walk from Nine Arch Bridge back to Ella. It’s up to your personal preference, but I preferred the forest walking trail as I thought it was a lot nicer and also a lot more shaded. The train tracks really got the brunt of the sun, especially later in the day. Plus, you don’t need to keep your eyes open for trains or watch where as you step on the railway tracks on the forest walking trail.
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