Of the many religious landmarks of Southern India, The Rameshwaram Bridge is perhaps one of the most compelling monuments for the Hindus of the country. This special bridge is located on the Palk Strait and connects Pamban Island with Rameshwaram Island. It is also assumed to be the former land link between Sri Lanka and India.
The Rameshwaram Bridge was first referred to by the sage Valmiki in the epic Ramayana – a chronicle of King Rama’s life. The bridge serves as evidence of Rama’s existence and is assumed to be built by an army of ape-men sworn to allegiance to Lord Rama. The bridge was constructed to aid the king in his quest to free his wife Sita from the evil Lord Ravana of Lanka (who abducted her).
Rameswaram Bridge is Very Ancient
The Bridge is also known as the Pamban Bridge due to its proximity to Pamban – the sacred place where Ram quenched his beloved wife Sita’s thirst by throwing an arrow to indicate the area where water could be found. The bridge is referred to as ‘Rama’s Bridge or ‘rama’s Setu’ and also, ‘Indira Gandhi’ bridge in honor of the former Indian Prime Minister.
Other than the obvious cultural and historical annotations; the it is also an architectural marvel of sorts. It is the longest bridge in South India with a length of 18 miles. Today, it is a convenient connection between the mainland and Rameshwaram Island.
It also has a railway and a cantilever railway bridge. The railway bridge is a double leaf bascule bridge and can be raised to let the ships pass underneath. The Ramaswaram Bridge also offers exhilarating views of the distant sea.
The bridge is located 7km away from Rameshwaram and is one of the most visited pilgrimage spots for worshippers of Lord Rama along with the Rameshwaram temples.