Adam's Bridge

About Adam's Bridge:

• The Adam’s Bridge, also known as the Ram Sethu Bridge, connects Rameswaram Island, off the southeast coast of India, to Mannar Island, off the northwest coast of Sri Lanka.
• It separates the Gulf of Mannar(southwest) from the Palk Strait (northeast). 
• The bridge is a 48 km long chain of natural limestone shoals.
• Some of the sandbanks are dry, and the sea in the area is very shallow, being only 1 to 10 metres deep in places, which hinders navigation.
• Geologic evidence suggests that Adam’s Bridge represents a former land connection between India and Sri Lanka. 
• Ram Setu is mentioned in the epic Ramayana, as the bridge constructed by Lord Rama and his vanara (monkey) army.
  • The bridge was constructed to cross over to Lanka to rescue Goddess Sita from the clutches of the demon king Ravana.
  • In Valmiki’s Ramayana, the bridge is described as Sethubanthan. 
• As per Islamic legend, Adam used this bridge to reach Adam’s Peak in Sri Lanka.
• The Rameshwaram temple records suggest that Adam’s bridge was completely above sea level till 1480. It was submerged in the shallow sea due to natural calamities.