History of RAM SETURam Setu, or Rama Setu (meaning "Rama's Bridge"), is a chain of limestone shoals, between the islands of Mannar, near northwestern Sri Lanka, and Rameswaram, off the southeastern coast of India. It is generally believed, in the Indian sub-continent, that this structure is the bridge built by the Vanara Sena on instructions from Rama, an incarnation of Vishnu to rescue his consort Sita who was abducted to Lanka by Ravana, as mentioned in the Ramayana (read older posts on this topic). Geological evidence indicates that this bridge acted as a former land connection between India and Sri Lanka.
The bridge is 30 miles (48 km) long and separates the Gulf of Mannar (southwest) from the Palk Strait (northeast). Some of the sandbanks are dry and the sea in the area is very shallow, being only 3 ft to 30 ft (1 m to 10 m) deep in places, which hinders navigation. There are controversies about whether this structure is natural or man-made.
In 2001, the Government of India had approved a controversial multi-million dollar Sethusamudram Shipping Canal Project that aims to create a navigational channel across the Palk Strait by dredging through a portion of this causeway. Various organizations have opposed the project based on religious, economic and environmental grounds and have sought the implementation of one of the alternative alignments considered during the earlier stages of the discussion.
The bridge is 30 miles (48 km) long and separates the Gulf of Mannar (southwest) from the Palk Strait (northeast). Some of the sandbanks are dry and the sea in the area is very shallow, being only 3 ft to 30 ft (1 m to 10 m) deep in places, which hinders navigation. There are controversies about whether this structure is natural or man-made.
In 2001, the Government of India had approved a controversial multi-million dollar Sethusamudram Shipping Canal Project that aims to create a navigational channel across the Palk Strait by dredging through a portion of this causeway. Various organizations have opposed the project based on religious, economic and environmental grounds and have sought the implementation of one of the alternative alignments considered during the earlier stages of the discussion.
Location
Adam bridge starts as chain of shoals from Dhanuskodi tip of Rameswaram Island of India and ends at Mannar Island of Sri Lanka. Rameswaram Island is connected to Indian mainland by 3 km long Pamban Bridge. Ramasetu and areas adjacent to it like Rameswaram Dhanushkodi, Devipattinam and Thirupullani which are mentioned in the context of various legends in Ramayana
STORY OF THE LEGENDARY RAM SETU
RAM KATA BARI ANUPAM KATA HAI ... Jai Shri RAM ...When Sri Ram was in the process of rescuing Sita mata from Lanka, the biggest barrier was the Samudra that was raising so high that it flooded the vanar seenas hopes of getting accross. But then Naal & Neel came up with a idea which was never ever thought before "Ram Setu"... a bridge in that era ... no one even can imagine that in dreams but they did it with the blessing & help of maha samudra, Sri Ram blessed the seena & by his wishes the seena build the first man made bridge, by his blessings stones started flooting on the samudra ... finally Rama killed Ravana with the help of his brother Laxmana & his Vanar Seena.
Satellite View of Ram setu