Rama Setu Palam
Connecting Rameshwaram and the land of Lanka is the Rama Setu. Legend has it that the army of Lord Ram built the bridge to cross the sea and rescue Mother Sita from the clutches of the demon king Ravan. The name is derived from Lord Ram and is named as Rama Setu. This is a monument that is held in high esteem by the Indian government which has made it into a World Heritage Site.
This stretch of bridge goes on for 48 kilometers connecting Rameshwaram and Talaimannar of Sri Lanka. As a religious significance, the Rama Setu is an important holy site for Hindus since it is blessed by both Lord Shiva and Vishnu. This place is known as Palak Strait by the westerners and ‘Setu-Samudram’ meaning the Sea of Bridge by the natives. Recent geological survey shows that the Rama Setu is indeed a geological monument which needs to be preserved.
Based on the legend, people believed that the rocks on which the bridge was built floats because the name Ram was written on them, but a stone that floats on water is the Pumice stone which has air pores inside them. The monument is 1.7 million years old and is believed to be made up of a stretch of limestone shoals. The bridge was walkable until the year 1480 AD after which natural causes made it immersed partly under water. Every year thousands flock to see this mysterious wonder which still sparks debate between people visiting the monument.
Nearby places to visit:
Sri Ramanathaswamy temple, Dhanushkodi beach and Annai Indira Gandhi Bridge.
Best time to visit :
November and March makes for the best time to visit the monument
How to reach ?
By Air : The nearest airport is at Madurai which is at 183 kilometers from Dhanushkodi.
By Train :The nearest railway station is at Rameshwaram which is at a distance of 20 kilometers
By Road :Dhanushkodi is well connected by roadways from all other cities and towns and Ram setu can be reached from Dhanushkodi.