Adam’s Bridge or Ram Setu is a chain of natural limestone shoals, connecting India and Sri Lanka. There is an ongoing debate if this structure is naturally formed or man-made.
Moreover, there is an upcoming movie which will be based on Ram Setu. The story will revolve around an archaeologist trying to find if the Ram Setu bridge is a myth or a reality.
Here is all the fascinating information you require on Adam's Bridge.
The total length of the bridge is approximately 50 kms. It also separates the Gulf of Mannar from the Palk Strait. The sea around this structure is very shallow, ranging from three ft to 30 ft deep.
According to several scientific reports, the bridge was completely above sea level till 1480 but was damaged by a cyclone that hit the area. It was passable on foot until the channel deepened.
Geological evidence suggests that the bridge was a former land connection between India and Sri Lanka.
The bridge was first mentioned in Valmiki’s Ramayana, a Hindu epic and is believed to be the bridge built by Lord Rama’s Vanara Sena (monkey army) with instructions from Nala to reach Lanka and rescue his wife Sita from the clutches of Ravana.
Scientific studies reveal that the bridge is made of limestone shoals and is a linear sequence of coral reefs. It is made of floating rocks that are found scattered across Rameswaram and scientific theories suggest that some volcanic rocks do float on water.
The bridge is under the water now but the water is shallow in this part of the sea making navigation impossible and the ships have to take another roundabout route to reach Sri Lanka.
Although the Sethusamudram Project was planned to be executed by deepening the Pamban pass, so that the Rama Sethu could also be preserved, the project is still at a standstill.
Hindus believe that Ram Setu is a holy site and hence no bridge should be built over it. From the perspective of science, the bridge might destroy the natural reefs which had existed for thousands of years.
Oceanography research suggests that the bridge is 7,000 years old. This tallies with the carbon dating of beaches near Mannar Island and Dhanushkodi. (Images Credit: @ScienceChannel)