‘’Ram Setu or Adam’s Bridge’’ The Mysterious bridge and new theory behind this

Ram Setu

Ram Setu or Adam Bridge is a causeway that is created across the sea connecting Pamban Island in Tamil Nadu to Mannar Island in Sri Lanka. Research says that the Palk Strait is a natural bridge formed by limestone shoals. However, Hindu religious theories believe that it is the bridge constructed by Lord Rama and his monkey army as mentioned in the epic Ramayana. Surprisingly, this causeway or bridge is visible from an aerial view even to this day.

According to Ramayana Ram had constructed this bridge to reach Sri Lanka as his wife Sita was kidnapped and imprisoned there. Surprisingly, the time of Ramayana was nearly 5000 BCE, and the carbon dating of the bridge matched properly.  It is said that Ram Setu or Adam Bridge was above sea level. Some historical records also suggest that it was walkable till the 15th century.  Nowadays the estimated depth is around 1- 10 meters in the area of this causeway.

Old Science research

Sometimes back Scientists believed that it is a linear sequence of coral reefs or limestone reefs. According to science, it is a naturally formed causeway that connects Pambam Island to Mannar Island.  The water here is shallow with the level of depth varying. Hence, ships from India have to take another route to reach Sri Lanka.

A recent study proved that the Bridge is man-made

Ram Setu or Adam’s bridge was declared to be man-made by scientists and geologists. New research says that the rocks of the bridge are 7000 years old while the sandbar on which they are sitting is only 4000 years old, suggesting that the rocks were brought from elsewhere.

Are the ancient Hindu myths of a land bridge connecting India and Sri Lanka true? Scientific analysis suggests they are. #WhatonEarth pic.twitter.com/EKcoGzlEET

— Science Channel (@ScienceChannel) December 11, 2017

Interestingly, Oceanography research suggests that the bridge is 7000 years old which is similar to the carbon dating of beaches near Dhanushkodi and Mannar Island with the supposed date of Ramayana. The new theory was also proved by NASA. This theory is against the then-popular belief that it was a natural phenomenon, created by the corals.

The Adam’s bridge is 50 km long and separates the Gulf of Mannar from the Palk Strait. It is made of floating rocks that are found scattered across Rameswaram.  Scientific theories suggest that some volcanic rocks like Amygdaloidal basalt and obsidian do float on water. Ram Setu is the only archaeological and historical evidence of Ramayana.

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Setu Samudram Project

The Setu Samudram Project is a proposed bridge to be built over the Palk Strait which connects India and Srilanka. The idea is to have a shortcut route from Pamban Island to Mannar Island in Sri Lanka.

Hindus believe that Ram Setu or Adam Bridge is the only holy site from the Ramayana epic and hence no bridge should be built over it. From the perspective of science, the bridge might destroy the Ram setu as well as the natural reefs which had existed for thousands of years. The Adam’s Bridge is a source of great interest for tourists not only in Srilanka but this bridge holds tremendous importance for Indian tourists as well.