Rama's Bridge
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| NASA satellite photo of Rama's Bridge |
Rama's Bridge or Adam'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. 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 nowhere are the shoals deeper than 4 feet (1 m); thus, they seriously hinder navigation.
The name Rama's Bridge has to do with the Hindu mythology. According to the Hindu epic Ramayana (Chapter 66,), the bridge was constructed at Rama's request by his subjects. The alternate name Adam's Bridge derives from the Christian mythological notion that the biblical Garden of Eden was Sri Lanka.
Adam's Bridge is clearly visible in satellite photos, such as the one taken by NASA shown here. This resulted in claims by some Hindu groups that the bridge is a scientific evidence that events narrated in the Ramayana epic actually took place, and are not just myths. NASA spokesman archeologists claim to have found additional evidence suggesting that the bridge is indeed man-made. For instance, some researchers from Bharasidathan University, Ramayana has .
