Introduction

Straddling the Palk Strait, the Pamban or Indira Gandhi Bridge links the Rameshwaram island with mainland India. Covering about 2.3 kilometers, Pamban Bridge is touted as the second longest bridge in the country (after the Bandra-Worli sea link), and an engineering marvel. Pamban Bridge actually refers to both the road and cantilever railway bridge. Opened for traffic in 1914, the railroad bridge doubles up as a double-leaf bascule bridge that can be raised to allow ships to pass from under. Today, about 10 ships – cargo carriers, coast guard ships, fishing vessels and oil tankers among others – pass through the bridge in a month. Originally, the bridge was for meter-gauge trains, but in 2007 Indian Railways upgraded the bridge to support broad-gauge trains on it.

It is a wonderful drive from Madurai to Rameshwaram, particularly the Pamban stretch of the road over an enormous blue sea. More than views, it is quite euphoric to simply pass through a road on the sea with your car windows rolled down, and take in the boisterous wind. Get off your car on a side of this two-way road and behold vistas of an aqua blue sea stretching into distance in all directions. Save for the parallel rail bridge below which gives this vast blue space a sense of dimension. Photographic opportunities abound; you can get some interesting perspectives on the rail bridge, and the flat sea with a boat or two drifting solitarily on it.

Despite being built in a cyclone-prone high wind velocity zone, Pamban Bridge has plenty of users because it is the only route to the island town of Rameshwaram. You wouldn’t, however, mind any of this, and might possibly turn up again just for the drive.

An absolute highpoint of your trip to Rameshwaram!

Special Attributes

It’s a truly refreshing drive filled with great views.

Nuisance

The site is very peaceful and free of irritants.

Dressing restrictions

Dress in whatever you find comfortable.

Connectivity

Hire a taxi or take a tourist coach from Madurai

Enjoyed by

Kids, Nature Lovers, Backpackers

Exposure

You will be under the open sky. It is extremely windy on the bridge.

Avoidable Season

Open through the year

Facilities

It leads you straight into the island of Rameshwaram.

Things Not Allowed

No such restriction

Tip

Do stop by on a side of the bridge to soak up the views, and enjoy some photography.

Type of site

Bridge/Railroad Bridge