Rama's Bridge

This is our heritage, this is not only an Indian heritage, it should be treated as world heritage site.

We have to preserve this bridge at any cost, indeed, we may need to explore this and bring out the pictures and learn about the science and art of bridge making during the time of Rama. How did they fill the dirt in the ocean, what material they used.

It brings reality to the story of Hanuman going over to Lanka.

This is world history and we need to value it.

Mike Ghouse
www.Mikeghouse.net
Dallas, Texas

It is incredible what you can do with this google map of Rama's bridge.
http://maps.google.com/maps?t=k&hl=en&ll=9.096164,79.556465&spn=0.475962,0.582275

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rama%27s_Bridge

Mysterious happenings at Sethu (Ramar) bridge at Rameswaram

Adams Bridge (popularly known as Sethu bridge or Ramar bridge) at Rameswaram , Southern tip of India is believed to have been constructed by Lord Ram and Hanuman to go to Srilanka to rescue Sita during Ramayana days. Scientists have also confirmed the existence of a bridge and matching of the bridge to the Ramayana days ( see picture on left taken by NASA through satellite)

As part of Sethusamudram Shipping Canal Project (SSCP) , Indian Government initiated the process for cutting open the ancient Ramar Bridge. Mysteriously all the costly equipments like cutters, dredgers, spuds, cranes including ships got damaged and fell into the sea.

Generally, Hindus believe that this bridge is being safeguarded by Hanuman and any attempt to damage the bridge would be failure. Inspite of the public sentiments and heritage value of the bridge (as defined by UNESCO), Indian Government wants to go ahead with the dredging of this ancient bridge. According to media reports that the Dredging Corporation of India Limited which has undertaken the project has suffered huge loss and many senior officials have also submitted their resignation.

An advocate Mr Kuppu Ram from Ramanathapuram has filed a case in a court seeking injunction against damaging the ancient bridge.

We are bringing out a special 'news feature' on this 'mysterious events' covering the public sentiments.


Rama's Bridge
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search

NASA satellite photo of Rama's Bridge—oblique, Sri Lanka to the left

Rama's Bridge seen from above the Mannar island, Sri Lanka.

Rama's Bridge as seen from the air

Map of Rama's Bridge and environs
Rama's Bridge, also called Nala's Bridge and Adam's Bridge is a chain of limestoneshoals, 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 the sea in the area is very shallow, being only 3 ft to 30 ft (1 m to 10 m) deep. This seriously hinders navigation. It was reportedly passable on foot as late as the 15th century until storms deepened the channel.[citation needed]. A ferry service linking the island and port of Rameswaram in India with Talaimannar in Sri Lanka has been suspended for some time due to the fighting between Sri Lankan government forces and the separatist LTTE; the Pamban Bridge links Rameswaram island with mainland India.

Contents
[ hide ]
1 History
2 Archaeology
3 Infrastructure development
4 See also
5 External links



[ edit ] History
The name Rama's Bridge originate in Hindu belief. According to the Hindu epic Ramayana (Chapter 66, The Great Causeway[1]), the bridge was constructed at Rama's request by his allies. The bridge was supported on floating sand rocks but the gods were said to have later anchored the rocks to the sea bed, thus creating the present chain of rocky shoals. It was said to have helped Rama to reach Sri Lanka to rescue his wife Sita from the demon king (Asura) called Ravana, who was then the ruler of Lanka.

Some Hindu groups claim that the bridge is evidence that events narrated in the Ramayana epic actually took place and cite NASA's imagery of it as proof of their claims. NASA has distanced itself from such claims:

"The images [...] may be ours, but their interpretation is certainly not ours. [...] Remote sensing images or photographs from orbit cannot provide direct information about the origin or age of a chain of islands, and certainly cannot determine whether humans were involved in producing any of the patterns seen."

[ edit ] Archaeology
Archaeological studies of the bridge are ongoing, and some archaeologists claim to have found evidence suggesting that the bridge may be older than expected.

Sea levels rose about 10 or 20 metres in the 6th millennium BCE to reach levels similar to today, so in 6000 BCE the bridge would have been an isthmus situated above sea level. As such, it almost certainly would have been a viable route for humans to have reached Sri Lanka by dry land..

[ edit ] Infrastructure development
Recently the Government of India has approved a multi-million dollar Sethusamudram Shipping Canal Project that aims to create a ship channel across the Palk Strait. The plan is to dredge the shallow ocean floor near the Dhanushkodi end of the Rama's bridge to create enough leeway allowing ships to pass through the channel instead of having to go around the island of Sri Lanka. It is expected to save nearly 30 hours' shipping time by cutting over 400 km off the voyage. However, efforts to conserve the heritage of the bridge has been initiated under the Ram Karmabhoomi movement.