Located around 2 km from the southern coast of Tamil Nadu, Pamban or Rameswaram is a needle-like island that stretches outwards across the Palk Strait that separates India from Sri Lanka. From the southernmost tip of this island, Dhanushkodi Point, Sri Lanka is just around 30 km away, separated by the Gulf of Mannar marine national park and Adam’s Bridge. The island has a rich history. It is the setting of a crucial moment in the mythological epic Ramayana; this is where the god-king Ram got his army of monkeys to build a bridge to Lanka, with the blessings of the sea god. As such, Rameswaram town is a central pilgrimage site for those who worship Ram. Here is a look at some photos that capture the haunting beauty of this island. ALSO READ: Padmaavat’s Chittorgarh; Photos of Chittorgarh Fort Immortalized in an Epic Tale Also Read - 2 People Arrested After They Were Caught Killing Crows & Selling Their Meat to Chicken Stalls

Pamban Bridge is a railway bridge which connects the town of Rameswaram on Pamban Island to mainland India

Pamban Bridge is a railway bridge which connects the town of Rameswaram on Pamban Island to mainland India Also Read - Chennai-Madurai Tejas Express to be Flagged Off by PM Narendra Modi: All You Need to Know



A view of Pamban Rail Bridge during sunrise

Pamban Rail Bridge Sun Rise Also Read - TN govt to set up college in Rameswaram, named after Kalam

Fishing boats moored by the coast of Rameswaram on Pamban Island

Rameswaram in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is located on Pamban Island separated from mainland India by the Pamban channel



Ramanathaswamy temple and the Rameswaram Beach Gate, as seen from the Arabian Sea

Ramanathaswamy temple, Rameswaram Beach Gate view from arabian sea

Pamban beach on the island, with fishing boats on the tranquil waters

Pamban beach, Rameshwaram, Tami Nadu, India

Local fishermen in their wooden boats in Ramesawaram

Local fishermen in their wooden boats do fishing on Februari 17, 2013 in Ramesawaram, Tamil Nadu, India. Rameswaram is a major fishing harbor in South India

Buffalo-drawn wagons back home for the evening

In the evening arrive buffalo-drawn wagons that were taken caught fish

Talaimannar pier on the northwestern coast of Mannar Island

Talaimannar pier, Sri Lanka. Talaimannar is located on the northwestern coast of Mannar Island and about 18 miles from Dhanushkodi indian town

Talaimannar Lighthouse; located in Sri Lanka, Talaimannar lies 18 miles from Dhanushkodi

Talaimannar Lighthouse. Talaimannar is located on the northwestern coast of Mannar Island and about 18 miles from Dhanushkodi indian town

An abandoned church in Dhanushkodi

Dhanushkodi is an abandoned town at the south-eastern tip of Pamban Island of the state of Tamil Nadu in India.An estimated 1,800 people died in the cyclonic storm on 22 December

Ruins of the small village of Dhanushkodi. An estimated 1,800 people died in a cyclonic storm, and the town has remained abandoned since then

Rameshwaram, India - November, 21st, 2017. Ruins of the small village Dhanushkodi

Pamban Island’s appeal lies in the fact that it almost seems displaced between two countries. The Ramanathaswamy Temple in this island’s central town is a major draw for those who follow the tales of the Ramayana. The temple is dedicated to the god Shiva, with the presiding ‘lingam’ of Shiva said to have been established by Ram himself. After emerging victorious in a bloody war against Lanka’s king Ravana, this is where Ram prayed to Shiva to absolve his sins. Beyond the pilgrimage sites, Pamban island is a fishing town, and its eastern tip holds the ruins of Dhanushkodi, a town swallowed by a cyclone many decades ago and deserted since then.