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: Padmaavats Chittorgarh; Photos of Chittorgarh Fort Immortalized in an Epic Tale Also Read - 4 Feet Tall 'Grand Bell' Weighing 613 Kg For Ram Mandir Arrives in Ayodhya From Rameswaram
Pamban Bridge is a railway bridge which connects the town of Rameswaram on Pamban Island to mainland India
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A view of Pamban Rail Bridge during sunrise
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Fishing boats moored by the coast of Rameswaram on Pamban Island

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

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

Local fishermen in their wooden boats in Ramesawaram

Buffalo-drawn wagons back home for the evening

Talaimannar pier on the northwestern coast of Mannar Island

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

An abandoned church in Dhanushkodi

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

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.