Pamban Island (Tamil: பாம்பன் தீவுpāmpaṉ tīvu), also known as Rameswaram Island, is an island located between peninsular India and Sri Lanka, on the Adam's Bridge archipelago. The second largest island in the latter, Pamban Island belongs to India and forms the Rameswaram taluk of the Ramanathapuram district of the state of Tamil Nadu. It is the largest island in Tamil Nadu by area. The principal town in the island is the pilgrimage centre of Rameswaram.
Pamban Village in Rameswaram Island
Fishing schooners leaving for an evening haul with a narrow promontory on the western tip of Pamban Island in the background
Pamban Island is situated between 9°11' N and 9°19' N latitude and 79°12' E to 79°23' E longitudes. The chain formed by Pamban Island, the shoals of Adam's Bridge, and Mannar Island of Sri Lanka separate Palk Bay and the Palk Strait in the northeast from the Gulf of Mannar in the southwest. Pamban Island extends for around 30 km in width from the township of Pamban in the west to the remains of Dhanushkodi towards the south-east. The length of the island varies from 2 km at the Dhanushkodi promontory to 7 km near Rameswaram. The area of the island is around 67 km2.
Demographicsedit
Pamban Island constitutes a separate taluk of Ramanathapuram district with four administrative divisions, Okarisalkulam, Mahindi, Pamban and Rameswaram.[1] There are two administrative villages, Pamban and Rameswaram. The two main towns on Pamban Island are Pamban and Rameswaram. There are also smaller settlements upon the island like Thangachimadam. The taluk headquarters is at Rameswaram. There are railway stations at Pamban and Rameswaram.
Rameswaram with a population of 44,856 (2011 census) is the largest and most populous town on the island. It is one of the most sacred Hindu religious sites and a pilgrimage destination for thousands of Hindus every year. The Ramanathaswamy Temple at Rameswaram has the longest corridor in Asia. Rameswaram is situated at the centre of the island, around 11 kilometres from the township of Pamban and 18 kilometres from Dhanushkodi.
Pamban, situated at the western edge of Pamban Island, is a fishing village and a harbour which is the main point of entry for the pilgrimage centre of Rameswaram. It has a population of around 9,000 inhabitants. Its importance has enhanced because it is located at the eastern end of Pamban Bridge through which supplies enter the island. Pamban is 11 kilometres from Rameswaram, 30 kilometres from the tip of Dhanushkodi and around 7 kilometres from Mandapam on the Indian mainland. It is separated from the Indian mainland by a narrow strip of sea.
Thangachimadam, situated between Pamban and Rameswaram, is a minor settlement. It derives its name from a mutt (Madam) which is located in the town. There are a couple of temples and a few churches. The township is also served by a police station. Ekantharamar Temple constructed and maintained by the Kanchi mutt is the main attraction here.
At the eastern tip of the island lies the site of Dhanushkodi, a harbour and a pilgrimage centre, which was washed away by the December 1964 cyclone. Prior to its destruction it was a flourishing township and a prominent place of pilgrimage. In its heyday, it rivalled Rameswaram in size and population. However, the December 1964 cyclone destroyed the town in its entirety claiming over 2,000 lives and crippling power supply and communications. Houses, temples, churches, dispensaries and dharmashalas were destroyed leaving nothing but a ghost town. Some of the dharmashalas and a prominent mutt based in Dhanushkodi have been moved to Rameswaram. But Dhanushkodi could never be rebuilt. Dhanushkodi was well connected by rail and road with Pamban and the mainland until the cyclone struck. The ruins of the station and the railway track have been left untouched thereby making the ghost-town a popular tourist destination.
Pamban Island has a few hillocks and elevated physical features in the vicinity of Rameswaram of which Mt. Gandamadana is the tallest. It is believed that this was the hillock from whose summit Lord Rama observed Sri Lanka and conceived the idea of constructing a bridge between India and Sri Lanka. A temple commemorates the site.
Most of Pamban Island is covered with white sand and hence is not suitable for cultivation. Coconut and palm trees are found in abundance along with fig and eucalyptus plants. Scrubs and rushes are found in abundance all along the sea-shore.
Panorama of Pamban island and ships sailing on Bay of Bengal from Pamban Bridge
^Detailed map of Rameswaram taluka (dead link 8/23/2020)
External linksedit
"Discover the less explored Pamban Island"
Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 19, p. 375
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pamban Island.
May 08, 2024
pamban, island, other, uses, pamban, pamban, disambiguation, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, n. For other uses of Pamban see Pamban disambiguation This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Pamban Island news newspapers books scholar JSTOR September 2017 Learn how and when to remove this message Pamban Island Tamil ப ம பன த வ pampaṉ tivu also known as Rameswaram Island is an island located between peninsular India and Sri Lanka on the Adam s Bridge archipelago The second largest island in the latter Pamban Island belongs to India and forms the Rameswaram taluk of the Ramanathapuram district of the state of Tamil Nadu It is the largest island in Tamil Nadu by area The principal town in the island is the pilgrimage centre of Rameswaram Pamban Village in Rameswaram IslandFishing schooners leaving for an evening haul with a narrow promontory on the western tip of Pamban Island in the backgroundGeographyCoordinates9 15 N 79 18 E 9 25 N 79 3 E 9 25 79 3Area96 km2 37 sq mi Length17 70 km 10 998 mi Width9 65 km 5 996 mi Coastline37 km 23 mi Highest elevation10 m 30 ft AdministrationIndiaStateTamil NaduDistrictRamanathapuramTalukRameswaramDemographicsPopulation82 682 2011 Map of Pamban island in 1955 Contents 1 Location and size 2 Demographics 3 Physical features and vegetation 4 Notes 5 External linksLocation and size editPamban Island is situated between 9 11 N and 9 19 N latitude and 79 12 E to 79 23 E longitudes The chain formed by Pamban Island the shoals of Adam s Bridge and Mannar Island of Sri Lanka separate Palk Bay and the Palk Strait in the northeast from the Gulf of Mannar in the southwest Pamban Island extends for around 30 km in width from the township of Pamban in the west to the remains of Dhanushkodi towards the south east The length of the island varies from 2 km at the Dhanushkodi promontory to 7 km near Rameswaram The area of the island is around 67 km2 Demographics editPamban Island constitutes a separate taluk of Ramanathapuram district with four administrative divisions Okarisalkulam Mahindi Pamban and Rameswaram 1 There are two administrative villages Pamban and Rameswaram The two main towns on Pamban Island are Pamban and Rameswaram There are also smaller settlements upon the island like Thangachimadam The taluk headquarters is at Rameswaram There are railway stations at Pamban and Rameswaram Rameswaram with a population of 44 856 2011 census is the largest and most populous town on the island It is one of the most sacred Hindu religious sites and a pilgrimage destination for thousands of Hindus every year The Ramanathaswamy Temple at Rameswaram has the longest corridor in Asia Rameswaram is situated at the centre of the island around 11 kilometres from the township of Pamban and 18 kilometres from Dhanushkodi Pamban situated at the western edge of Pamban Island is a fishing village and a harbour which is the main point of entry for the pilgrimage centre of Rameswaram It has a population of around 9 000 inhabitants Its importance has enhanced because it is located at the eastern end of Pamban Bridge through which supplies enter the island Pamban is 11 kilometres from Rameswaram 30 kilometres from the tip of Dhanushkodi and around 7 kilometres from Mandapam on the Indian mainland It is separated from the Indian mainland by a narrow strip of sea Thangachimadam situated between Pamban and Rameswaram is a minor settlement It derives its name from a mutt Madam which is located in the town There are a couple of temples and a few churches The township is also served by a police station Ekantharamar Temple constructed and maintained by the Kanchi mutt is the main attraction here At the eastern tip of the island lies the site of Dhanushkodi a harbour and a pilgrimage centre which was washed away by the December 1964 cyclone Prior to its destruction it was a flourishing township and a prominent place of pilgrimage In its heyday it rivalled Rameswaram in size and population However the December 1964 cyclone destroyed the town in its entirety claiming over 2 000 lives and crippling power supply and communications Houses temples churches dispensaries and dharmashalas were destroyed leaving nothing but a ghost town Some of the dharmashalas and a prominent mutt based in Dhanushkodi have been moved to Rameswaram But Dhanushkodi could never be rebuilt Dhanushkodi was well connected by rail and road with Pamban and the mainland until the cyclone struck The ruins of the station and the railway track have been left untouched thereby making the ghost town a popular tourist destination Physical features and vegetation editThis section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Pamban Island news newspapers books scholar JSTOR August 2020 Learn how and when to remove this message Pamban Island has a few hillocks and elevated physical features in the vicinity of Rameswaram of which Mt Gandamadana is the tallest It is believed that this was the hillock from whose summit Lord Rama observed Sri Lanka and conceived the idea of constructing a bridge between India and Sri Lanka A temple commemorates the site Most of Pamban Island is covered with white sand and hence is not suitable for cultivation Coconut and palm trees are found in abundance along with fig and eucalyptus plants Scrubs and rushes are found in abundance all along the sea shore nbsp Panorama of Pamban island and ships sailing on Bay of Bengal from Pamban BridgeNotes edit nbsp Islands portal Detailed map of Rameswaram taluka dead link 8 23 2020 External links edit Discover the less explored Pamban Island Imperial Gazetteer of India v 19 p 375 nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pamban Island Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pamban Island amp oldid 1213356448, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
