Floating stones, savage sea, and sacred skill: 5 facts about Ram Setu created by mythical architects

Ram Setu is one of the most interesting, yet controversial geographical features in the Indian subcontinent. Stretching about 50 kilometers across the shallow waters of the Palk Strait, it connects Pamban Island near Rameswaram in India to Mannar Island in Sri Lanka. In terms of geography, the causeway is made up of a chain of limestone shoals and sandbanks, which are clearly visible in satellite images and aerial views.

What makes Ram Setu such an intriguing topic of discussion, is the powerful threads of stories that surround it. It stands at the crossroads of mythology, archaeology, and natural science. To some, it is a manually made structure as described in the ancient Indian epic ‘Ramayana’. To others, it is a natural coral formation shaped over thousands of years. Which makes it a debatable topic. Here are some mind-boggling stories about the Ram-setu.

The story of Ram Setu has always walked the line between faith and science. According to the Ramayana, it was built by Lord Rama and his monkey army to rescue Sita from Lanka, which is a tale many have grown up hearing. An interesting aspect relating to this is that the carbon dating of nearby materials suggests parts of it could be around 7,000 years old, which strangely lines up with the epic’s timeline. On the flip side, scientists say it’s a natural formation made of coral and sand. But its perfectly straight path across the sea leaves questions about its natural origins.

Historical accounts and maps that date back before the 15th century suggest that Ram Setu may have once been a walkable stretch. Locals and old travel records claim it was used by foot travelers to cross the Palk Strait. The strait has an estimated depth of just 3 to 30 feet in places, it's possible the shoals rose above sea level at one time. Stories also suggest that it was navigable on foot until severe storms submerged parts of it. It is because of this shallow depth that the ships have to make a roundabout to go from India to Sri Lanka and visa versa.

Ram Setu is believed to have been built using stones that could float on water as mentioned in the ‘Ramayana’. Even today, locals and visitors go to see the floating stones of Rameshwaram, which are supposed remains of the ridge that Lord Rama built to save his abducted wife from the demon king ‘Raavan’. While this seems mythical, science offers a possible explanation. Some types of volcanic rocks, like pumice, are porous and light enough to float temporarily. Though there is no conclusive proof of the bridge’s construction method, the presence of such stones in the region makes the age-old legend of Ram Setu more interesting.

Ram Setu is known by various names across cultures. Hindus call it Rama's Bridge or Nala Setu, after the engineer Nala who led its construction in the Ramayana. In Islamic texts, it’s called Adam’s Bridge, believed to be the path Adam walked after descending from paradise onto Adam’s Peak in Sri Lanka. This range of names give this piece of land cross-cultural significance and the spiritual meaning it holds for different communities.

Scientists agree that the bridge-like formation includes sandbanks, silt, and coral reefs. It likely formed over centuries through sedimentation, reef growth, and wave action. Despite these explanations, the almost perfect alignment of the shoals connecting two land masses is still questionable. The scientific consensus is that while the structure is natural, it might have been altered or used by ancient civilizations as a land route.