Sethusamudram
Encyclopedia
SethusamudramSethusamudram (also Setusamudram, from Sanskrit
; setu "bridge" and samudra
"sea") is the sea that separates Tamil Nadu
, India
, from Sri Lanka
. It encompasses the Gulf of Mannar
, the Palk Strait
, and a shoal of islands and bays that separate them called Ram Setu ("Rama Bridge", also known as Adam's Bridge). The name is derived from the episode recounted in the Hindu
epic, Ramayana
, in which Rama
's army builds a bridge to cross over from Rameshwaram to Sri Lanka.
The sea is quite shallow, with a depth of less than 10 meters across most of its extent. Much of its seabed consists of limestone
rock. It formed part of a land bridge that joined Sri Lanka to the continent of Asia during the last ice age.
by the Government of India
for dredging the entire straits to make it navigable by large ships and create fishing and shipping harbours in the coastal areas.
Advantages of this project derive from obtaining a navigable sea route close to the coast, reducing in travel distance between the western and eastern coasts of peninsular India by about 350 nautical miles (due to having to circle about the island of Sri Lanka). The project was expected to potentially transform Tuticorin into a nodal port. The Government of Tamil Nadu
had also announced proposals to develop 13 minor ports, including Ennore
, Cuddalore
, Nagapattinam
, Thondi
, Valinokam, Kolachel, and Kanyakumari
in the area. Criticisms of the proposed project point out the lack of need of a sea route between the western and eastern coasts of India in the first place, as it is much cheaper in terms of money as well as time to simply transport goods through land on the Indian peninsula. Apart from these criticisms, the project has been subject to a lot of debate as most Hindus hold the 'Ram Setu' as a sacred structure and oppose any project that will damage it.
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
; setu "bridge" and samudra
Samudra
Samudra is a Sanskrit term for "ocean", literally the "gathering together of waters" Samudra is a Sanskrit term for "ocean", literally the "gathering together of waters" Samudra is a Sanskrit term for "ocean", literally the "gathering together of waters" (- meaning "together" and -udra meaning...
"sea") is the sea that separates Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, from Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
. It encompasses the Gulf of Mannar
Gulf of Mannar
The Gulf of Mannar is a large shallow bay forming part of the Laccadive Sea in the Indian Ocean. It lies between the southeastern tip of India and the west coast of Sri Lanka. A chain of low islands and reefs known as Adam's Bridge, also called Ramsethu, which includes Mannar Island, separates the...
, the Palk Strait
Palk Strait
Palk Strait is a strait between the Tamil Nadu state of India and the Mannar district of the Northern Province of the island nation of Sri Lanka. It connects the Bay of Bengal in the northeast with the Palk Bay and thence with the Gulf of Mannar in the southwest. The strait is wide. Several...
, and a shoal of islands and bays that separate them called Ram Setu ("Rama Bridge", also known as Adam's Bridge). The name is derived from the episode recounted in the Hindu
Hinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
epic, Ramayana
Ramayana
The Ramayana is an ancient Sanskrit epic. It is ascribed to the Hindu sage Valmiki and forms an important part of the Hindu canon , considered to be itihāsa. The Ramayana is one of the two great epics of India and Nepal, the other being the Mahabharata...
, in which Rama
Rama
Rama or full name Ramachandra is considered to be the seventh avatar of Vishnu in Hinduism, and a king of Ayodhya in ancient Indian...
's army builds a bridge to cross over from Rameshwaram to Sri Lanka.
The sea is quite shallow, with a depth of less than 10 meters across most of its extent. Much of its seabed consists of limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
rock. It formed part of a land bridge that joined Sri Lanka to the continent of Asia during the last ice age.
Canal project
Sethusamudram was the site of the proposed Sethusamudram Shipping Canal ProjectSethusamudram Shipping Canal Project
Sethusamudram Ship Channel Project proposes linking the Palk Bay and the Gulf of Mannar between India and Sri Lanka by creating a shipping channel through the shallow sea sometimes called Setu Samudram, and through the chain of islands variously known as Ramar Palam , ram sethu and Adam's Bridge...
by the Government of India
Government of India
The Government of India, officially known as the Union Government, and also known as the Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of the union of 28 states and seven union territories, collectively called the Republic of India...
for dredging the entire straits to make it navigable by large ships and create fishing and shipping harbours in the coastal areas.
Advantages of this project derive from obtaining a navigable sea route close to the coast, reducing in travel distance between the western and eastern coasts of peninsular India by about 350 nautical miles (due to having to circle about the island of Sri Lanka). The project was expected to potentially transform Tuticorin into a nodal port. The Government of Tamil Nadu
Government of Tamil Nadu
The Government of Tamil Nadu, headquartered at Chennai is the governing authority for the Indian State of Tamil Nadu. It is seated at the Fort St. George...
had also announced proposals to develop 13 minor ports, including Ennore
Ennore
Ennore is a suburb in Chennai, India. Ennore is situated on a peninsula and is bounded by the Korttalaiyar River, Ennore creek and the Bay of Bengal...
, Cuddalore
Cuddalore
Cuddalore is a fast growing industrial city and headquarter of Cuddalore district in the Tamil Nadu state of southern India. Located south of Pondicherry on the coast of Bay of Bengal, Cuddalore has a large number of industries which employ a great deal of the city's population.Cuddalore is known...
, Nagapattinam
Nagapattinam
Nagapattinam is a town in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and the administrative headquarters of Nagapattinam District. It is a prominent seaport on the east coast of India and an important centre of trade and commerce.The town of Nagapattinam dates back to the Sangam period...
, Thondi
Thondi
Thondi is a panchayat town in Ramanathapuram district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. An ancient port site referred in the name of Tyndis.-Demographics:...
, Valinokam, Kolachel, and Kanyakumari
Kanyakumari
Kanyakumari is a town in the state of Tamil Nadu in India. It is also sometimes referred to as Cape Comorin. Located at the southernmost tip of the Indian Peninsula, it is the geographical end of the Indian mainland. The district in Tamil Nadu where the town is located is called Kanyakumari...
in the area. Criticisms of the proposed project point out the lack of need of a sea route between the western and eastern coasts of India in the first place, as it is much cheaper in terms of money as well as time to simply transport goods through land on the Indian peninsula. Apart from these criticisms, the project has been subject to a lot of debate as most Hindus hold the 'Ram Setu' as a sacred structure and oppose any project that will damage it.