Map of Pamban island in 1955
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Geography | |
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Coordinates | 9°15′N 79°18′E / 9.25°N 79.3°ECoordinates: 9°15′N 79°18′E / 9.25°N 79.3°E |
Area | 96 km2 (37 sq mi) |
Highest elevation | 10 m (30 ft) |
Administration | |
India
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State | Tamil Nadu |
District | Ramanathapuram |
Taluk | Rameswaram |
Demographics | |
Population | 82,682 (2011) |
Pamban Island (Tamil: பாம்பன் தீவு), also known as Rameswaram Island, is an island located between peninsular India and Sri Lanka. The island is a part of India and forms the Rameswaram taluk of the Ramanathapuram district of the state of Tamil Nadu. The principal town in the island is the pilgrimage centre of Rameswaram.
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 kilometres 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 kilometres at the Dhanushkodi promontory to 7 kilometres near Rameswaram. The area of the island is around 67 square km.
Pamban Island constitutes a separate taluk of Ramanathapuram district with four administrative divisions: Okarisalkulam, Mahindi, Pamban and Rameswaram. 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 38,035 (2001 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.