ISRO scientists uncover Ram Setu secrets with undersea map

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully mapped the submerged structure of Adam's Bridge, also known as Ram Setu, an ancient bridge between India and Sri Lanka mentioned in Indian religious texts. The researchers used ICESat-2 data from October 2018 to October 2023 to generate a 10-metre resolution map of the full length of the submerged ridge, sufficient to capture details of the size of a train coach.

The detailed underwater map reveals the bridge's continuity from Dhanushkodi to Talaimannar, with a staggering 99.98 per cent of it submerged in shallow waters.

According to a study published in the journal Scientific Reports, ISRO scientists used advanced laser technology from a US satellite to create a high-resolution map of the entire length of the submerged ridge.

The research team, led by Giribabu Dandabathula, discovered 11 narrow channels that allow water to flow between the Gulf of Mannar and Palk Strait, and playa crucial role in preserving the structure from sea waves.

The study confirms the origins of Adam's Bridge or Ram Setu, which was once a land connection between India and Sri Lanka. The findings provide new insights into the region's history and the formation of this ancient structure.

History of Adam's Bridge: New revelations by ISRO study

The submerged structure was named Adam’s Bridge by an East India Company mapper. The structure described by Indians as Ram Setu, is mentioned in the Ramayana as a bridge constructed by Lord Ram’s army in order to help him reach Sri Lanka, Ravana’s kingdom, to rescue his wife Sita.

Persian navigators in the ninth century AD referred to the bridge as Sethu Bandhai or a bridge over the sea. Temple records from Rameswaram indicate that the bridge was above sea level until 1480 when it was demolished by a powerful storm.

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Earlier, satellite observations pointed to an undersea construction. But these observations were primarily focused on exposed sections of the bridge. The sea in the area is extremely shallow, ranging from one to ten metres deep in parts, making navigation and ship mapping of the ridge difficult.

(With inputs from agencies)