What Is the Distance Between Rameshwaram and Sri Lanka?

The distance between Rameshwaram (in Tamil Nadu, India) and Sri Lanka is approximately 30-50 kilometers (18-31 miles) at the closest point across the Palk Strait.

More specifically:

The shortest route is between Dhanushkodi, located at the southeastern tip of Rameshwaram Island, and Talaimannar on the northern coast of Sri Lanka. It is about 30 kilometers across the Palk Strait.

The two points are separated by a chain of limestone shoals and sandbanks known as Adam’s Bridge (Rama’s Bridge or Ram Setu).

From Rameshwaram town itself to the nearest point in Sri Lanka, it's roughly 40-50 kilometers.

Historically and mythologically, this stretch is significant in Hindu tradition as the bridge built by Lord Rama’s army to reach Lanka in the Ramayana.

Historical records suggest that before a major storm around 1480, Adam’s Bridge was more stable and shallow, but there is no confirmed evidence that people could walk across it as a continuous land bridge.

Currently, there are no passenger ferries operating between India and Sri Lanka, so travelers must fly via Colombo or Jaffna.

Travel Options Today:

By Air: Flights operate from nearby airports (Madurai, Trichy) to Colombo, taking about 1 hour.

By Sea (historical): Ferries once connected Rameshwaram to Talaimannar in Sri Lanka, crossing roughly 30 km of water, though regular services are not currently active.

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