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Every road and rail journey to Rameswaram ends with a crossing of the Pamban channel, the strip of sea between Mandapam on the mainland and Pamban Island. Crossing it is one of the most memorable moments of any South India road trip: blue-green water on both sides, fishing boats below and, beside you, the line of the railway bridge running just above the waves.
“Pamban Bridge” can mean three different structures, and since 2025 the picture has changed. Here is what you will actually see today.
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The three Pamban bridges
The old Pamban rail bridge (1914)
Opened on 24 February 1914, the original railway bridge was India’s first sea bridge and, at about 2,065 metres, the longest in the country until the Bandra–Worli Sea Link opened in 2010. It stands on 143 piers and is famous for its double-leaf bascule section in the middle, which was raised by hand to let ships pass. It survived a severe cyclone in 1964 that damaged it badly and was repaired and returned to service.
Corrosion in the salty, cyclone-prone environment eventually weakened the bascule section, and trains stopped using the old bridge in December 2022. Dismantling began in February 2026, starting with the central lift span, with the girders and track on other sections to follow. Depending on when you visit, parts of the old bridge may already have been removed.
The new Pamban rail bridge (2025)
A new railway bridge was built alongside the old one by Rail Vikas Nigam Limited between 2020 and 2024 and inaugurated on 6 April 2025. It is about 2.07 km long, with 99 spans of 18.3 metres and a 72-metre central span that rises vertically, like a lift, to let vessels pass. It is India’s first vertical-lift sea bridge. The bridge is electrified and built to take a second track in future, though one track is in use at present.
Trains to Rameswaram, including services from Chennai, now cross on the new bridge. The tall steel towers of the lift span are easy to spot from the road bridge.
The Annai Indira Gandhi Road Bridge (1988)
Until 1988 the railway was the only way to reach Rameswaram by land. That year the Annai Indira Gandhi Road Bridge, about 2.3 km long, was opened by Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. It carries the national highway to Rameswaram and rises well above the water, giving the best views of both rail bridges. This is the bridge you cross by car.
How to see Pamban Bridge
- From the road bridge: cars cross in a few minutes. The bridge carries fast highway traffic, so stopping on the carriageway is unsafe; let your driver choose a spot where parking is allowed and follow any police instructions.
- From the shore: on the island side, the area around Pamban village gives views of the rail bridges from closer to the water.
- By train: crossing the new bridge by train is an experience in itself; check current train services with Indian Railways.
- The lift span in action: the central span of the new bridge is raised only when vessels need to pass, so seeing it lifted is a matter of luck.
Practical tips
- Light: early morning and the hour before sunset give soft light and calmer winds.
- Wind and weather: the channel is very windy, especially in the south-west monsoon months; hold on to hats and phones. During cyclone warnings in the north-east monsoon (October to December), traffic may be restricted, so keep an eye on the weather.
- Safety: do not climb onto rail structures or walk on the old bridge; it is closed and being dismantled.
- Combine: continue to the Ramanathaswamy Temple and the drive to Dhanushkodi and Arichal Munai.
Visiting from Pondicherry
Rameswaram is about 429 km from Pondicherry, a full day’s drive, so most travellers reach the bridge as part of a southern circuit via Madurai. Our Madurai, Rameswaram and Kanyakumari tour crosses the Pamban channel by car with driver, with time to stop at the viewpoints. For more drives like this, see our road trips page.
Frequently asked questions
Is the new Pamban Bridge open?
Yes. The new vertical-lift railway bridge was inaugurated on 6 April 2025 and trains to Rameswaram now use it. The old 1914 bridge closed to trains in December 2022.
Can cars drive on Pamban Bridge?
Cars use the separate Annai Indira Gandhi Road Bridge, opened in 1988, which runs parallel to the railway bridges. Both rail bridges carry only trains.
What happened to the old Pamban Bridge?
It stopped carrying trains in December 2022 because of corrosion, and dismantling began in February 2026, starting with its central lift span.
How long is the new Pamban Bridge?
About 2.07 km, with 99 spans of 18.3 metres and a 72-metre vertical-lift span in the middle.
Is there an entry fee for Pamban Bridge?
No. There is no ticket; you simply cross the road bridge or view the rail bridges from permitted spots.
