One of India’s most unusual railway journeys still takes place every day above the waters of the Bay of Bengal.
The train route connecting mainland Tamil Nadu to the island town of Rameswaram is officially
the only passenger rail route in India where trains travel across the sea through a historic bridge stretching deep into the ocean. The route passes over the famous Pamban Railway Bridge, a structure that has fascinated travellers, engineers and photographers for more than a century.
Located between Mandapam on the mainland and Pamban Island near Rameswaram, the bridge cuts across open seawater, offering passengers dramatic panoramic views of waves, fishing boats and the vast coastline below. During rough weather, the experience can feel almost surreal as trains appear to glide directly over the sea.
The Pamban Railway Bridge was inaugurated in 1914 during British rule and remained India’s first sea bridge for decades. The engineering structure stretches more than 2 kilometres and was considered a remarkable achievement at the time because of the difficult marine conditions in the region.
One of the bridge’s most famous features is its historic double leaf bascule section in the centre. This movable segment was originally designed to open upward to allow ships and boats to pass through underneath. For decades, it became one of the most recognisable railway engineering landmarks in India.
The route itself is deeply connected to both tourism and pilgrimage. Rameswaram is considered one of Hinduism’s holiest pilgrimage sites and attracts thousands of visitors every year because of the Ramanathaswamy Temple and its association with the Ramayana.
Over time, the bridge also became a viral travel attraction on social media. Videos showing trains slowly moving across the sea frequently gain millions of views online, especially during sunrise, storms or high tide conditions.
The bridge has also withstood several devastating cyclones during the years. A catastrophic cyclone had destroyed the town of Dhanushkodi, which is near the bridge in the year 1964. The bridge was subsequently repaired and was made operational.
A new vertical lift sea bridge would be built along with the existing bridge by Indian Railways. However, the old Pamban Bridge continues to hold enormous heritage significance and remains one of the most iconic railway routes in the country.
Even today, few train journeys in India feel quite as dramatic as watching endless blue water on both sides while slowly crossing one of the country’s most legendary sea bridges.
