Adam's Bridge Marine National Park

Adam's Bridge, also called Rama's Bridge, is a chain of limestone shoals and sandbanks running some thirty kilometres west from Talaimannar towards the Indian coast, mostly submerged but with several banks exposed at low water. It was walkable within historical memory before storms deepened the channels. The Sri Lankan section became a marine national park in 2015, protecting seagrass beds, dugongs, dolphins and enormous numbers of migratory birds using the sandbanks.

What you actually see

• The sandbanks - exposed shoals in a chain running west towards India.
• The seagrass beds - dugong habitat in the shallow water around the banks.
• The migratory birds - terns, gulls and waders using the banks in numbers.
• The clear shallows - very shallow turquoise water over pale sand.

When to go

December to March is the calmest and the best for birds. Boats depend entirely on sea conditions and are cancelled often. Summer is hot and the light is harsh.

Honest expectations

Boat access requires a permit and is frequently cancelled for weather. There is no infrastructure and no shade on the banks. Landing is restricted in parts of the park.

Nearby

Talaimannar is at the eastern end, and Mannar town is east.