PALK BAY General information Topography. Palk Bay, the continuation of Palk Strait in S, is bounded on the E by the coast of Sri Lanka, on the S by Mannar Island, Adam's Bridge, and Pamban Island, and on the W by the coast of Tamilnadu. Depths within the bay range from 10 to 15 m but depths less than 5 m lie up to about 6 miles offshore on its E and W side. The E side of the bay is indented by two smaller bays and contains numerous islands. Prohibited anchorage As shown on the charts, anchoring is prohibited in a large area (uncharted), in N of Adam's Bridge (09°05'N, 79°33'E) due to existence of Submarine cables. Currents. Adam's Bridge (09°05'N, 79°33'E) lies between the W end of Mannar Island and Land's End (the E point of Pamban Island).A strong current sets N over the Adam's Bridge during the SW monsoon. Near Mannar Island, generally a confused sea is experienced which, together with the current, weakens W towards Land's End. Landmarks West Channel to Pamban Pass: Rameswaram Temple (09°17'.30N, 79°18'.98E). RadioTower (09°17'.54N, 79°18'.27E) (4.124). Rameswaram lighthouse (09°19'.10N, 79°19'.66E) Pamban Island Lighthouse (09°17'.28N, 79°13'.11E) Water tower (09°16'.67N, 79°08'.29E). Gandhamana Temple (09°18'.18N, 79°18'.07E). Major lights: Rameswaram lighthouse (09°19'.10N, 79°19'.66E) Pamban Island Lighthouse (09°17'.28N, 79°13'.11E). Point Calimere to Pamban Pass The route leads about 40 miles SW across open water, from a position in the general vicinity of 09°50'N, 79°40'E to a position off Pamban, passing NW of Delft Island which has a beacon at its NW and SE point, NW of Kachchaitivu (09°23'.28N, 79°31'.30E), an island covered with scrub; and NW of Devil's Point, the N extremity of Pamban Island, which is low and sandy with many coconut trees towards its W end. Rameswaram Temple is the first landmark raised when approaching Pamban Pass from N. It should not be confused with Gandhamana Temple, 1¼ miles NW of Rameswaram temple. A large clump of trees (elevation 33 m) about 7½ cables ENE of Gandhamana Temple appears, with the temple, like a pair of hills when the land is raised from N.Storm signals are displayed at Rameswaram. PAMBAN ISLAND General Information. Pamban (09°16'.87N, 79°12'.85E), a small town and roadstead port, lies close NW extremity of Pamban Island. Cargo is handled by lighters to and from the beach. The port is administered by a Conservator and has a Superintendent of Customs. Topography Pamban Island (09°16'.00N, 79°18'.00E), lying between Adam's Bridge and Raman Point (Dhanushkodi) on the Indian mainland, is generally low and featureless with no hills and few conspicuous landmarks from the offing; at its W end coconut plantations extend N and NE from Kundugal Point. The islands fringing the coast in the vicinity of Pamban Pass are very low. Storm signals are displayed from a flagstaff close to Pamban Island Light. Anchorage. Anchorage may be obtained in 6.7m, mud, good holding ground, with Pamban Island Light bearing between 122° and 134°, distant 1 mile, noting the wreck about 2½ cables SW. Further offshore, good anchorage may be obtained in 10m, mud, with Pamban Island Light bearing 135°, distant about 3 miles, as shown on the chart. Facilities. Hospital; de-ratting certificates are reported to be available. Supplies. Water, in casks, by boat; limited fuel oil. Route. The coastal route leads 19 miles W from a position S of Land's End (09°09'.98N, 79°25'.85E) to a position SSW of Pamban Island. Natural conditions Currents. Currents are subject to large changes in set and rate during the course of a year. Local weather. During the SW monsoon haze often hangs over the islands lying in the approaches to Pamban Pass and obscures them. Principal marks Landmarks. Rameswaram lighthouse (Devil’s point light) (09°19'.10N, 79°19'.66E) (White square tower, red spiral bands, 15 m in height), standing on NE point of Pamban Island, about 1 mile WSW from Devil’s Point. Rameswaram Temple (09°17'.30N, 79°18'.98E) (50 m in height), appears as a narrow pinnacle when viewed from SE/NW and as a large square tower from SW/NE. A radio tower stands close SW to it. Radio (Doordarshan) Tower (09°17'.54N, 79°18'.27E) (307 m in height). Beacon (white with black band, triangular, 9.4 m in height) (09°14'.47N, 79°14'.30E) standing on the E point of Shingle Tivu. Pamban Island Lighthouse (09°17'.28N, 79°13'.11E) (White masonry tower, black bands, 20 m in height), standing on a sandhill at the NW point of Pamban Island. Water tower (09°16'.86N, 79°09'.51E). Radio tower (09°16'.80N, 79°09'.00E). Water tower (09°16'.67N, 79°08'.29E) (red square tower on a framework structure, 26 m in height),the tower is conspicuous except when bearing more than 050°; another similar structure standing 1¼ miles farther E. Beacon (09°13'.00N, 79°08'.00E) (not charted), a white beacon standing close NE of Manalli Tivu. The tower is conspicuous except when bearing more than 050°; another similar structure standing 1¼ miles farther E. Lands End to Manalli Shoal. The coastal route leads 19 miles W from a position S of Land's End (09°09'.98N, 79°25'.65E) to a position S of Manalli Shoal, passing: S of Margarita Shoal (09°07'.09N, 79°24'.21E) and a dangerous wreck lying 2 miles NNE of the shoal, then to, S of Mansfield Patch (09°08'.81N, 79°17'.53E), the NNE of a group of detached patches which lie close together, then to S of Arundel Shoal (09°07'.57N, 79°16'.39E), which consists of coral patches, then to S of Batt Patch (09°10'.78N, 79°15'.29E), a shoal patch over which the sea breaks in a fresh breeze, then to a position S of Manalli Shoal (09°10'.51N, 79°07'.75E). Useful marks Lands End (09°09'.98N, 79°25'.65E), the SE point of Pamban Island; a small but prominent building stands near the point. Temple (09°10'.82N, 79°24'.65E). Two radio masts stand 4 cables and 1¾ miles, respectively, SW of RameswaramTemple . Gandhamana Temple (09°18'.18N, 79°18'.07E) (44 m in height), not to be confused with Rameswaram Temple when viewed from N. Naval jetty. A 50m long wooden jetty is present at the Naval Detachment, Rameswaram, controlled by the navy. Facilities A boat basin with a 75m long fishing jetty is present at the eastern side of the Pamban Island adjacent to the Rameswaram port office. The place is connected with the Indian railway network.