The Gulf of Mannar is a marine National park on the south eastern tip of India which consists of 21 Islands some eight km off the coast of Tamil Nadu. Spreading over an area of 623 hectares (10,500 km²), the area described as the Pamban-to-Tuticorin barrier reef was declared a National Park in 1986 and later converted into a Biosphere Reserve in 1989.

The park has a distinguished marine life which runs along the coasts of Ramanathapuram and Tuthukudi (Tuticorin) districts near Mandapam – 150 kms away from Madurai area. The park is a part of the Indian Ocean and lies between India and the west coast of Sri Lanka at a width between 160 and 200 km. A chain of low islands and reefs known as Rama's Bridge (based on the epic Ramayana), also called Adam's Bridge, separates the Gulf of Mannar from the Palk Strait, which lies to the north between India and Sri Lanka. Tambaraparani River from the coast of India and the Aruvi Aru from the coast of Sri Lanka merges with the Indian Ocean on both sides of the park.

Of the 21 islands, seven islands belong to Mandapam group, seven islands to Keelakarai group, three islands to Vembar group and four remaining islands to Tuticorin group. There are beaches, estuaries, and tropical dry broadleaf forests in the park, and  three distinct marine ecosystems such as sea grass, coral reefs and mangroves along with algal communities and salt marshes.  Around 11 species of seagrass, totally recorded in India are found in the reserve. The Kurusadai Islands, off Manadapam boasts of a vast expanse of shallow waters. Marine National Park, one of the richest coastal regions in Asia, contains over 3,600 species of flora and fauna most of which are in their virgin form. Nearly 117 species of Hard coral  have been recorded in the Gulf of Mannar. The reef is home to sprats, herrings, barracuda, sea horses, dolphins, Balano-glossus, sea cucumbers, pearl oysters and turtles. The sandy shores of the islands provide a nesting habitat for about 5 species of marine turtles. Migratory birds also visit these islands. But due to destructive fishing and pollution, coral reefs, dolphins, Dugongs (Dugong Dugon), whales and sea cucumbers are among the species which figure in the endangered list. 

Permission is needed for visiting the islands and it will take around three days to visit all the islands.  

How to get there: 

Air: Nearest airport is in Madurai 150 kms away
Rail : Nearest station is Mandapam, Rameshwaram (7km) and Tuticorin 
Road : Rameshwaram is 5km away from the park and Ramanathapuram is 40 km away. There are plenty of buses available from both these places to the National Park.

Accommodation : 

Accommodation is available both in Rameswaram (5 km) and Ramanathapuram (40km).

Contact:

For permissions to visit the islands

• Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wild Life Warden, 
  Panagal Building, 
  No. 1 Jeenis Road, 
  Saidapet, Chennai 15.

• The Wildlife Warden, 
  Gulf of Mannar, Marine National Park, 76/1, 
  Madurai Salai, Mandapam, 
  Ramanathapuram District - 623501.
  Phone : 04567-230079