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According to the epic Ramayana, a sea bridge had been built to connect India with Sri Lanka. With the sea and ocean on three sides and innumerable rivers criss-crossing the country, India is known for its water features, and consequently building bridges too based on the prevailing technology. Some of these bridges, especially in modern times, are not only proof of India's engineering prowess but also tourist attractions. We bring you a list of some of the famous bridges.
The Jadukata Bridge, set in the West Khasi Hills district, is built over Kynshi River. The cantilever bridge with a central span of 140m, it is surrounded by greenery in all directions. The bridge is about 130km from state capital Shillong and not far from the Indo-Bangladesh border. If you are lucky, you may be rewarded with a view of a cloudless sapphire sky, dreamy waves, and the lush greens creating a perfect harmony.
This bridge over the Hooghly River connects the twin cities of Kolkata and Howrah. The present bridge (better known by its older name of Howrah Bridge) was opened to the public in 1943 and replaced an older pontoon bridge over the river. Interestingly, the bridge does not have any nuts and bolts but was made by riveting the entire structure. It is said that the first vehicle to cross the bridge was a tram. While the bridge is busy with traffic and pedestrians in a hurry, for a grand view take a boat ride.
Spanning the Lohit River, a tributary of the Brahmaputra River, this beam bridge—officially called Bhupen Hazarika Bridge—connects the villages of Dhola and Sadiya, both in Assam. The construction of the bridge has reduced the travel time between Assam and Arunchal Pradesh, with the interstate border a short distance away from Sadiya. According to travellers who have visited the bridge, an early morning drive is most pictureque with the sun's rays painting the waters with streaks of orange.
The bridge is an engineering marvel built over the open sea. The Sea Link traverses the Mahim Bay along the Arabian Sea, extending from Bandra to Worli, reducing the travel time to around 10 minutes. With its cable-stayed towers soaring skywards, the bridge looks like an art piece from far, especially when lit up at night.
Running over the Godavari River in the city of Rajahmundry, it is often used to symbolise the city. This bow-string girder bridge looks especially gorgeous during the evenings as the golden arcing rays illuminate the undulating waves.
Over a century old (opened to the public in 1914), the rail bridge connected the island of Rameswaram to the mainland at Mandapam across the waters of the Bay of Bengal. However, the bridge (closed to rail traffic) stands to be replaced soon with the opening of India's first vertical lift sea bridge. Running parallel to it is the Annai Indira Gandhi Road Bridge.
