Kurusadai Islands

This is an ecological paradise situated off Mandapam. It is notable for coral reefs and rare species of marine lives such as Dolphins. Permission from the Fisheries Department in Chennai is necessary to visit the Islands. 20 kms away, these islands lie between the mainland and the Reefs and can be reached via Mandapam. Completely surrounded by a chain of coral reefs, the shallow waters sustain a remarkable variety of marine life - Starfish, Algae, Sea cucumbers, Crabs, Sponges and many more. There is a well-known shrine of Raja Rajeswari Amman about 35 kms from Ramnathapuram built inside a palace. The Gulf of Mannar has been declared as a Bio-sphere Reserve that is being developed as an ecologically sensitive area.