Mandapam is a panchayat town in Ramanathapuram district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. As of 2001 India census[2], Mandapam had a population of 15,799. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Mandapam has an average literacy rate of 71%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 75%, and female literacy is 66%. In Mandapam, 13% of the population is under 6 years of age. Mandapam is the main land linking the Island of Rameswaram. It is the Gateway to many small islands. It is bestowed with a quite beach for sun and surf.
Mandapam Capm : Mandapam means 'hall' in Tamil. This place is a hall where refugees congregate. Some are allowed to stay, the rest are transferred to other districts in Tamil Nadu. The refugee camp in Mandapam was built to accommodate Indian Tamils fleeing Sri Lanka after the island regained independence. As long as the British were ruling Ceylon, as it was then called, they ensured that there were no inter-community clashes. But after Independence there was no such restraining factor and the Sri Lankan Tamils forced the Indian Tamils out. That was when Mandapam first came into focus.
Business in Mandapam: Fishing is the main source of business in mandapam. About 800 motor-boats are engaged in fishing at Mandapam. Moreover, it earns a lot
of foreign exchange for the nation and helps the allied industries like boat
building, net making and other works. In Ramanathapuram disrtict 2 fish processing factories, functioning with freezing units in Mandapam. Prawn,
squids, cuttle fish, Crabs and fish are processed by fishing and exported to foreign
countries. Many small entrepreneurs are
involved in fish drying and dried fish is used in poultry and cattle feed manufacturing. More over there are four diesel Bunks, Six Commercial Ice Plants, three Boat Yards. There are around 6,000 people employed in Fishing sectors here.
Research Stations: The Central Marine fisheries Research Institute was established
at Mandapam in 1947. Researches are conducted
on various disciplines of fisheries such as Seaweeds culture, Chanks, Pearl culture, Sea
Cucumber and new technologies are transferred to fishermen.
Kurusadai Marine Biological Research Station at Mandapam, under the control
of State Fisheries Department conducts useful research on fauna and flora of the island.
Tourism: Lying on the
Ramanathapuram – Rameswaram
National Highway
and
just 19 kms before Rameswaram lies this sleepy coastal
village
of
Mandapam. Prior to the 1914 train service linking
the mainland with Rameswaram, boats were the only mode of transport to ship the
pilgrims on their journey to Rameswaram. It is possible to take a boat for a cruise through the mangrove marshes
to Kurusadai
Island. There is a possibility to
convert this opportunity into a tourist attraction by providing small mechanized
boats from Mandapam for both cruises as well as discovery of the coral reefs in
neighbouring islands subject to non-pollution and destabilization of the fragile
and precious marine ecosystem of this region.
Kurusadai island: This
Island lies to
the west of the Pamban
Bridge between
the mainland and the island. It is
a Marine Biosphere, a paradise for the Marine Biologists and nature lovers. Marine wealth are abound here which
attract many a scholars and researchers to this Island. It is about 4 KMs from Mandapam. One should approach fisheries department
for permission to visit this island. Off Kurusadai
Island one could
see plenty of coral-reef, fish. Dolphins and sea-cows (Dugong) are also often witnessed.