Ancient and Medieval ports of the Gulf of Mannar Coast, East coast India and their Maritime Connections across Indian Ocean Countries

The Gulf of Mannar lies in the south-eastern corner of India, bordered by Sri Lanka on the  south  east.  It  covers  the  coast  of Tamil  Nadu  from  the  island  of  Rameswaram  to Kanniyakumari.  This  region  witnessed  extensive  long  distance maritime  activities  from the  Early  Historic  period;  from  500 BCE  to  500  CE.