South India and her Muhammadan Invaders c13.s1.83

c13.s1.83

21. Kundukāla.—This is the place to which the Ceylon army of invasion marched after taking possession of Rāmēśvaram, and having arrived at the place, the general found it convenient as a centre of operations. The Ceylon General therefore made fortifications of considerable strength in it and made it his headquarters in the first stage of the war. It is described as having been midway between the seas, a description that would imply that it is a place from which one could sail south or north with equal facility. This place is said to have been attacked by Kulaśēkhara with a land army as well as a fleet of boats. This statement is quite in accordance with the local tradition, for which there is even some monumental evidence, that the narrow passage of the sea now bridged over was connected by land with the other shore. The very name Maṇḍapam, the railway station, is explained as having been given to the locality because of a pavilion to which the god of Rāmēśvaram used to be taken on occasions of an annual festival. They would not do so across the sea by means of boats. This is the place now called Kundugāl about two miles east of Pamban Railway Station, where there is a fairly good harbour, which the South Indian Railway Company make use of as their docks for repairs.