Rameshwaram Travel Guide

Rameshwara  is a small  island  in the palk  strait  and is referred  to as the Benaras of the South .  ‘Rameshwaram’   or the place  where lord  Rama rested  on his  way to defeat  Ravana   in Lanka  is a blessed   pilgrim  centre of Rama’s  followers.  This is a centre  for both  Shaivites and Vaishnavites . It was  here  that  Rama (an incarnation  of Vishnu  and hero  of the Ramayana) offered  thanks to  Shiva. At the town’s core is the Ramanathaswamy temple, one of the most important temples in south India.

Rameshwara  is on an island  in the gulf  of Mannar,  connected  to the  mainland  at  Mandapam  by rail, and  by  one of India’s   greatest  engineering  wonders, the Indira  Gandhi  bridge,  which was opened by Rajiv Gandhi  in 1988. The town lies on the island’s eastern side.

Places of attraction

Ramanathswamy Temple : It is one of India’s most worshipped temples. Legend has it that Rama sanctified this place by worshipping Siva after the battle of Lanka. A fine example of late Dravidian architecture this temple is most renowned for its four magnificent corridors lined with elaboratory sculptured pillars. 

The great corridor (4000 ft.) is India’s longest. Each corridor has hundreds of pillars and rich carvings. There are 22 Theerthams  (tanks ) within  the complex are believed  by devotees to have particular powers. The fresh water spring in the temple is said to have medicinal properties. The Cholas founded the temple but most of the temple was built in the Nayaka  period  (16th -17th centuries). It is a massive structure enclosed by a huge rectangular wall with Gopurams in the middle of three sides. Open 5am to noon 4 to 10pm.

Kothandarswamy   Temple and Dhanushkodi : A valiant survivor  of the 1964  cyclone the temple is the mark of Vibishana’s  (Ravana’s  brother) surrendering  to Lord Rama here. Agnithertham  is a seafront close  to the Ramanathaswamy  temple. The teertham (holy water) is calm and ideal for bathing. A trip or Dhanusoki is recommended for the stalwart.

Gandhamathana  Parvatham is a small hill north of the Ramanathswamy  temple . The imprint of Lord Rama’s feet on a chakra attracts the pilgrims for blessings. Its  name is derived from the Sanskrit words Gandha ( fragrance) and Mad ( intoxicate ) ‘highly fragrant hill place’. Dedicated to Rama’s feet this is leap across the narrow Palk Strait to Sri Lanka.

Adam’s  Bridge is a chain of reefs  sand banks and islets  which were once supposed to  have been a bridge built by Hanuman  and his army of monkeys all the way to Lanka.

Coral Reefs: Coconut palms and swaying tamarind trees fringe these sandy beaches. A wide variety of sea creatures live in these reefs. The Kurusadai  Island on the west of Pamban  Bridge are ideal places for exploration. The Gulf of Mannar has been declared as a biosphere reserve and is being developed as an ecologically sensitive area. It is about 20 kms from Rameshwaram via Mandapam.

Thiruppullani  : It is 14 kms from Rameshwaram. It is a Vishnu shrine. It is also called Dharbasayanam as Lord Rama took rest on a couch of grass here.
Thiruvanai  Pularanyam  Adhisedhu and Ratnaharam  are the other names of this place.

Ramanathapuram: This place is also known as Sethupeetam. There is at the centre of the town and inside the fort is Ramalinga Vilasam-the palace of the Sethupathis.