Travel Guide - Rameswaram

Rameswaram

Rameshwaram is one of the holiest places in Tamil Nadu region in southern India. It is one of the most renowned pilgrim places in the region and is located on a beautiful island in the lower side of India and is separated by a small Pamban channel from Sri Lanka. Rameswaram is the holiest pilgrimage place for the Hindus. Every year several people visit the place with holy intentions of offering sacred prayers to Lord Rama. It falls in the Gulf of Mannar and is a peninsula. According to the Hindu mythology, this is the place where Lord Rama created a bridge across the sea to Sri Lanka. Lord Shiva too is worshipped in this place. It’s a place where Ravana was killed and hence it has a great historical foundation. It is also known as Varanasi of southern India. It has one of the famous Jyotirlings in the place which one would like to worship as a part of Hindu culture. The place has several wonderful temples, which are a great master piece of creativity. The place has highest number of wells as well. It is a holy place to perform several rituals and people from all across the globe come at this particular place to worship Lord Rama and offer sacred prayers to the holy deity. The place has wonderful sculpture of Lord Rama encarved in several walls of the temples and the statues of the lord are made with great artistic essence.

When To Go

Rameswaram has a tropical climate and can be visited any time of the year. But the best time to visit is from October to April.

• Winters (November to February) are cool and temperature comes down to 17 °C. This is the most pleasant season for sightseeing and visiting neighborhoods.
• Summers (March to June) has on an average temperature of 35°C, accompanying moderately hot weather and tourists prefer this season for visiting temples.
• Monsoons (July to September) are humid with average rainfalls. During monsoon, the scenic view of the coastal region is enjoyable.

October to June are pleasant and ideal for all kinds of pilgrims to visit the temples and also good for outings. July to September can be opted for visit if you are ready to get wet in rains.

History

Rameshwaram, the holy town has associated with the Mythological tales of Rama. The name of the city itself has been derived from Rameshwara, which was an ‘Iswara’ that was installed by Lord Rama. According to the Puranas, Rama along with Sita and Lakshman came to the town to perform a sacred Puja in order to do penance for the sins for Bhramahatya.

It is believed that Rama had fixed an auspicious time for conducting the Puja, and sent Anjaneya to get the lingam from Mount Kailash. However, Anjaneya could not return in time. Thus, Sita caricatured a lingam of sand and they performed the Puja on time.

After successful completion of Brahmahata Dosham ceremony, Lord Rama along with Umadevi announced that anybody who takes bath in the Danudkodi and prays to the Shivalingam, will be known as Ramalingam. Hence, the place came to be known as Rameshwaram after the deity called Ramanathswamy.

When Anjaneya returned with lingam, he found that the Puja was nearly over and in anguish tried to remove the sand lingam from his tail. In spite of many attempts, he was not able to do so and realized the divinity of Sita. Then Ram ordered him to place the lingam that he brought on the northern side of Ramalingam. After it Rama also ordered that people should worship the Ramalingram, only after worshipping the lingam that was brought and installed by Sri Anjaneya.

Travel within city

The city of Rameswaram is a very popular destination in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. This is one of the most popular tourist hotspots in Tamil Nadu, mainly because of the religious importance that Rameswaram is given by members of the religious community. A lot of pilgrims visit Rameswaram too, and the public transport system in Rameswaram is moderately developed and decently organized.

Bus

You can opt for buses while traveling within the city of Rameswaram, as this is the easiest mode of transport. Buses in Rameswaram ply through the main road to the major bus stand, covering all major areas in the process. Bus charges will range around Rs 3 to 5, and buses will normally be crowded during the peak hours. Only semi deluxe buses are available for public transport services, and air conditioned buses will soon be released.

Auto Rickshaw

You can also travel through auto rickshaws, though the auto rickshaws in the state of Tamil Nadu never run on meter. You will have to fix up a particular price by talking to the driver before boarding the auto rickshaw. Auto rickshaw fares will range around Rs 15 to 30/40.

These are the available modes of transport within the city of Rameswaram and choosing the right mode can be quite challenging. Auto rickshaws will help you in case you are in a hurry and there are no night charges involved too.

Attractions

Sri Ramanathaswamy Temple

    mustsee

It is a beautiful temple in southern India which was created for worshipping lord Rama as Hindu mythology has a great history for the place and it has been a great pilgrim place for the people who have the wish for achieving salvation in life. There are seven such places in India where one would like to offer prayers for achieving salvation in life and Rameshwaram temple is one of those. Whole Ramayan has been conceived in this place and it has a great mythological importance.

The place is wonderful with good climatic condition and the temple is located near the sea. The whole temple is built on strong pillars and it has the longest corridor in whole of India.

Agnitheertham

    popular

Agnitheertham is a pilgrim place where in people believes that taking bath in the place washes away their sins. The temple is constructed facing the eastern direction and there is a large lake in the temple whose water is considered to be holy enough. There are about 22 wells in this place and it is one amongst the 12 jyotirlings of India. The water of all the 22 wells has different taste and one can taste the waters of all of them so as to have all flavors of life in it.

It is believed that the water has several medicinal properties too and several different life threatening diseases can be cured by taking water from the different wells from this place.

Dhanushkodi Temple

    popular

Dhanushkodi is a wonderful temple on the southern tip of India and it was completely washed away by the cyclone. The location of the place is wonderful and it being an island is covered by waters on all the four sides of it. It is located near the Bay of Bengal and Indian Ocean on the other side. The seas are in the shape of bow and arrow when viewed from the top. The arrow head is considered to be a sacred place for worship by the Hindus and people from far and wide come there to offer sacred prayers to the deity. Lord Rama has his pious feet even in this temple and whole story of Ramayana revolves here as well. It is a wonderful pilgrim place for the followers of Lord Rama. The place stays to be around 18 kms from Rameshwaram and one can easily travel by road.

Gandhamadhana Parvatham

    popular Gandhamadhana Parvatham is the deity of several communities in southern India and the temple of Gandhamadhana is most renowned and worshiped in the southern India. The temple is two storeyed and Lord rama's feet are imprinted on the chakra placed in the temple.

There are several pilgrims longing to visit the place and offer their offerings to the feet of Lord Rama with holy intentions. It is a holy place and people from all over India come to the place as it has got great historical importance. Other pilgrim places too exist in the neighbourhood and one can even visit them once one is out for a pilgrimage.

Jada Tirtham

    popular Kaveri tirtham is the holy tirtham in southern India where god Kapardishvara is worshipped. Jada tirtham is another small temple within Kaveri Tirtham and it too has its own mythological importance. The temple is constructed in near the trunk of a large peepal tree and all the deities are supposed to have rested there while they had been in banvas.

The temple is small in construction but is a great master piece of lattice work and the artmanship is wonderful. It is famous for its beauty and uniqueness. Though small, its beauty lies in it being small enough and it too is among the famous pilgrim places in southern India.

Jatayu Tirtham

    popular Jatayu tirtham is the holy temple created in the memory of Jatayu, which was the most loyal eagle of Rama and who helped lord Rama at several instances in getting herbs from the mountains. It lost its life in order to save the life of lord Rama and hence its sacrifice is always appreciated and it is worshiped as a deity even today. It was buried in the soil when it died and Jatayu temple has been created at the place of its burial. The whole of its pit was filled with vibhuti, which is the holy ash that is obtained after the yagnas.

Kothandaramaswamy Temple

    popular Kothandaramaswamy temple is situated on the southern most tip of India and is situated on the island near Bay of Bengal. Indian Ocean covers it from all its sides. There had been several instances of cyclone in the area but the temple stayed to be intact even in most critical times.

It too has the history and story of Ramayan in its footings. Here, Vibhishana, Ravan's brother joined hands with Rama and hence Vibhishana too is worshiped at this place. The temple has several wonderful paintings all around the walls of it which flows with the flow of Ramayana and one can enjoy being in the temple with the guide who keeps narrating the story at every instance of time.

Lakshmana Tirtham

    popular Lakshmana Tirtham has been constructed in memory of Lord Lakshman, brother of Lord Rama. In order to offer sacred prayers to lord Lakshmana, temple has been constructed in Rameshwaram itself which indicates that Lord Lakshman had been given a valuable place in the dynasty of Lord Rama. Several wonderful sculptures of Lord Lakshmana have been carved out from marble and the temple has the statues of lord Rama and Goddess Sita too, as they are never supposed to be separated as they stayed united all their lives. This shows the trustworthiness of Lakshman towards his family and especially his elder brother Rama and Goddess Sita.

Rama Tirtham (Gandamadana)

    popular Rama tirtham is constructed on the Gandamadhana Parvata hence forth it is also called Gandamadana. It is constructed on the island and is considered to be the most sacred pilgim place in southern India. In this temple there is a charka on which the imprints of Lord Rama have been encarved. It is little away from Dhanushkodi, which is a place where Rama met Vibhishana and that place too has its own historical importance.

There is hilly region all around which is a good tourist place. So while one is on the pilgrimage, one can enjoy the beauty of life as well in the nearby places.

The Five-faced Hanuman Temple

    popular Five faceted Hanuman temple is the most renowned temple in Rameshwar. It has mythological evidence where Hanuman showed his profile with five faces. He is believed to be adorned with senthooram at this particular place. When hanuman showed revealed his five faceted profiles. The statues of all Rama, Laxman, Sita and Hanuman are placed in the temple and all have been sacredly worshiped as if they have lives in them.

The actual soul of the Gods is supposed to have been put into the idols and the temple indeed has great historical evidence. There is floating stone outside the temple which was used to create the bridge on the sea as prescribed by our Indian mythology.

Annai Indira Gandhi Road Bridge

  

It is the longest bridge in southern India. It connects Rameswaram Island to the main land. It's constructed over the bay. It is 7 kms away from Rameshwaram and is also called the Pambam Bridge as it is located beside Pamban, the sacred place where Rama could quench the thirst of Sita by throwing an arrow in the place where they could actually retrieve cool water.

The place has its historical evidence as well as is a good and strong bridge from the point of construction. The ships too can be passed under the bridge and all other vehicles above the bridge and hence it is most convenient means of communication for all different kinds of means of communication.

Badrakaliamman Temple

   A giant temple of Badrakali exists in southern India and there is a wonderful tower with its top studded in gold and at the same time the statue too is made from gold. This is what attracts everyone to visit the place. Several voluntary organizations have come up to manage the giant temple and its functioning. The temple has been renovated from time to time and hence different master pieces of different ages can be seen in the temple. It is the largest temple of Ma Kali in southern India and she is the holy mother for several followers in southern India.

Hanuman Temple

   Hanuman has been the most renowned deity in Indian epic. Hanuman temple is a wonderful temple in southern India in the region of Rameshwaram. The temple is a wonderful art piece which shows the live movie of how Hanuman played a very crucial role in the time of Ramayan and how he helped Rama to get mother Sita back to Ayodhaya. The statues are carved out of the wood and they practically move like puppets revealing the incidence of Ramayana. It indeed looks wonderful how hanuman flies in the air with his sacred ability to fly and how that actually helped Rama when the places were tough to penetrate through.

Nambu Nayagiamman Temple

   This is another good temple of Lord Rama and has its foundation long back in the 14th century. It has been constructed by the people of Ramnad district and is located in Ramnad itself. The temple is simple and open with beautiful gardens surrounding the place. There are huge and giant bells in the temple and is situated on the way to Dhanushkodi. So while one is out for the pilgrimage and takes a tour to all the wonderful temples of Rameshwar, this wonderful temple is included in the tour because of its specific qualities of being giant and highly simple.

Villoondi Tirtham

   Villondi tirtham is the place where lord Rama buried his bow and villondi means a buried bow. It is considered to be a sacred place by most of the followers of Lord Rama. It is about 7 kms from main Rameshwar temple and the same road then goes to Pambam which is another holy place where the thirst of Goddess Sita was quenched by hitting the arrow in the sea. A single spot where drinking water is available in the midst of salty sea makes the great attraction for the people to visit the place. It has its mythological history even today.

Itineraries

Distances

Kanyakumari	325 km	6h, 20m
Trivandrum	401 km	7h, 20m
Chennai	566 km	9h, 50m
Bangalore	577 km	9h, 50m

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