Rameswaram

 

Pamban Island

Rameswaram

Rameswaram is a Spiritual and beautiful city situated on Pamban Island between India and Sri Lanka in Tamil Nadu State.

It is also one of the famous Pilgrimage places and is Included in the Char Dhams (Four Abodes) of India.

This city is connected with the major events held in one of the most well-known stories of Ramayan.

How to plan a tour??

The best time to visit Rameswaram is in Winter and during Monsoon.

A minimum of two days is required to visit all the famous destinations in Rameswaram.

The nearest Airport to Rameswaram is Madurai which is approx 170 KM away so from there can book a cab.

The railway station of Rameswaram is connected with almost all major cities like Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, Bengaluru, etc.

The most fascinating mode to travel to Rameswaram is Road Trip!! We have started Road Trip from Bengaluru and then 1st traveled to Kodaikanal, Madurai and later we reach Rameswaram. 

Our Stay

Hotel MCM Towers

We stayed at Hotel MCM Towers which is located nearly 6 mins of walking distance from Rameswaram Temple and from Railway Station it is approx. 1.6 KM away.

Although this Hotel seems to be residing on a narrow pathway this can have a very good car parking facility.

Places to visit in Rameswaram.

The main reason to visit this city is the Rameswaram Temple which is also known as Arulmigu Ramanathaswamy Temple.

There are many more places for the tourist attraction which are listed below:

Pamban Bridge.

Rameshwaram Beach.

Ramarpadam.

Ramar Theertham.

Panch Mukhi Hanuman.

Laxman Theertham.

House of Kalam.

Dhanushkodi.

Villoondi Theertham.

Vivekanand Temple.

Rameshwaram Temple

    

Arulmigu Ramanathaswamy Temple

Rameswaram Temple is also known as Arulmigu Ramanathaswamy Temple. It is one of the 12 jyotirlinga temples.

The primary god in this temple is Ramanathaswamy which means Shiva in the form of Lingam, established by Ram before crossing his bridge to Lanka.

In this temple, there are two lingams, from which one built by Ram from sand which is called Ramalingam and the second brought by Hanuman from Kailash called Vishwalingam.

Rama instructed that Vishwalingam must be worshiped 1st which was brought by Hanuman.

The frame in the post depicts the beautiful artwork in the corridor of the temple.

Timings to visit the temple are 5:00 am to 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm to 9:00 am.

Pamban Bridge

Pamban Bridge.

Pamban Bridge is also known as Annai Indira Gandhi Road Bridge.

It is the 1st Longest Sea Bridge before Worli - Bandra Sea Link in Mumbai, Maharashtra.

It connects the town of Mandapam in mainland India with Pamban Island and Rameswaram.

Agni Teertham Beach

Agni Teertham Beach

Agni Teertham Beach

Agni Teertham Beach is one of the pilgrimage places in Rameswaram. It is the most visited place for the Holy bath near Rameswaram Temple.

According to the Legends of Ramayan after killing Ravan who was Half Brahmin and a devotee of Lord Shiva, Ram had prayed to Lord Shiva to atone sin of killing a Brahmin.

This theertham is also linked to another mythology. According to mythology, after their return from Lanka, Lord Rama expressed worries about Goddess Sita's chastity, causing Goddess Sita to undergo Agnipariksha.

Goddess Sita had ordered Lord Lakshmana, Lord Rama's brother, to light a fire after hearing the doubts voiced against her. She then sat in front of the fire to prove her purity. Despite sitting in the flames, she was unharmed, and Lord Agni appeared to prove Goddess's purity. Later, Lord Angi bathed in the sea and prayed to Lord Shiva to atone for his sin of touching Goddess Sita when she sat on fire. So, this is the reason that this place is called Agni Teertham.

Ramarpadam

Ramarpadam

Ramarpadam is also spelled as Ramar padham or Gandhamadhana Parvatham or Ramar Paatham.

It is located on a hill named Gandha Madhana parvatham.  This temple has Lord Rama's feet embossed on chakra on the First floor of the temple.

According to Legends of Ramayan, at this place, Hanuman told Lord Ram that he had found Goddess Sita in Sri Lanka and then Lord Ram stood here and planned for the Bridge before building Ram-Setu. 

Timings to visit the temple are 7:00 am to 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm.

Ramar Theertham

Ramar Theertham

Ramar Theertham

This theertham is where Lord Rama is said to have bathed. In front of the Ramar Theertham is a Rama temple, where Lord Ram bestows Sita, Laksman, and Hanuman upon his followers.

Timings to visit the temple are 5.00 AM to 8.00 PM.

Panchmukhi Hanuman

Panchmukhi Hanuman

Panchmukhi Hanuman means the five-faced Hanuman temple. It is located 2 KM away from the Rameswaram Temple.

This temple is dedicated to Lord Hanuman and with other faces of Lord Narasimha, Lord Adivaraha, Lord Garuda, and Lord Hayagriva. 

The 'floating stones' that have been placed at the temple for pilgrims to observe are another prominent attraction of this temple. 

These floating stones were used to construct the Sethu Bandhanam floating bridge connecting Rameshwaram and Lanka, allowing Lord Rama, Lord Lakshman, and others to go to Lanka to rescue Goddess Sita and put an end to demon Ravana's atrocities.

Timings to visit the temple are 6:00 AM to 1:00 PM and  4:00 AM to 8:00 PM.

Laxman Theertham

Laxman Theertham

Laxman Theertham Pond

Laxman Theertham is located approx. 1 KM away from the Rameswaram Temple. This is also one of the pilgrimage places of Rameswaram. 

According to Legends of Ramayan, Lord Laxman had installed the Shiv Lingam here and offered prayers to Lord Shiva.

This temple has carved monuments of Lord Laxman, Lord Rama, and Goddess Sita.

Timings to visit the temple are 6:00 AM to 12:00 pm and 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm.

Dhanushkodi

Dhanushkodi

Dhanushkodi is a ghost town located on the south-eastern edge of Pamban Island in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. 

It's about 24 kilometers west of Talaimannar in Sri Lanka, and it's southeast of Pamban. 

The town was completely destroyed by the cyclone that hit Rameswaram in 1964, and it has been deserted since then. 

During the day, only a few vendors and eateries, as well as the remnants of the long-destroyed town, have been observed at Dhanushkodi.

Dhanushkodi is said to be the Last Land of India and from here Ram-Setu or Adam's Bridge can be visible.

Villoondi Theertham

Villoondi Theertham

Villoondi Theertham Well

Villoondi Theertham Beach

Villondi Theertham is a small well dug into the ocean near Rameshwaram. 

According to the history of this place, Lord Rama dug this well by aiming an arrow into the ocean, in order to quench Sita's thirst.

House of Kalam

House of Kalam

The Rameswaram is also a Home Town of Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. 

Nearly 1.5 KM away from Rameswaram Temple there is a residence of Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam which is called the House of Kalam.

Photographs from the president's childhood and his journey from a small town youngster to one of the country's most respected scientists are on display in the exhibit. Dr. Kalam's achievements in the field of study during his formative years, as well as his honors and acclaim from around the world, have been noted by the museum.

Timings to visit the Temple are as follows:

Friday 8:00 AM to 12:45 PM and 3:00 to 7:30 PM

And on other days 8:00 AM to 7:30 PM

Vivekanand Temple

Vivekanand Temple

Vivekanand Temple Beach

On the 26th of January 1987, Raja Sethupathi of Ramanathapuram welcomed Swami Vivikenadana, an Indian Hindu monk and chief disciple of the 19th-century saint Ramakrishna, at Kundukal on his journey back to India after his devotional discourse at the Parliament of Religions in Chicago. A monument was erected at the site to commemorate the address. 

The memorial is open to the public, however, there is a cost to enter. The Vivekananda Memorial Centre is 15 kilometers from the bus station in Rameshwaram.

Nearby cities to visit.

If you are on a long vacation and to explore more in Tamil Nadu then famous destinations near Rameswaram are Kodaikanal, Madhurai, Kanyakumari, and many more.