Rameswaram is an island town located in Ramanathpuram District of Tamil Nadu, India. This tourist spot has been the center of attraction for Hindu devotees across the world due to importance of the island in Hindu sacred book Ramayana and Char Dham. Though the main attraction of this temple town is the great Ramanathaswamy Temple, one of the Char Dhams in India, yet its relatively clean sea beaches, lesser crowded temples and sacred ponds give another reason to the avid travellers to add Rameswaram to their bucket list.

 

DETAILS OF TOURIST PLACES TO VISIT IN RAMESWARAM: –

Adam’s Bridge or Rama Setu

Adam’s Bridge or Rama Setu is a debatable historic bridge that connects Rameswaram island of India to the north-western coast of Sri Lanka. It is a chain of limestone shoals starts from Dhanushkodi tip of India’s Pamban Island. Pamban Island is connected to mainland India by a 2 km long bridge. It is among top tourist places to visit in Rameswaram.

 

Ramanathaswamy Temple

One of the twelve Jyotirlinga Temples dedicated to Lord Shiva, the temple of Ramanathaswamy is an architectural excellence built in the 17^th century. A must visit pilgrimage for both the Vaishnavite as well as the Shaiva sect of Hinduism the temple constitutes a major part of the popular spiritual tourism destinations in India. The actual temple is believed to have been built by Lord Rama himself and thus it has gained an esteemed position in Indian mythological reference. Internationally famous Third Corridor/ Court is almost 23 ft high, running East-West 690 feet; North-South 435 feet and the inner wing – running East-West 649 feet and North –South -395 feet. There are 1212 Pillars in these corridors. This gives an exotic, massive, elegant and Palatial Corridor view which stumps the tourists awestruck. Today’s Ramanathaswamy Temple houses the longest temple corridor in the world, which is 197 meters long and 133 meters broad and stands with 1200 massive granite columns. It is the among top tourist destination in Rameswaram.

 

Gandamadana Parvatham

It is a hillock situated 3 kms away and it is the highest point in the island. It is believed to be the same mountain mentioned in the Ramayana from where Hanuman was about to fetch the medicinal herbs to save Laxman. It is believed to have imprints of feet of Lord Rama. One can see the imprint of Lord Rama’s feet on a chakra here. It’s also a point to view entire island of Rameswaram.

 

 

 

The PANCHAMUGA [Five-Faced] Hanuman Temple

It is located just 2 kms from the main temple; the deity of the hanuman is drawn with senthooram (Vermillion). The statue of Lord Hanuman is smeared with sindoor and worshipped with utmost devotion. Idol of Lord Ram, Sita and Hanuman brought from Danushkodi during the 1964 cyclone are placed there. The Floating Stone used to build the Sethu Bandhanam or the bridge between India and Lanka too can be found in this temple. It is among top tourist places to visit in Rameswaram.

 

Satchi Hanuman Temple

It is 3 kms from the main temple, on the way to the Gandamadana Parvatham. This temple is the place where hanuman delivered the good news of finding Sita to Rama with of jewel that belonged to Sita.

 

Jada Theertham

It is located 3.5 kms from Rameswaram on the way to Dhanushkodi Village, Jada Tirtham is known among the Hindu devotees for the sacred pond. It is believed that, Rama on his return from Lanka after killing Ravana, washed his Jada [hair] in this theertham to purify him before proceeding to worship Ramalingeswarar. Hence this holy water body is called Jada. It is among top tourist places to visit in Rameswaram.

 

 

Water Bird Sanctuary

There are around five hundred water tanks in Ramanathapuram District and most of them are the happy hunting grounds for water birds from October to January during the monsoon season. Migratory birds from as far as Europe and Australia come for breeding here. Arichamunal Bird Sanctuary at Danushkodi, the Kanjirankulam and Chittirankudi Sancturies on the mainland in Ramanathapuram are a paradise for bird watchers. October – January is the good period to visit these sanctuaries. It is among top tourist attraction in Rameswaram.

 

 

Villoondi Theertham

It is said that before burying the bow here Lord Rama shot an arrow into earth from where a stream of sweet water emerged to quench Sita’s thirst. There is a temple of Ekantha Ramar which is constructed on the same place where Lord Rama took rest before launching attack on Lanka. It is among top tourist places to visit in Rameswaram.

 

 

 

 

Ariyaman Beach

On the side of the Palk Bay in Ramanathapuram District, It is a much sought after tourist spot in Rameswaram. The waters here are calm and have gentle waves. The beach is clean and fringed by casuarinas trees. The watch tower and Children Park are very popular. Water Scooters and Wind surfing are some adventurous water sports facilities available here, apart from the regular Aquarium and Museum.

 

 

Dhanushkodi

It is strip of land one km wide and 18 km long on the eastern end of Rameswaram. This land piece is on in between the Indian Ocean and Bay of Bengal. These oceans were called as Ratnakaran and Mahodadhi. Their confluence looks like a bow and the strip of land looks like an arrow ready to be released. Hindus consider the Adi Sethu or the arrowhead as a sacred place to perform religious rites. Today’s Dhanushkodi Temple is nothing but a ruin of the temple described in different versions of the Ramayana. In case you are curious enough to discover the plot of Ram Sethu, do not forget to explore Dhanushkodi. It is exotic beach stretch with bird life. This was completely washed away by The 1964 cylone. Tourists enjoy surfing here. It is among top tourist places to visit in Rameswaram.

 

 

MUSEUMS

 

1. Archealogical Site Museum, Varthagan Street.

2.Gandhi Gallery, West car street

3. Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Bio-Zoological Marino exhibition,Mandapam

4. Aquariaum Opp: Central Bus Stand, Rameswaram, Ph: 91-4573-222811

 

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