Located in the Ramanathpuram District of Tamil Nadu and separated by the Pamban Channel, Rameshwaram is one of its kind pilgrimages having a hallowed existence in a small piece of land which attracts every Hindu devotee from across the globe. The temples in Ramashwaram take you to the era of Ramayana with enough physical evidences to reinforce your religious beliefs. The main attraction of this temple town is the great Ramanathaswamy Temple, which is considered as one of the Char Dhams in India. Other than that, the clean sea beaches, lesser crowded temples and sacred ponds give another reason to the enthusiastic travelers to mark Rameshwaram as one the hotspot religious destination in India. Also, the prime reason to make it one among the most sought after traveling destination for global travelers is its close proximity to the most popular tourist spots which are known for its picture perfect landscapes and religious significance like Pondicherry, Munnar, Kanyakumari & Madurai.
Here is a list of the top 10 places to visit in Rameshwaram.
The Temple Of Ramanathaswamy
Ramanathaswamy Temple or the temple of Lord Shiva is one of the 12 Jyotirlinga temples and the hallmark of Indian architectural excellence built in the 17th century. According to the Indian mythological reference, it is said that this temple has been built by Lord Rama himself and thus it makes a major part of the popular spiritual tourism destination in India. With 197 meters long and 133 meters broad corridor with 1200 massive granite columns, Ramanathaswamy Temple houses the longest temple corridor in the world.
Jada Tirtham
Jada Thirtham is considered to be the only temple in India, where Lord Kapardisvara is worshipped. This temple is located around 3.5 km from Ramanathaswamy Temple, on the way to Dhanushkodi Village. It is believed that when Rama was about to worship Shiva Lingam in Rameshwaram after killing Ravana, he washed his Jata (matted hair) in Jada Thirtam.
Dhanushkodi Temple
Lined with shallow beaches, historical remnants and vast horizons of azure sea, Dhanushkodi or ‘end of the bow’ temple is a must see tourist spot in Rameshwaram. Today’s Dhanushkodi Temple is nothing but a ruin of the temple described in different versions of Ramayana. However, if you’re curious to discover the plot of Ram Sethu, this place is a must explore.
Gandhamadhana Parvatham
This mountain is believed to be carried by Lord Hanuman on his shoulder when he went to fetch the medicinal herbs to save Laxman mentioned in the Ramayana. Also, it is considered to be the highest point in Ramashwaram and is just 3km away from the centre of the town. You could have a bird’s eye view of the whole island from the peak.
Five Faced Hanuman Temple
This temple is only 2km away from the Ramanathaswamy Temple. It is believed that Hanuman revealed his five-faced form for the first time in this place. The statue of Lord Hanuman is smeared with sindoor and worshipped with utmost devotion. The temple here enshrines the statues of Rama, Laxman and Sita. There is a floating stone in the temple which is believed to have been used during Sethu Bandhanam as mentioned in the Ramayana.
Rama Setu
Rama Setu or Adam’s Bridge is a dubious historical bridge which connects the Rameshwaram island of India to the northwestern coast of Sri Lanka. It is a chain of limestone shoals starting from the Dhanushkodi tip of India’s Pamban island which is connected to the mainland India by a 2km long bridge.
Annai Indira Gandhi Road Bridge
With 143 pillars (each of which is 220 feet in length and 100 tonnes in weight), Annai Indira Gandhi Road Bridge or Pamban Bridge is claimed to be the first Indian bridge and connects the Rameshwaram Island with the mainland India. Initially, the name used to refer the rail route only which has a double leaf bascule section midway. This double leaf bascule functions well till date and it can be raised to let ships go. The bi-lane road passing next to this bridge is another attraction in Pamban and obviously allows you to have a glimpse of the railway bridge if you are driving over the bridge.
Lakshmana Tirtham
This is a very divine place located nearby the Ramanathaswamy Temple. It contains several illustrations of Ramayana carved on its walls. A sacred pond, is dug near the temple where visitors often go for taking a dip.
Kothandaramaswamy Temple
This is a 500 year old temple located at the southernmost tip of the island. It is believed that Rama did the last rites of Pattabhishekam of Vibhishan in this place. Even the walls of the temple are scribbled with the paintings which depicts the same story.
Ariyaman Beach
With a 150 metres wide beach stretching to a length of 2km, Ariyaman Beach makes an ideal picnic spot with your family and friends. This beach is located in Ramanathapuram District. You could enjoy boating or get involved in various marine sports like wind surfing or water scooter ride. Parasailing is an exciting activity you could enjoy here.
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