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Rameshwaram Tour

Rameswaram, also known as the Varanasi of the south, is a major pilgrimage center for both Shaivites and Vaishnavaites as Lord Rama ( an incarnation of Vishnu in the Indian epic the Ramayana ) offered thanks to Siva at Rameshwaram. The center of the town is the Ramanathaswamy Temple, one of the most important temples in southern India.

The town of Rameswaram is on an island in the Gulf of Manner and is connected to the mainland at Mandapam by rail. It is also connected by one of India's engineering wonders, the Indira Gandhi Bridge. It took 14 years to build and was opened by Rajiv Gandhi late in 1988. Rameshwaram is located on the island's eastern side and was once a port from which the ferry to Talaimannar ( Sri Lanka ) departed before passenger services were suspended more than a decade ago which has resulted in, very few foreign visitors.

Tourist Attractions of Rameshwaram

» The Ramanatha Swamy Temple
The Ramanatha Swamy temple is a masterpiece of Dravidian architecture and has the largest temple corridor in India. The construction of the temple started from the 12th century and was built by different rulers. The twenty-two wells of this temple are its main. Amazingly, the water of each well tastes different from that of the other. It is said that the waters of the well have curative qualities. Some of the many different festivals celebrated in the temple, include the festivals of Masi Sivarathiri, Thirukalyanam, Mahalaya Amavasai and Thai Amavasai.

» Agnitriham
Agnitriham is the popular bathing spot, located near Ramanatha Swamy Temple. Before moving ahead towards the Ramanatha Swamy temple, devotees bath at this holy spot.

» Ramjharoka Temple
The footprints of Lord Rama is placed on a Chakra at the Ramjharoka Temple. The chakra has been placed at the highest point of Rameshwaram. This point is at a distance of 5 kms from Rameshwaram town. Since it is the highest point of Rameshwaram, therefore it provides a fantastic view of the blue ocean waters below.

» Dhanushkodi
It is written in the ancient scriptures that Dhanushkodi is the place from where the monkey army of Lord Rama, started building the bridge to Lanka to reach the kingdom of Ravana. The place is named after the dhanush or bow of Lord Rama.

» Kothandaramaswamy Temple
According to the ancient belief Vibhishana, the brother of demon king Ravana surrundered himself to Lord Rama at this temple and asked Rama to forgive him for the abduction of goddess Sita. Although Vibhishana was not straightaway involved in the kidnapping but he was ashamed of the fact that the gruesome crime was committed by his own brother Ravana. Kothandaramaswamy temple has images of Lord Rama, Lakshmana, Sita, Hanuman and Vibhishana.
Rameshwaram has many small temples, apart from the main temples, dedicated to Lord Rama, Lakshaman, Sita and Hanuman. Each temple big and small of Rameshwaram does have a history of its own. Other than the temples, there is also a tomb of Saint Ibrahim Syed Aulia at Erwadi, about 24 kms away from Rameshwaram.