About Rameswaram
Rameswaram - Island City
Rameswaram is located in the “Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserves” and is relatively small in terms of area. Standing firmly in the middle of India and Sri Lanka with its clean sea breezes, less-crowded temples, and sacred ponds, this famous “Island City” has been the center of attraction for travelers across the world. Rameswaram, one of the Char Dhams of India and an avid place for Hindu devotees, is one place you must add to your travel bucket list. Wondering what places to cover on your next trip to Rameswaram? Listed below are some of the best places to visit in Rameswaram that will definitely quench your thirst for spirituality and peace.
Popular Places In Rameswaram
To enjoy the presence of something so sacred and divine is what a trip to Rameswaram is about. Take a look at these places to visit in Rameswaram and get set to experience the best of this land.
SRI RAMANATHASWAMY TEMPLE
This is one of the very few temples in the history of India that is built in Dravidian-style architecture and is one of the famous temples to visit in Rameswaram. Your Rameswaram sightseeing isn’t complete without paying a visit to this temple. Sri Ramanathaswamy Temple is famous for its collection of Lingas, which are made up of sand, salt, stone, and other elements. According to stories, there were around 112 ponds here, out of which only 22 are left. This popular tourist attraction in Rameswaram, with the second-largest pillared corridor in the world, is one of the must-visit tourist places in Rameswaram.
THE FIVE-FACED HANUMAN TEMPLE
Situated just 2 km from Rameswaram Temple, this temple is famous for the five manifestations of Lord Hanuman and is listed among the most prestigious places to see in Rameswaram. This famous idol is carved out of a large Senthooram stone, which was considered very precious in ancient times. The Hanuman Temple is said to house stones used to build the Rama Setu, the bridge built by Hanuman’s army of monkeys in order to rescue Goddess Sita from Lanka.
DHANUSKODI BEACH
Dhanuskodi lies at the southern tip of Rameswaram and is bordered by the Bay of Bengal on one side and the Indian Ocean on the other, merging at the very tip of the beach, such that one can tell apart the high tides of the former from the low tides of the latter. Dhanushkodi is among the top tourist places in Rameswaram. The beach town was heavily populated prior to the devastation caused by the storm of 1964. But now, with a population of merely 500 fishermen and their families, the town has been declared a ‘Ghost Town’ by the government and is among the prominent places to visit in Rameswaram.
KALAM NATIONAL MEMORIAL
Kalam National Memorial was built in honour of India’s great leader and renowned scientist, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam. This great personality always reflected simplicity, calmness, and depth, which is excellently showcased in his memorial. It is one of the most important places to visit in Rameswaram and attracts tourists from all over the world to witness India’s diversity. The memorial has an impressive collection of Mr. Kalam's, including replicas of missiles, information about the Pokhran Nuclear Test, and rockets. The place is a beautiful blend of Mughal and Indian architecture.
PAMBAN BRIDGE
One of the famous places in Rameswaram, Annai Indira Gandhi Road Bridge or Pamban Bridge is a cantilever bridge on Palk Strait that boasts of being the first sea bridge of India and connects Rameswaram Island with the Indian mainland. The bi-lane road next to the bridge allows one to get a clear view of this railway bridge and of its amazing double leaf bascule which raises itself to let ships pass from underneath it. Containing 143 pillars, each of which is 220 feet long and weighs 100 tonnes, the bridge is among the most fascinating places to see in Rameswaram.
RAM SETHU
You cannot miss this unique place on the Rameswaram tourist places map. The Adam’s Bridge, or Rama Setu, is a historic bridge connecting the Rameswaram island of India to the north-western coast of Sri Lanka. The bridge is a network of limestone shoals that start from Dhanuskodi, the tip of India’s Pamban Island, which in turn is connected to the Indian mainland by a 2 km-long bridge. Always a topic of hot debate among historians and archaeologists, the bridge is among the most preferred tourist places in Rameswaram. It is one of the most boosted places for Rameswaram tourism due to its geographical and religious significance amongst tourists.
RAMAR PADAM
Kanda Madana Parvatam is an ancient hill temple of Lord Rama situated on a sand hill in the heart of Rameswaram. Rama Padam is a historically significant place where Lord Rama and his army rested and planned their journey to Sri Lanka. This place is also mentioned in the Great Ramayana.
LAKSHMANA THEERTHAM
This is one of those popular places to visit in Rameswaram and around that are spiritually and architecturally attractive. If you wish to soak in more bliss while you’re out and about in the serene land of Rameswaram, this is the place to be. Being famous as a sacred pond near the temple of Lakshmana, this place is situated in close proximity to the glorious Ramanathaswamy Temple. People visiting the Lakshmana temple often prefer to take a dip in this pond.
VILLOONDI TIRTHAM
Villoondi Tirtham, or the buried bow, has a significant legend attached to it, which is why the locals and even the pilgrims believe in visiting this place at least once. It is said that Lord Rama dipped a bow in the land around this region only to get water for Sita when she was thirsty. Make sure you don’t miss out on one of the best of Rameswaram.
AGNI TEERTHAM
The largest of all the tanks is the Agni Theertham, which is located on the eastern side of the town. Legend has it that it was at this place that Goddess Sita asked Lord Lakshman to light a fire and sit inside it to prove her purity. Naturally, she was not hurt, and Lord Agni (the fire god) appeared to prove the same. However, Lord Angi had to wash away his sin of touching Sita, so he bathed in the sea and offered prayers to Lord Shiva, and hence the place is called Agni Theertham. A bath in this sea is considered to absolve one of sin, and devotees make a beeline for a dip. Apart from prayers offered in the form of rituals, this is also a place where reverence is paid to departed souls and where childless couples pray for a child. It is also said that if a pilgrim wants to bathe here, he must first bathe in the Agni Theertham and then bathe in the temple tanks.
ARIYAMAN BEACH
The Ariyaman Beach, or the Kushi Beach, has an astounding width and length of about 150 m and 2 km respectively. Characterised by gentle waves and utmost cleanliness, this beach is perfect for a picnic with friends or family, which is why it is listed among the significant places to visit near Rameswaram.
KOTHANDARAMASWAMY TEMPLE
Located in Dhanushkodi, Kothandaramaswamy temple is lined along the shallow beaches, historical ruminants, and vast horizons of the azure sea. And your Rameswaram sightseeing must include this temple. One of the best tourist spots in Rameswaram is a ruin of the temple described in the Ramayana. This temple holding the deities of Rama, Lakshman, Sita, and Hanuman is believed to be the residing spot of Vibhishana, the younger brother of Ravana.
