12 PLACES TO VISIT & THINGS TO DO IN RAMESWARAM

At a distance of 2 Kms from Rameswaram Railway Station, the magnificent Ramanathaswamy Temple dedicated to Lord Siva is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas situated in different parts of India.

Ramanathaswamy Temple also has its name in history books as it has the largest hallway anywhere in India. The construction of Ramanathaswamy Temple was started in the 12th century and was contributed by many rulers. This temple is an epitome of flawless Dravidian architecture.

The hallway in temple is of approximately 1220 meters in length with brilliantly carved pillars throughout the hall. The.....

At a distance of 2 Kms from Rameswaram Railway Station (just 100 meters away from east entrance of Ramnathswamy temple), Agnitheertham is said to be the place where Rama worshipped Lord Shiva to wash off his sins of killing Ravana.

It is a sacred place and piligrims believe that taking a bath in Bay of Bengal at Agniteertham will washout one's sins of life time. It is visited by the followers of Lord Shiva as well as Vishnu, whose incarnation was lord Rama.

The sea here is very calm and ideal for.....

At a distance of 12 Kms from Rameswaram, Annai Indira Gandhi or Pamban Bridge connects Rameswaram Island with the main land. The bridge was opened for traffic in 1914.

It is the longest sea bridge in India and its length is nearly 2.2 km and stands as a fine example for Indian architecture. The bridge was constructed with sufficient elevation. The islands near by and parallel rail bridge below can be viewed from this.....

At a distance of 18 Kms from Rameswaram, Dhanushkodi, situated at the eastern end of the island is named after Rama's bow.

The boulders around the sea between Srilanka and this place known as Adam's bridge, are believed to be used by Hanuman to reach across Srilanka. Dhanushkodi was completely destroyed by the cyclones of 1964. Kodandaramaswamy temple is the only salvage of the cyclone. Idols of Rama, Sita, Lakshmana, Hanuman and Vibhishana (brother of Ravana) can be found here.

The Government declared the town as Ghost town and unfit for living after the storm. Four wheelers.....

At a distance of 3 Kms from Rameswaram Railway Station (around two kilometer from Ramanathaswamy Temple), Five faced Hanuman Temple has mythological evidence where Hanuman showed his profile with five faces.

The idols of Lord Ram, Sita and Hanuman, which are brought from Dhanushkodi during the cyclone of 1964, are kept here. The 'floating stones', which were used to build the Sethu Bandhanam (bridge) in Ramayana, are also kept in the temple.

There is floating stone outside the temple which was used to create the bridge on the sea as prescribed by our Indian.....

At a distance of 3 Kms from Rameswaram Railway Station, Gandhamathana Parvatham is the highest point in the island.

There is a two storeyed Mandapam, where Rama's feet (padam) is found as an imprint on a chakra. Pilgrims visit in thousands to worship Gandhamathana Parvatham. Sukreevar Temple and Theertham are situated on the way to Gandhamadana.....

At a distance of 15 Kms from Rameswaram, Devipattinam (also known as Navabashanam) is a coastal village.

This small village has a temple dedicated to Devi. It is said to be the place where Mahishasura was slayed by Goddess Durga Devi. It is said that Sri Ram had prayed to the Nava grahas here by placing nine stones prior to going to war at Lanka. It is increasingly getting popular among devotees who visit the nearby temples of Rameswaram and Thirupullani. The nine stones representing the Nava grahas or nine planets can be seen few metres into the sea. However depending on the water.....

At a distance of 20 Kms from Rameswaram (about 4 Kms from Mandapam), Kurusadai Island is an uninhabited Island lies to the west of the Pamban Bridge between the mainland and Pamban Island. About 10,500 sq. kms of the sea around here constitute a Marine Biosphere, a paradise for Marine Biologists and nature lovers.

There are plenty of coral-reefs and fishes. You can also see dolphins and sea-cows (Dugong). A special permission from the Director of Fisheries, Chennai is required to visit this.....

At a distance of 55 Kms from Rameswaram & 498 Kms from Chennai, Ramanathapuram is an ancient town and now the head quarters of the district. Prior to independence, the district was called as Ramnad but it was renamed as Ramanathapuram in 1910. This is largely a gateway to the pilgrimage centres of Rameswaram and Devipattinam.

The main tourist attraction in Ramanathapuram is the Raja Palace. This Palace was built by the Sethupatys and continues to be inhabited by the descendants of the royal family, although they are no longer in power. The royal family has set up schools and hospitals.....

At a distance of 66 kms from Rameswaram & 15 Kms from Ramanathapuram, Thirupullani is a Vishnu shrine. It is also known as Dharbasayanam as Rama took rest on a couch of grass at this place. Other names of this place are Thiruvadanai, Pularanyam, Adhisethu and Ratnaharam.

Adhi Jagannatha Perumal is the presiding deity here. One can reach the sanctum of Goddess Padmasini Thayar after crossing a gopuram here. There is pipal tree behind the sanctum. Hundreds of Nagas (serpents) can be seen in stones around the tree.

The next is the sanctum of Adi Jagannatha and the sanctum of Rama.....