At the southern tip of the Indian Peninsula in Tamil Nadu lies one of the holiest place called Rameswaram to the Hindus equal to Varanasi and is part of the four holy shrines for Pilgrimage. Rameswaram Island also known as Pamban Island which is connected to the main land through the Pamban Bridge constructed over the Palk Strait & is about 40 kilometers from Mannar Island, Sri Lanka, separated by Gulf of Mannar on one side & Palk Straight on the other side, which is the second closest point from which to reach Sri Lanka.

There are sixty-four Tirthas or Tirthams (holy water bodies) In and around Rameswaram.

Rameswaram experiences dry tropical climate with low humidity, with temperature remains the almost the same throughout the year, means a destination that can be visited all year round. During November to February the weather is cool, and the temperature comes down to around 17 degrees Celsius. It’s the most pleasant time for sightseeing and exploring the neighborhoods. If you want to enjoy the scenic views of the coastal region then the monsoons (July to September) period is the best. So, whether you’re planning a pilgrimage, sightseeing, or simply enjoying the beach, Rameshwaram has something to offer throughout the year.

you can plan your trip at the time of Mahashivratri (usually held in the months of February or March every year) to witness the grand celebration that takes place in the Ramanathaswamy Temple. Arudra Darshanam is another popular festival which is held annually in December when the Emerald Nataraja statue which is covered in sandalwood is unveiled. The statue, otherwise, remains covered throughout the year.

Ramanathaswamy Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to god Shiva located on Rameswaram island in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. The temple structure was built during the 12th century by Pandya Dynasty.  It is also one of the twelve Jyotirlinga temples meaning ‘Pillar of Light”. It is one of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams, where Nayanars (Saivite saints), Appar, Sundarar and Thirugnana Sambandar, have glorified the temple with their songs.

The primary deity of the temple is Ramanathaswamy (Shiva) in the form of lingam. There are two lingams inside the sanctum. According to tradition, one built by Rama from sand, residing as the main deity, called the “Ramalingam” and the one brought by Hanuman from Kailash, called the “Visvalingam”. Rama is said to have instructed that the “Visvalingam” be worshipped first since it was brought by Hanuman – the tradition continues even today. There are separate shrines for Ramanathaswamy and his consort goddess “Parvatha Vardhini” separated by a corridor. The samadhi of the great Yogi Patanjali is said to be at this temple and there is a separate shrine for him here. There are Twenty-two Tirthas within the Ramanathaswamy Temple.  Bathing in these Tirthas is a major aspect of the pilgrimage to Rameswaram and is considered equivalent to penance. The number 22 indicates the 22 arrows in Rama’s quiver. The first and major one is called Agni Theertham, the sea (Bay of Bengal).

Agni Tirtham, one of the most important theertham here. It is located on the eastern beach corner of Sri Ramanathaswamy temple. Bathing in Agnitheertham is believed to cleanse devotees of their past sins, making it a prominent place to visit in Rameswaram. The legend goes that Goddess Sita, in intent to prove her purity to her husband Lord Rama, by sitting inside the fire to prove what she intended to. Fire couldn’t harm her and she was unhurt. However Lord Agni had to wash off his sin of having touched the goddess and so he bathed in the sea and offered prayers to Lord Shiva. Thus this place began to be called as Agni Theertham. Taking a dip in Agni Theertham is believed to wash away all your sins.

On the way to Dhanushkodi, about 3.5 km from the Ramanathaswamy Temple is the Jada theertham. This is the place where Lord Rama and Lakshmana washed their hair (Jada) after killing Ravana. This was done as an act of purifying themselves and headed to worship lord Shiva from here. These waters are considered holy and people throng this place for a dip.

A temple close to this place is the Kaveri Theertham Temple that has a huge Peepal tree. The temple is small but has intricate carvings and detailed craftsmanship evidenced in the lattice work on the walls. The annual Maha Shivaratri and Maha Makam, held once in 12 years are some of the important festivals that see a large gathering.

Villoondi Theertham, a place is also known for its pure water spring inside the sea is situated about 6 km from the Rameswaram main bus stand. Villoondi translates to “the place pierced by the arrow” and Theertham means “sacred water”.  Devotees connect its existence to a mythological legend from the epic Ramayana. After rescuing Goddess Sita and bringing her back to Rameswaram from Sri Lanka, Lord Rama performed rituals by installing a Shiva lingam named Thryambakeshvarar, on the spot. When Sita said she was thirsty, Rama shot an arrow into the sea, and from there emerged a spring bringing forth pure water. Besides its arresting views and silent tides, a few meters from the shore, this pure water well beside the sea are a marvel. Devotees can access the well if they take a 120-foot long walking bridge that extends into the sea.

Lakshmana Theertham is located just 1 km away from Rameshwaram Temple and has many popular other shrines situated nearby. Lakshmana Theertham is located by the side of temple dedicated to Lord Lakshmana. This temple, which has been built in Dravidian style of architecture, has an attractive structure with carved pillar depicting statues of deities and instances from Ramayana. The carvings inside the temple represent the immense devotion of Lord Lakshmana towards Goddess Sita and Lord Rama. Another attractive feature of this theertham is that during the Thaipusam festival floating car procession is organized at the Lakshmana Theertham.

Panchamukhi Hanuman Temple, the five-faced Hanuman Temple, is situated at a distance of 2 km from Sri Ramanathaswamy Temple. The idol of Hanuman is depicted with five faces with Lord Hanuman in the middle along with faces of Lord Narasimha, Lord Adivaraha, Lord Garuda and Lord Hayagriva on the sides. The statue has been covered with senthooram by saints. In 1964, after the cyclone in Dhanuskhodi, the idols of Lord Rama and Goddess Sita was brought to this temple and placed here. This Temple is visited by almost every devotees who come for a Rameshwaram Tour.

Another major attraction of this temple are the ‘floating stones’ that have been kept at the temple for the devotees to see. Believed that these floating stones were used for building the floating bridge named Sethu Bandhanam, from Dhanushkodi to Lanka so that Lord Rama, Lord Lakshman along with others could go to Lanka to rescue Goddess Sita and put an end to the brutalities of demon Ravana.

Kothandaramaswamy Temple The Kothandaramaswamy Temple at Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu is a shrine dedicated to the Hindu deity Rama. The temple is Classified one among the 108 Abhimana Kshethram of Vaishnavite tradition. Located at a distance of 13 kilometres from Rameswaram, it forms one the southernmost tip of the island. The temple is the only historical structure to survive the 1964 cyclone that washed away Dhanushkodi. The temple has the deities of Rama, Lakshmana, Sita, Hanuman and Vibhishana. The temple is surrounded by sea and remains a tourist attraction & can be easily accessible from Rameswaram through road.

Gandamadana Parvatham also known as Rama Patham is located on a beautiful hillock about 3 km from Sri Ramanathaswamy temple. It was believed that there are footprints of Lord Rama here & that Lord Rama met Vibhishana, the brother of the demon king Ravana, at this place. Lord Vibhishana helped Rama in defeating Ravana in the battle to rescue Sita. There is an image of Vibhishana in the temple. This is the highest point in Rameswaram Island and gives an aerial view of the mesmerizing island. Besides religious significance, the place is also known for its serene picturesque surroundings best viewed during sunrise and sunset.

Dhanushkodi is an abandoned town at the south-eastern tip of Pamban Island of the state of Tamil Nadu in India. The town was destroyed during the 1964 Rameswaram cyclone and remains uninhabited in the aftermath. By now there is church with only some walls which was destroyed by the cyclone & few fishers hut & some temporary shops. Tourist can drive here to the tip of the India through a long stretched straight road surrounded by sea on both sides to view the sun rise & sun set from the end of the road.

Coastal lookout marking the end point of the Indian mainland, popular for viewing merging oceans the Bay of Bengal and Indian Ocean which is known as Arichal Munai in Tamil. Visiting Hours: 6AM to 5PM

Ram setu a Bridge former land connection between India and Sri Lanka is a chain of limestone shoals, between Rameswaram and Mannar Island, off the northwestern coast of Sri Lanka. The bridge was first mentioned in the ancient Indian Sanskrit epic Ramayana of Valmiki, refers to the bridge built by the Vanara (ape men) army of Rama in Hindu mythology, which he used to reach Lanka and rescue his wife Sita from the demon king Ravana.

Krusadai Island a little haven is a treasure trove of nature’s wonders is an uninhabited island in the Gulf of Mannar situated south of Pamban Island that belongs to India and forms a part of the Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park.

Best known for its unique coral reefs teeming with colorful fish making it a paradise for  tourists visiting the Island along with the scenic beauty of dolphins and sea-cows diving freely in Gulf of Mannar. The place is also known for one of most precious living fossils available in the aqua biosphere of earth, sea turtles & pristine beaches. Want an adventure & stunning views of the coastline, then take a boat ride from Kunthukal beach, Pamban, Tamil Nadu 623526, India to explore the island’s hidden coves and mangrove forests with Rs.400/- per head (which might be subject to change) for a 1 hour boat trip. Open all days except Tuesday between 7am to 2pm. Kurusadai Island Tour Contact Number Phone: (+91)  9092526089

Ariyaman Beach is located 21 km away from Rameshwaram, in Palk Bay. A popular place to see in Rameshwaram, this beach offers a shimmering stretch of about 2 km long, for relaxing and spending a few moments amid scenic beauty. Its clean surroundings, gentle soothing waves, lush green trees along with calm atmosphere captivate many visitors. It is also known by the name of Kushi Beach, naming after a movie shooting after which this place becomes more attractive for the travelers. There are few cottages around the beach for accommodation.

Pamban Bridge is a railway bridge that connects the town of Rameswaram on Pamban Island with Mandapam in mainland India. The Pamban railway bridge spans a 2.06 km (1.28 mi) wide. The construction began in August 1911 & Opened on 24 February 1914, it was India’s first sea bridge, and was the longest sea bridge in India until the opening of the Bandra–Worli Sea Link in 2010. The rail bridge is, for the most part, a conventional bridge resting on concrete piers but has a double-leaf bascule section midway, which can be raised to let ships and barges pass through.

The railway bridge is located 12.5 m (41 ft) above sea level and is 6,776 ft (2,065 m) long.[15] The bridge consists of 143 piers and has a double-leaf bascule section with a Scherzer rolling type lift span that can be raised to let ships pass. Each half of the lifting span weighs 415 tonnes (457 tons). The two leaves of the bridge are opened manually using levers.

The Pamban bridge was the only surface transport link that connected Rameswaram to the mainland India till 1988 when a road bridge was constructed parallel to the railway bridge which was opened in 1988 The bridge was damaged during the 1964 Rameswaram cyclone and required extensive repair work.  The bridge is located in a corrosive marine environment, making its maintenance a challenging job. The location is also a cyclone-prone, high-wind-velocity zone. The railway line to Dhanushkodi was destroyed during 1964 Dhanushkodi cyclone along with the Pamban-Dhanuskodi passenger train, killing around 200 people.

Dr.  A. P. J. Abdul Kalam (1931–2015), the 11th President of India (2002-2007), National Memorial was located in his home town, Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, India was designed and constructed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) as a tribute to Dr. Kalam after is sudden dismissal while he is addressing a conference. The Government of India constructed the memorial to display the cultural heritage and ethnic diversity of India. It was officially inaugurated in July 2017. A symbol of national integration, the memorial is an amalgamation of Mughal and Indian architecture.