Last modified on September 2nd, 2018 at 3:10 am

Popular places to visit in Rameswaram

There are many places to visit in Rameshwaram for tourists pilgrims.  In this article, we discuss the most popular places to visit in Rameshwaram.

Ramanathaswamy Temple

Ramanatha Swamy Temple is the main Temple of the Rameswaram Island, thousands of pilgrims and tourists visit Ramanathaswamy temple every day for its sacredness and its architectural beauty. This Temple is considered as a holy pilgrimage place among three important Indian religious sects. shaivism (those who worship Lord Shiva), Vaishnavism ( those who worship Lord Vishnu), Smarthism (a sect of Brahmins those who follow smrithis as authorized texts, and worship all gods as Brahman, they follow Adhvaidha principle ). It is believed that the Shiva – Linga in this shrine was installed by Lord Ram in Thretha yuga (1.2 million years ago)

To read the complete story of the Rameswaram temple visit the link below:
History of Rameswaram Temple

Agni Theertham

The eastern seashore opposite to the Ramanathaswamy temple is named as Agni Theertham. This is one of the 64 sacred baths in Rameswaram (Theerthams), Every day thousands of pilgrims took bath in this holy sea. Holistic
rituals such as prohithams, yangnya(yaham), tharpanam(ritual for the ancestors who were dead) has been performed in the shores of Agni Theertham.

It is believed that by taking bath in this sea will vanish one’s sins, and make them pure again, and mixing the ashes of the dead person in this sea (Agni theertham) will bring peace to the soul of the dead. Pilgrims those who is a plan for the sacred bath in theerthas should first take bath in Agni theertham and followed by that bath in theerthas inside the temple.

All the days in the year are considered as good days for taking a sacred bath in this theertha. But the Amavasya (No moon day) and Poornima (Full moon day) are considered as auspicious days. Particularly on Tamil months, Aadi, Thai, purattasi Amavasya days were considered most auspicious and special days for theertha snana (sacred bath) in Rameswaram.

Ramar Padham

Ramar Padham is a Temple for Ram‟s Feet; it is situated in the sandy hillock named Gandha Madhana parvatham (The village where this temple is located is also called as Gandha Madhana Parvatham). The word Parvatham Literally meant Mountain, as per the reference in the epic Ramayana, there was a mount in this place in the ancient times.
The feet of Lord Rama are engraved in a stone chakra in this place. The Ramar padham is the highest point in the Rameswaram, one can see the full panoramic view of Rameswaram island by standing on the top of this Temple.

If you have Binoculars don‟t forget to bring them when you plan a visit for Ramar padham (It may be an admirable occasion for you if you bring so).

Dhanushkodi, Gothanda Ramar Temple, and Arichal munai

Dhanuskodi lies in the southern tip of the Rameswaram. The word Dhanushkodi literally means “tip of the bow”. This spectacular place is bordered by Bay of Bengal sea on one side and Indian ocean on the other, Dhanuskodi is Declared as a ghost town by the government after this natural calamity, seems as a devastated land with the limited number of fishermen families (nearly around 500 families living there).

Dhanushkodi is crowded as a busy city before the 1964 storm, on 1964 December 22, a heavy storm washes away the entire dhanushkodi and shatters it into pieces.

Dhanushkodi is now with the population of around 500 .with its shattered remnants (Remnants of old Church, Railway station, passport office can be seen here).

Gothanda Rama Temple is located on the way towards the Dhanushkodi. Gothandam – is a name of the bow which is carried by Lord Rama. In this Temple Rama blessed his devotees with Lord Sita, Lord Lakshman, Lord
Hanuman and Lord Vibhishanan. Lord Gothanda Ramar Temple is situated 14km from the Rameswaram town. This Temple is surrounded by sea water on all of its sides. The road at the center of the sea leads us to the Gothanda Rama Temple.

During Winter season (October – November) Sea Gulls, flamingos and some more birds made their visit to the palace near Gothanda Ramar Temple (Normally these birds clustered inside the sand pits near Gothanda Ramar Temple).

Government buses will stop in this place, but you have to take a walk of 1KM inside a road located between the sea. Private vehicles or auto rickshaws are the best choices to visit this place. You can visit this place before or after visiting Dhanushkodi.

At the very tip of Dhanushkodi one can view the merging point of the seas Indian ocean (A sea with high tides) and bay of Bengal (the low tide sea) and the end of Rameswaram, this point in the Dhanuskodi is the land border of India and Srilanka, from here the Srilanka is nearly about 15 KM.

Notes to remember before visiting Dhanushkodi:

• Previously there is no road service to the dhanushkodi (devastated city and arichal munai point). The roads ended at the place called as mukuntharayar chatram, after this place, there was only a sandy region. Buses, or private vehicles such as cars, autos can’t travel in this sandy seashore region, there were only the jeeps and van service helps us to travel along the sand.
• Now there is a new road service started by the government of India up to the Rama Sethu point (Arichal munai) and it is opened now for the public transport. One can now reach up to “Arichal munai” with their vehicles or auto rickshaws, The sea bridge built across the sea towards Srilanka by Lord Rama is believed to be started from this point. Arichal Munai is the South most tip of the Rameswaram Island.
• The journey to this place is prohibited during winters, Rain, and Storms.
• Travelers are advised to plan their trips according to the climate changes because during the rainy and stormy seasons it is not good to visit Dhanushkodi.

Pamban Bridge

“It is believed that up to the first quarter of the fifteenth century Mandapam and Pamban were connected by a strip of land. A cyclone in the 15th century resulted in the submergence of that connecting strip of land between Mandapam and Pamban. After that boat service was the only mode of transport to reach the land of Rameswaram.” -Souvenir Mandapam and its Environs by CMFRI (1986)

The Pamban Bridge (Road bridge and the Railway bridge) Stands as a massive structure over the Indian Ocean, parallel to each other between the shores of Mandapam and Pamban (the starting point of Rameshwaram island). However the name “Pamban bridge” refers both of them, it is actually the name of the Pamban Railway Bridge.
Pamban Bridges are the two’ly connecting pathways of the Rameswaram island over the sea, They connect the Indian mainland with the Rameswaram island. The Pamban bridge is called by the name “Pamban paalam”(in the Tamil Language) by the people of Rameshwaram island.

These Two bridges stand on the world’s second most corrosive environment and also Cyclone prone and high-velocity wind zone environment.

To know detailed information about Pamban Railway bridge and Road bridge follow the below links.

Pamban Railway Bridge

Pamban Road Bridge

Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Monument

The memorial showcases Dr APJ Abdul Kalam‟s history. Personal belongs of the late leader are also displayed here. Statue of the late President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, playing the musical
instrument Veena. There are two other silicon statues of Dr. Kalam, in presidential suit, in sitting and standing postures.

Sample model of missiles and rockets with which Dr. Abdul Kalam had worked are also on display. Information on APJ Abdul Kalam‟s life is depicted through the 500 odd portraits, displayed at the memorial. Acrylic paintings numbering around 90 are also on display.

Library, planetarium, auditorium, etc, are planned for the second phase of the Abdul Kalam memorial, to be completed in the next phase of development.