Rameshwaram Pilgrim destination: Pride of South India
Rameshwaram tourist destination guide helps you in knowing Rameshwaram places to visit, best time to visit Rameshwaram, important travel tips and more. Rameshwaram, an island situated in the Gulf of Manner, is a very important Hindu pilgrim centre. According to Hindu mythology and the famous epic Ramayana, Rameshwaram is the bridgehead for the bridge that Lord Rama built across the sea so that he could go to Sri Lanka to rescue his consort Sita, from her abductor, Ravana.
Rameshwaram is also the place where Lord Rama is said to have worshipped Lord Shiva in order to repent for his sin of killing Ravana. Considered to be the Varanasi of the South, Rameshwaram is well revered by both Vaishnavites and Shaivites. The Hindu temple town of Rameshwaram is also home to the Linga of Sri Ranganatha, which happens to be one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of India. Shaped like a conch, the island of Rameshwaram is spread over an area of 61.8 sq kms.
DESTINATIONS in Rameshwaram- PILGRIM ATTRACTIONS
- The most famous attraction in Rameshwaram is obviously the Ramnathswamy temple; in fact, it can be said that this pilgrimage temple town revolves around the temple. Built between the 12th and the 17th centuries, this Dravidian masterpiece is said to have the largest temple courtyard in India and is renowned for its awe-inspiring temple architecture. Famous for its 1200 gigantic granite columns, the Ramnathswamy temple also has 22 fresh water wells, all of which are said to taste different.
- Located 2 kms away from Rameshwaram, the famous temple of Gandamadana Parvatham is another important pilgrimage spots. Believed to contain the imprints of Lord Rama’s feet that are placed on a chakra (wheel), Gandamadana Parvatham is also the highest point on the island.
- Dhanushkodi, located 8 kms from Rameshwaram, is at the eastern end of the island. The boulders that jut out in the sea between Dhanushkodi and Sri Lanka are often referred to as Ram Setu, the mythological bridge Lord Rama used to reach Sri Lanka. Thoroughly destroyed in the cyclone of 1964, Dhanushkodi was never rebuilt.
- Today, the Kothandaramaswamy temple is perhaps the only monument of significance in this ancient temple town. Located at a distance of 24 kms from Rameshwaram is the Muslim pilgrimage town of Erwadi which houses the tomb of revered Muslim saint Ibrahim Sahid Aulia. Erwadi plays host to Muslim pilgrims from all across the globe, in particular, during the annual festival held in memory of the saint in the month of December.
Rameshwaram- TRAVEL TIPS
- Languages: Tamil and English are the widely spoken languages in the region. Hindi is somewhat rare.
- Cuisine: Cuisine is largely South Indian; you can expect Neer dosa’s, idli’s, aapam and a lot of other South Indian dishes.
Rameshwaram is a must-stop for any temple tourism initiative or temple tour in south India.
BEST TIME to visit Rameshwaram
Rameshwaram can be visited in summers as well as winters. It is not suggested to visit Rameshwaram during the monsoons as the winds blow wild at this time. Find Travel Agents suiting your travel on Tripraja.com
BEST WAY to reach Rameshwaram
- By Air: The airport nearest to Rameshwaram is Madurai that lies a mere 167 kms away.
- By Rail: Rameshwaram is a major railway terminus.
- By Road: Rameshwaram is well connected to all the important cities in the region. Buses are plenty from all towns/cities in the region. Local transport in Rameshwaram comprises taxis, cycle rickshaws and auto rickshaws.
ACCOMMODATION
Hotels and rooms are available to suit all budgets. One can obtain excellent discounts on accommodation via temple pilgrimage tours and temple trips.