Enchant the Spirituality : Top 10 Tourist Places in Rameshwaram

Rameshwaram is situated on a beautiful island in the Southern state of Tamil Nadu. It is separated by a small channel from Sri Lanka which is called Pamban. In the Hindu mythology, Rameshwaram is the place where Lord Rama created a bridge across the sea to go to Sri Lanka. The city has the first sea bridge which connect the town of Mandapam with Pamban Island, and Rameswaram. The abdandoned town of Dhanushkodi is also located on Pamban Island which was a crowded town until it got destroyed in 1964 by a cyclone.

Rameshwaram is Renowned for its magnificent prakaras with huge sculptured pillars on either side, The Ramanathaswamy Temple which has the longest corridor in the world. The Agniteertham is famous for its holy waters and devotees perform poojas in honour of their ancestors at this seashore. The Panch-Mukhi Hanuman Temple holds the floating stone which was used to build the bridge between India and Sri Lanka.

Rameswaram is named after Lord Ram, and Rameswaram is a living chronical of The Ramayana, Rameswaram is a beautiful island in the Indian Ocean, Rameswaram attracts many tourists all round the year for its natural beauty and religious significance. Separated from the mainland by the Pambam channel, a ride to this 'Dham' of Hindu belief, along the Pambam Bridge is an experience which everyone will surely cherish all life.

Rameswaram is important for Hindus as a pilgrimage to Varanasi is considered to be incomplete without a pilgrimage to Rameswaram. The town along with the Ramanathaswamy temple is one of the holiest Hindu Char Dham (four divine sites) sites including Badrinath, Puri, and Dwarka.

Read More: Top ‍10 Tamil Nadu Tourist Places

Rameshwaram Temple

The Rameshwaram temple is perfect mix of astonishing architecture and spiritual importance, The Temple is also known as Ramanathaswamy Temple which is purely dedicated to Lord Shiva. The Ramanathaswamy temple is one of the 12 Jyotirlinga temples of India. Rameshwaram Temple is just not spiritually,but also has an appealing architecture, With the longest corridor of the world and gleaming carvings on pillars, which is a major tourist attraction. 

According to the Hindu mythology, the lingam in the Rameshwaram Temple was installed by Lord Rama but, the construction was done by several rulers over the time. In the Rameshwaram temple, there are two lingams- Ramalingam and Shivalingam. Besides daily Abhishkams and Poojas performed with great enthusiasm, these are fascinating and are worth witnessing. 

Dhanushkodi 

Dhanushkodi is a small, sparsely populated beach town on the coast of Tamil Nadu. Dhanushkodi is considered to be the point from where Lord Ram began the construction of the Ram Sethu and Later, the town became a lively, crowded town. The town shares its only land border between India and Sri Lanka. After the massive cyclone which hit the coast of the town on 22nd December 1964, the town was declared a ghost town.

Then after, The Tamil Nadu government has rebuilt this town to become one of the most unique and unusual beach towns in India. This small town, Cut off from the rest of the world, this town seems untouched by the outer world. The top tourist attraction of the town are the beaches and the remains of the old church near the seashore, Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park and the old Dhanushkodi railway station.

The Panch-Mukhi Hanuman Mandir 

The Panch-Mukhi Hanuman temple is the most famous temple in Rameshwara. The Temple has mythological proofs that here Lord Hanuman showed their profile with five faces. Lord Hanuman is regarded to be adorn with senthooram at this place.

The statues of Lord Rama, Laxman, Godess Sita and Lord Hanuman are present in the temple and all are been sacredly worshiped and respected to the apex. It is believed that the actual soul of these Gods has been put into the idols and this gives a very mystic feel to these Idols. There is floating stone in the temple which was used to create the Ram-setu bridge on the sea as defined in the Ramayana.

Kothandaramaswamy Temple

The Kothandaramaswamy temple is located on the southernmost tip of India and is located on the island near the Bay of Bengal. The Temple is rounded by Indian Ocean from all its sides. The island had been several times struck by cyclones, but the temple stayed to be intact even in all the critical times. The temple has the history and story of Ramayan in its footings. According to the Hindu mythology, Vibhishana, Ravan's brother had joined his hands with Rama and hence Vibhishana is also worshiped at this place. The walls of the temple has several amazing paintings which flows with the flow of Ramayana and one can enjoy being in the temple with the guides who keeps on narrating the story at every instance of time.

Annai Indira Gandhi Road Bridge

Annai Indira Gandhi Road Bridge is the longest bridge in south India. The bridge connects Rameswaram Island to the main land and is constructed over the Bay of Bengal. The bridge is just 7 km away from Rameshwaram and is also called the Pamban Bridge as it is located beside Pamban, the holy place where Lord Rama could quench the thirst of Goddess Sita by throwing an arrow in this place where they could actually retrieve cool water. The tourists visit through trains crossing the bridge and observe the bridge and the fishing boats on the water looks beautiful.

The Sea World Aquarium, Rameshwaram

The Sea World Aquarium is a most famous tourist attraction with a spectacular collection of the marine animals. They have a numerous of aquatic species that thrive in the oceans like the Shark, Rabbit Fish, Lobsters and Octopus, etc. There are also many items made of seashells for sale that tourists can purchase.

The Ram Setu

The Rama Setu which is also known as Adam's bridge, it is a chain of lime stones which connects the Rameswaram Island to the coast of Sri Lanka. In the Hindu mythology, the Rama Setu bridge was constructed by Lord Rama and their army of monkeys to reach the Lanka of Ravana and rescue Goddess Sita from captivity of Ravana. The Rama Setu bridge has also been an attraction for Geologists, who confidently believe that the Rama Setu is a naturally formed sandbar. 

Conclusion 

Rameswaram is a place which offers a combination of spirituality, history, and natural beauty. From the awesome Ramanathaswamy Temple to the unnatural ghost town of Dhanushkodi, every destination in Rameswaram has its own story. 

Whether you are a pilgrim who is seeking spiritual solace or a traveler will to see a beautiful destination, Rameswaram has something or the else to offer for everyone. Visit Rameswaram and fill yourself in the divine atmosphere of the temples and explore the fascinating past of the ghost town, and witness the natural wonders of marine national park. So, pack your bags to feel the charm of Rameswaram, and create memories which will last for a lifetime.