Rameshwaram

Rameshwaram is a holy town in the Ramanathapuram district of Tamil Nadu. It is a highly revered pilgrimage centre of Hindus holding sheer nationwide significance. It is located on an island which is only 40 km from Srilanka. The pilgrimage to Kashi is not considered complete without a pilgrimage to Rameshawram. According to the legend Lord Rama worshipped lord Shiva in Rameshwaram. This is also the place where the lord built a bridge called Ram Setu to cross over to Sri Lanka. The town is known as the Varanasi of South India.

Attractions:

Ramanatha Swamy Temple: It is one of the most important pilgrimage centre of Hindus. The legend goes that lord Rama worshipped lord Shiva after his victory over demon king Ravana at the site where the temple stands. The temple houses one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of India. It is believed that the foundation of the temple was laid by lord Rama himself. The temple is a perfect piece of Dravadian architectural style. It houses the largest temple corridor in India. It has 1219 pillars which are elegantly carved. The present form of the temple is the result of the individual contributions of the then rulers. There are forty wells in the temple and surprisingly the water tastes differently in all of them. Rama himself installed the Shiv Lingam in this temple.

Hanuman Temple(floating stones): The main highlight of the Hanuman Temple is the 'floating stone'. It was used for building Ram Setu, the bridge between India and Sri Lanka. Hanuman is a great devotee of lord Rama. He served the lord with all his might and helped him rescue goddess Sita(lord Rama's consort) from demon king Ravana. The main shrine houses a beautiful idol of Hanuman.

Climate:

Rameshwaram faces hot and humid climate throughout the year. Best time to visit the city is between November to March.

Cuisine:

Both vegetarion South Indian dished and non vegetarian delights are available in the city. Head for Hotel Guru near the tourist office for vegetarian thali. Great bars are also there.

Accommodation:

Hotels catering to modern and economy class are available in Rameshwaram.

Shopping:

Shopping is truly exciting in Rameshwaram. The bazaars are full of handicraft items made from palm leaf, beads and sea shells. You can even buy beautiful silk saris.

How To Reach:

Air: The nearest airport is at Madurai city.

Rail: A good railway network connects Rameshwaram with the major cities of South India.

Road: Rameshwaram is easily accessible from places in and around it by buses.