Rameshwaram
Temple Place
Ramanathaswamy Temple
One of the twelve Jyotirlinga Temples dedicated to Lord Shiva, the temple of Ramanathaswamy is an architectural excellence built in the 17th century. A must visit pilgrimage for both the Vaishnavite as well as the Shaiva sect of Hinduism the temple constitutes a major part of the popular spiritual tourism destinations in India. The actual temple is believed to have been built by Lord Rama himself and thus it has gained an esteemed position in Indian mythological reference. Today’s Ramanathaswamy Temple houses the longest temple corridor in the world, which is 197 meters long and 133 meters broad and stands with 1200 massive granite columns.
Jada Tirtham
Around 3.5km from Ramanathaswamy Temple, on the way to Dhanushkodi Village, Jada Tirtham is known among the Hindu devotees for the sacred pond. It is believed that when Rama was about to worship Shiva Lingam in Rameshwaram after killing Ravana, he washed his Jata (matted hair) in Jada Tirtham. There is a temple next to the pond of Jada Tirtham. Jada Tirtham is believed to be the only place in India where Lord Kapardisvara is worshipped.
Dhanushkodi Temple
Dhanushkodi or ‘end of the bow’ is a small town at the south-eastern tip of Pamban Island in Tamil Nadu. Lined with shallow beaches, historical remnants and vast horizons of azure sea, this South Indian tourist spot is a must-see in Rameshwaram. Today’s Dhanushkodi Temple is nothing but a ruin of the temple described in different versions of the Ramayana. In case you are curious enough to discover the plot of Ram Sethu, do not forget to explore Dhanushkodi.
Ariyaman Beach
An ideal place to spend a relaxing evening with your friends or family, Ariyaman Beach is located in Ramanathapuram District. It is a 150 m wide beach stretching to a length of 2 km. Tourists can enjoy boating in this beach or get involved in different water based sports like wind surfing or water scooter ride. The beach has a children’s park, an aquarium and a museum as well. Parasailing is an exciting activity one can enjoy here. If you have a free weekend, plan a picnic party along the beach side where arrays of Casuarina trees work for perfect shading.
Annai Indira Gandhi Road Bridge
Claimed to be the first sea bridge in India, Annai Indira Gandhi Road Bridge or Pamban Bridge is a cantilever bridge on Palk Strait that connects Rameshwaram Island with the mainland India. Initially, the name used to refer the rail route only which has a double leaf bascule section midway. This double leaf bascule functions well till date and it can be raised to let ships go. The bi-lane road passing next to this bridge is another attraction in Pamban and obviously allows you to have a glimpse of the railway bridge if you are driving over the bridge. This 100 years old bridge contains 143 pillars, each of which is 220 feet in length and 100 tonnes in weight.
Kanyakumari
Located at a distance of around 294 km from Rameshwaram, Kanyakumari is a temple town in the southernmost tip of the Indian peninsula. The temples found at this South Indian travel destination are historically enriched and let you take a bath in spirituality. The significant attractions of this town are Vivekananda Rock Memorial, Thiruvalluvar Statue, and the temple of Devi Kumari Amman.
