Rameshwaram is a temple town in the Ramanathapuram district of Tamil Nadu. The word Rameshwaram means ‘Lord Ram’ in Sanskrit. The history of Rameshwaram is centered around the island being a transit point to Ceylon. Rameshwaram is separated from mainland India by the Pamban channel. It is also the nearest point to Sri Lanka & famed to be one of the holiest places for Hindus. As per the great epic Ramayana, Lord Ram built a bridge to Sri Lanka – here itself at Rameshwaram!
Situated at a distance of roughly 240 KM’s from Thanjavur, the drive to Rameshwaram takes a little less than 5 hours along the NH32. The proximity of the Palk Strait (Bay of Bengal) and repeated instances of driving right next to the vast ocean makes the journey a memorable one!
Thanjavur to Rameswaram is the Main journey in Day 2
Distance covered is 240 KMs & Approx. time taken is 5 Hours
Take the entire day to explore Rameshwaram
Top 5 things to do at Rameshwaram:
1. Check-in at Pamban Bridge: The Pamban bridge connects the town of Mandapam, in mainland India, to Pamban Island, Rameshwaram. This cantilever bridge is one of the first sea bridges in India! Most of the pictures are taken from the Indira Gandhi road bridge which runs parallel to the Pamban bridge. No doubt, it offers a picturesque view of the surroundings. The Pamban bridge is located in the World’s second most corrosive environment (after Florida), hence making its maintenance a challenge. Consisting of 143 piers and a Scherzer rolling lift that can be raised to let ships pass, the bridge is a sight to behold! In the eerie winters of 1964, a huge storm hit the Pamban Island. The storm had winds so strong that it overturned the Pamban-Dhanuskodi passenger train claiming the lives of all 150 on board!
2. Visit the Rameshwaram Temple – The Ramanathaswamy Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is one of the twelve Jyotirlinga temples and one of the holiest Hindu Char Dham sites. This makes it one of the most visited temples in the southern land! According to the Ramayana, Rama prayed to God Shiva to absolve him of the sin committed during his war against Ravana. Shiva is worshipped in the form of a lingam made out of the sand available in the seashores of Rameshwaram. It is also believed to be the lingam in the main sanctum of the temple! There are 64 tirthas (holy water bodies) in and around Rameshwaram, out of which 22 are in the Ramanathaswamy Temple. Bathing in these tirthas is one of the major aspects of the pilgrimage to Rameswaram.
Points to remember:
1. The Ramanathaswamy temple is highly crowded with hordes of pilgrims visiting at any moment. Mobile phones, wallets, cameras are not allowed inside. 2. The Temple is open between 5:00 AM to 1:00 PM and then from 3:30 PM to 9:00 PM. If you plan to reach Rameshwaram by mid-day, darshan can be done either in the afternoon or early the next morning. 3. It does take 1-2 hours for the complete darshan, including taking a dip in all the 22 tirthas. Changing clothes is mandatory to post the same if you wish to visit the main sanctum.
3. Sunset at Dhanushkodi Beach – Dhanushkodi beach lies at the tip of Rameshwaram island where the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean merge. The Ram Sethu viewpoint is one of the attractions of the beach. As per legend, the same was constructed by an army of monkeys for the passage of Lord Rama into Sri Lanka! Dhanushkodi is situated around 20 KM’s from Rameshwaram and the drive is fueled by the mesmerizing views of the Palk strait on both sides. This is indeed one of the highlights of the visit to Rameshwaram. Roll the windows down and enjoy the soothing blue waters as you drive ahead in full steam! It is from this point that Sri Lanka is literally a stone’s throw away!
4. Stroll by the Ghost-town of Dhanushkodi – The town of Dhanushkodi was a small and prosperous town during the British Raj. The town boasted of a railway station, a church, a temple, a post office, and mainly housed the fishing community. An important part of both traders and pilgrims alike, Dhanushkodi was the link to Talaimannar, a town in Sri Lanka. The town was home to all kinds of facilities for travelers – hotels, dharamshalas, and textile shops. A super cyclone ravaged the small town in 1964, bringing to a halt to all the hustle and bustle. What remains today is a sandy shoreline with ruins dating back to the older days! That eerie feeling will make you be awestruck by the power of mother nature!
5. Night stroll around the Rameshwaram temple – Being a temple town, there are ample places to catch a decent meal around. And with hordes of pilgrims visiting throughout, most of the town is always abuzz. But once the dust settles, the tired pilgrims and tourists slowly make their way into slumber – ready to start the next day early. Walk around to the east entrance of the Rameshwaram Temple housing the Agni Tirtham and listen to the waves crashing into the concrete steps of the tirtham.
Next Up: Up, up and away towards Kanyakumari. Stay tuned!
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