EASY DESTINATION
      HOME      WORLD TRAVEL GUIDE       INDIA TRAVEL GUIDE      ADVERTISE           TRAVEL FORUM

  INDIAN CUISINE     SKI RESORTS     TREKKING      MEDICAL TOURISM      WORLD CITY GUIDE    CYCLING


          RAMESWARAM TRAVEL GUIDE

Rameswaram is located on an island separated from mainland India by the
Pamban channel and is less than 40 kilometers from the Jaffna Peninsula, Sri
Lanka. Together with Kashi, it is considered by Hindus to be one of the holiest
places in India to Hindus. Hence, it is a bustling pilgrim centre.

It is situated in the Gulf of Mannar at the very tip of the Indian peninsula. According to
legends, this is the place from where Lord Rama, built a bridge Ram Setu(also
known as Adam's Bridge) across the sea to Lanka to rescue his consort Sita, from
her abductor, Ravana. This is also the place where Rama worshipped Shiva to be
absolved of the sin of killing Ravana. Both the Vaishnavites and Shaivites visit this
pilgrimage centre which is known as the Varanasi of the south.

Rameshwaram is significant for the Hindus as a pilgrimage to Benaras is
incomplete without a Pilgrimage to Rameshwaram. The presiding deity here is in
the form of a Linga with the name Sri Ramanatha Swamy, it also happens to be one
of the twelve Jyotirlingas.

The masterpiece of Dravidian architecture boasts of the largest temple corridor in
India. Different rulers built the Ramanatha Swamy Temple over a period of time
starting from the 12th century. The temple comprises forty wells where the taste of
the water of each well is different from the other.

The grandest part of the temple is the 1219 m pillared corridor consisting of 3.6 m
high granite pillars, richly carved and well proportioned. The perspective presented
by these pillars run uninterruptedly to a length of nearly 230 m.

According to the Puranas, upon the advice of Rishis (sages), Rama along with Sita
and Lakshmana, installed and worshipped the Sivalinga here to expiate the sin of
Brahmahatya (killing of a Brahmin) (Ravana was a Brahmin the great grandson of
Brahma).[citation needed] Rama fixed an auspicious time for the installation and
sent Anjaneya to Mount Kailas to bring a lingam. As Anjaneya could not return in
time, Sita herself made a linga of sand. When Anjaneya returned with a linga from
Mount Kailas the rituals had been over. To comfort the disappointed Anjaneya, Rama
had Anjaneya’s lingam (Visvalingam) also installed by the side of Ramalinga, and
ordained that rituals be performed first to the Visvalingam.

In Rameshwaram Temple, a spiritual "Mani Darshan" happens in early morning
everyday. This "Mani" is made of "sphatik"[a precious stone] and in form of "Holy
shivling". according to ved this is "Mani" of "sheshnag".

Sethu Karai is a place 22 km before the island of Rameshwaram from where God
Ram built a Floating Stone Bridge "Ramasethu" till Rameshwaram that further
continued from Dhanushkodi in Rameshwaram till Talaimannar in Sri Lanka as
mentioned in the great Hindu epic RAMAYAN. The ruins of the Ramasethu are
submerged under the sea as shot from Gemini 1 satellite of NASA in 2004.


PLACE TO VISIT

Sri Ramanathaswamy Temple - this temple situated near the sea on the
eastern side of the island is renowned for its magnificent prakaras or corridors with
massive sculptured pillars on either side. The longest corridor in the world is here
and it is 197 metres long from East to West and is 133 metres wide from South-
North. The temple has a Gopuram 38.4 metres tall. Different rulers built the temple
as it stands today, at different periods from the 12th century A.D. Pooja is performed
for an hour early morning daily to the Spadikalingamthat was given by the
Shankaracharya to this temple.

Agnitheertham - Sri Ramanathaswamy temple faces east. The seashore,
about 100 metres from the main entrance of the temple, is very calm and therefore
ideal for bathing. The water at this place is considered sacred and known as Agni
theertham. Pilgrims perform poojas in honour of their ancestors at this seashore.

Gandamadana Parvatham - is a hillock situated 3 km away and is the
highest point in the island. Here one can see the imprint of Lord Rama’s feet on a
chakra. The entire island of Rameswaram is visible from this point.

Satchi Hanuman Temple - is considered to be the place where Hanuman
delivered the good news of finding Sita to Rama with satchi or evidence,
Choodamani or the jewel that belonged to Sita. Situated 3 km from the main temple,
on the way to the Gandamadana Parvatham.

The Five-faced Hanuman Temple - (2 km from themain temple) - the
deity of Hanuman drawn withsenthooram. Idols of Lord Ram, Sita and
Hanumanbrought from Dhanushkodi during the 1964 cyclone were placed here.
Thefloating stone, used to build theSethuBandanamor the bridge between India and
Lanka can be found inthis temple.

JadaTheertham - (about 3.5 km from Rameswaram on the Dhanushkodi
road) - legend has it that Lord Rama, on his way back after killing Ravana,
Worshipped SriRamalinga (believed to be installed by him). Before doing so, he
washed his hair(Jada) in this theertham to purify himself.

Dhanushkodi (18 km) - the southern tip of the island, Dhanushkodi was
completely washed away by the 1964 cyclone. This is a strip of land about one km
wide and 18 km long on the eastern end of Rameswaram island. On one side are
the waters of the Indian Ocean and on the other the waters of the Bay of Bengal. The
two seas otherwise known as Ratnakaran and Mahodadhi with their confluence is
shaped like a bow while the strip of land resemble an arrow poised for release.
Devout Hindus consider the Adi Sethu or the arrowhead, a sacred place to perform
religious rites. It is also place worth visiting for its scenic beauty and bird life.


HOW TO REACH


By plane - Nearest Airport in Madurai - 174 km Indian Airlines connect’s Madurai
with Chennai, Thiruchi, Bangalore and Mumbai.

By train - Connected with all major cities like Chennai, Madurai, Coimbatore,
Karaikudi, Trichy, Thanjavur and Palghat.

By road - Connected with all important towns of Tamil Nadu, City Buses are
available including night services. Point to Point services, Tourist taxi, auto / cycle
rickshaws and horse carts are also available. Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport
corporation ( APSRTC ) operates Rameswaram – Tripathi daily service.