Fixed Holiday Packages
- Rs. 25999Ladakh Packages with Return Flights from Delhi
- Rs. 14999Himachal packages for 7 days with transport from Delhi
- Rs. 19999Chardham Yatra with transport from Delhi and all meals
- Rs. 15999Uttrakhand Holiday for 8 days with transport from Delhi
- Rs. 77777Kailash Mansarovar Yatra - Avail Rs 10,000 off
Rameshwaram is of severe mythological importance, it may be scenically well endowed, but its true character is revealed in its collection of Lord Rama temples, each backed with a story from the epic Ramayana. Lord Rama camped here, worshipped here, solidified his plans of rescuing his wife Sita from demon king Ravana, sighed on having Sugreev’s support whose monkey army built him a bridge of stepping stones (Ram Setu) up to the Lankan coast, crossed-over to the other side, slain Ravana, returned with his wife, worshipped Lord Shiva to absolve from any sin he may have committed during this war, took a holy dip in the sea, and installed a sand Shivalingam which later became the greatly revered Ramanatha Swamy temple. Rameshwaram could be pilgrim-heavy, but there is still so much solitude, so much greenery, and so many heart-wrenching stories of bravery from the Ramayana, and real life too. The drive on the Pamban Bridge over a flat blue sea will be a perfect prelude to your journey into the land of Lord Rama.
History
Rameshwaram is a conch-shaped island connected with the mainland at Mandapam by the Pamban rail and road bridge. The Ramanatha Swamy temple is an iconic landmark of this little island town, and a greatly revered shrine of Lord Rama. In the early days, the shrine was no more than a thatched hut. This sprawling Dravidian style temple complex that you see today is an outcome of workmanship spread across several centuries.
Rameshwaram was ruled by the Pandya kings till the 15th century, followed by the Nayak kings of the Vijayanagar Empire who reigned till around the 17th century. They were overthrown by the Sethupathis, who were the earliest chieftains of the region. The Sethupathis had a penchant for art and architecture, and therefore splurged on the architecture of the Ramanatha Swamy temple. So much so, you will find statues of some of the most notable among Sethupathis kings in the temple precinct. Some of the most prominent Sethupathy chieftains were Udayan Sethupathy, Raghunatha Sethupathy, Thirumalai Sethupathy, and Muthuramalinga Sethupathy. During their reign, art and architecture flourished in the region.
Rameshwaram is of great religious interest to Hindus. Hindu mythology has it that at the site of the present Ramanatha Swamy temple, Lord Rama worshipped Lord Shiva to absolve from any sin he may have committed during his war against the demon king, Ravana. Ramanatha Swamy temple is an important pilgrimage centre also because it is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas – holy abode of Lord Shiva.
Getting Around
There are a number of town buses that take you to different points of interest in this little island town, including the iconic Ramanatha Swamy temple. These buses provide good service, and are a decent means of traveling within Rameshwaram. Tourists can avail this service beginning early morning till late in the day. Outside of the traditional way of traveling, one can even hire a bicycle or motor bike to explore the town, and browse its nook and cranny. One such shop from where you can rent a bicycle is located opposite the entrance of the temple on the East Car Street near the local bus stand. They charge a measly per hour tariff.
Tourist Traps in the City
Rameshwaram is a conch-shaped island town spread across 61.8 sq kilometers, with an average elevation of 32 foot (10 meter). At the core of town is the iconic Ramanatha Swamy temple that takes up a major land area. The island is connected to mainland India at Mandapam by the Indira Gandhi or Pamban Bridge. Intriguing as it is, the sea at Rameshwaram is a flat blue with waves of a maximum height of 3 meters (10 foot) making it look like a huge river from a distance. Hindu mythology has it that Lord Rama prayed to the sea god to let him pave a way to Sri Lanka where his wife, Sita was held captive by demon king, Ravana. Granting him his wish, the sea mellowed down so that he could build a bridge of stepping stones on it.
The climate of Rameshwaram is dry tropical with an average rainfall of 94cm, predominantly because of the Northeast monsoon between October and January. Temperature during the day is usually around 30 to 35 degree Celsius. The highest temperature recorded so far is 37 degree Celsius, and lowest 17 degree Celsius.
Local Custom
Haggling with local auto-rickshaw drivers is a norm, even at small touristy shops selling souvenirs. The locals have a traditional outlook, so when visiting a temple, however big or small, dress modestly and avoid wearing short or revealing clothes.
Shopping
You get a great variety of handcrafted souvenirs made of wood, seashells, beads and palm leaves. At the local market of Rameshwaram, you will come across such oddball artifacts and more. The shops lining opposite temple entrances are the best places to find exclusive wooden jewelry, seashell trinkets, silver idols and showpieces made of palm leaves and conch among other interesting finds. A popular shop from where you can pick up exclusive handcrafted souvenirs is Khadicraft; it also houses an array of Khadi kurtas, shirts and skirts. Don’t miss out to shop for a couple of Rameshwaram silk sarees; they come in beautiful shades with intricate patterns, some sport fabric design while the others threadwork. Walk the stretch from the beach of Agnitheertham to Ramanatha Swamy temple, it is chock-a-block full with little kiosks hawking mirror souvenirs, seashell key chains, seashell earrings, neckpieces and fingerings to name a few.
Communications
Phones: The prominent GSM service providers include BSNL, Airtel, Vodafone, and Idea among others. CDMA service providers are Reliance Communications and Tata Indicom.
Internet: The place has a handful of cyber cafes from where you can browse the net, send emails and upload your travel photographs. Reliance World offers broadband connectivity at many locations across the island town.
Other Attractions
-
Ramanatha Swamy Temple
A brief stroll on the soft sands of Rameshwaram along the blue Bay of Bengal brings you to the ancient Ramanatha Swamy Temple steeped in mythology. A paradigm of Dravidian architecture, this temple will be the highpoint of your trip to Rameshwaram. Hindu mythology has it that at this site Lord Rama worshipped Lord Shiva to absolve from any sin he may have committed during his war against the demon king, Ravana. Ramanatha Swamy temple is an important pilgrimage centre of the Hindus, also because ... more>>
-
Agnitheertham
About 100 meters from the famed Ramanatha Swamy temple is the spot where Lord Rama worshipped Lord Shiva to absolve himself for killing demon king, Ravana. You will spot ardent Shiva devotees taking a holy dip here, believed to wash away one’s sins. ... more>>
-
Kothandaraswamy Temple
About 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) from main Rameshwaram town, is the legendary Kothandaraswamy temple, one of the few structures to have miraculously survived the great cyclone of 1964. Dedicated to Lord Rama, his wife Sita, brother Lakshman, Hanuman (the monkey god), and Vibhishan (brother of demon king Ravana), the shrine receives droves of pilgrims mostly from South India. Legend has it that Vibhishan, Ravana’s brother, shifted his loyalty at this site, and urged Lord Rama to let him be a part ... more>>
-
Nambu Nayagiamman Temple
About 8 kilometers (5 miles) from the main Ramanatha Swamy shrine, on the way to Dhanushkodi is the 14th century Nambu Nayagiamman temple tucked away in the Ramnad district. The temple is believed to be built by the locals of Ramnad, out of love and respect for Lord Rama. As you approach the shrine, the synchronized chiming of bells will catch your ears. Gigantic bells dangle from the temple entrance, and a lovely garden spreads out around it. ... more>>
-
Adam's Bridge
The blurry land trail tracing its way across the ocean from Rameshwaram to northwestern Sri Lanka is well brought out in the satellite images by NASA in 2002. In addition to this, there are several equally illustrative aerial images of the mythical Ram Setu (aka Adam’s Bridge) - a strip of land straddling the ocean that connects the island of Rameshwaram with Mannar in Sri Lanka. The origin of this geological formation – as the scientists call it – takes root in Hindu mythology which draws infer ... more>>
-
Ruins and the beach of Dhanushkodi
About 20 kilometers (12.5 miles) from mainland Rameshwaram, Dhanushkodi was a prospering port town, home of around 25,000 inhabitants. It was a peaceful, predominantly fishing community with a college, school, hospital, markets, an ancient Lord Rama temple, a church, a post office, and so much as a railway station. But only until the fateful night of 22 December 1964. Close to midnight the sea suddenly swelled and lashed this little coastal village with gigantic tidal waves followed by a great c ... more>>
-
Ramjharoka Temple on Gandhamadana Parvatam
Gandhamadana Parvatam is the highest point in Rameshwaram, some 5 kilometers (3.12 miles) from the main town. Nestled on its pinnacle, the Ramjharoka temple houses the footprints of Lord Rama on a chakra (wheel). The place offers glorious views of the blue ocean below. You will also be able to view the iconic Ramanatha Swamy temple on the bank among many smaller temples speckled evenly across the island town. Ramjharoka is a significant pilgrimage point in Rameshwaram after Ramanatha Swamy templ ... more>>
-
The Five-faced Hanuman Temple
This is an ancient temple; you can tell from the weathered-look of the structure, and an unmistakable old-world aura. Inside is a rare depiction of Lord Hanuman with five faces. Hindu mythology has it that Lord Hanuman revealed his five-faceted avatar at this site, and was soon after smeared with orange-colored vermilion. The revealed five-faces with five different bodies were of Lord Hanuman, Lord Narasimha, Lord Adivaraha, Lord Hayagriva and Lord Garuda. At this point, he, supposedly, rose abo ... more>>
-
A Drive on the Indira Gandhi or Pamban Bridge
Straddling the Palk Strait, the Pamban or Indira Gandhi Bridge links the Rameshwaram island with mainland India. Covering about 2.3 kilometers, Pamban Bridge is touted as the second longest bridge in the country (after the Bandra-Worli sea link), and an engineering marvel. Pamban Bridge actually refers to both the road and cantilever railway bridge. Opened for traffic in 1914, the railroad bridge doubles up as a double-leaf bascule bridge that can be raised to allow ships to pass from under. Ori ... more>>
Indian
Rameshwaram is not really the place for European or Oriental cuisine, sticking to regional delicacies here is a safer bet. The food here is flavored with a host of spices and condiments, though coconut and tamarind are added to almost all vegetarian recipes. Not to mention, most dishes are rustled up using coconut oil or coconut milk. Coconut chutney, sambar (seasoned lentil broth), rasam (a hot broth made of tamarind juice and pepper) and mixed spices are served with every meal to enhance the taste. A typical Tamilian meal comprises steamed rice, lentils, grains and vegetables. And if you are non-vegetarian, there is a great variety of Chettinad delicacies to choose from. Chettinad pepper chicken is an all-time favorite of the locals. You can even try out the Tamil style of Mughlai cuisine, especially the biryanis and paya (a type of spiced broth generally eaten with paranthas or appam).
Typical South Indian breakfast is readily served and to perfection at most local restaurants. Popular breakfast options include idli (steamed rice cakes), dosa (a pancake made from a batter of rice) and lentils crisp fried on a pan, vada (deep fried doughnuts made from a batter of lentils), pongal (a mash of rice and lentils boiled together and seasoned with ghee, cashew nuts, pepper and cumin seed), yogurt and uppma (cooked semolina seasoned in oil with mustard, pepper, cumin seed and dry lentils). Any Tamil meal is incomplete without crisp papadam or appam!
The Ram Nivas restaurant serves Indian and Chinese cuisine; though the service is a tad slow, it is definitely worth the wait. It is close to the Ramanatha Swamy temple. The best part about eating out in Rameshwaram is the quick snacks fixed by the street vendors which could be anything from a wedge of juicy pineapple, tender pieces of coconut, fresh coconut nectar, to sliced cucumber sprinkled with salt, pepper and lime juice, or a platter of steaming idli with sambar and coconut chutney.
Take a stroll on the West Car Street, and make your pick from the array of restaurants the line it. Most of them serve an eclectic assortment of South Indian cuisine. The traditionally prepared thali is very popular here among foreign tourists. You can try out the TTDC Hotel Tamil Nadu which does a decent job of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes particularly from the South. The hotel also has a well-stocked bar. Hotel Guru is a popular place on East Car Street to enjoy a hearty South Indian meal. Their thalis are most definitely worth a note.
Rameshwaram Today
Updated: 9:40 AM IST
on May 23, 2012
| Temperature | 31°C |
| Humidity | 62% |
| Dew Point | 23°C |
| Wind WNW at | 26 km/h |
| Sunrise | 5:51 AM (IST) |
| Sunset | 6:32 PM (IST) |
Rameshwaram Forecast
WED
30°C | 27°C
THU
30°C | 28°C
FRI
30°C | 29°C
SAT
30°C | 28°C
SUN
30°C | 28°C
MON
30°C | 28°C
TUE
30°C | 28°C
Rameshwaram is a conch-shaped island town spread across 61.8 sq kilometers, with an average elevation of 32 foot (10 meter). At the core of town is the iconic Ramanatha Swamy temple that takes up a major land area. The island is connected to mainland India at Mandapam by the Indira Gandhi or Pamban Bridge. Intriguing as it is, the sea at Rameshwaram is a flat blue with waves of a maximum height of 3 meters (10 foot) making it look like a huge river from a distance. Hindu mythology has it that Lord Rama prayed to the sea god to let him pave a way to Sri Lanka where his wife, Sita was held captive by demon king, Ravana. Granting him his wish, the sea mellowed down so that he could build a bridge of stepping stones on it.
The climate of Rameshwaram is dry tropical with an average rainfall of 94cm, predominantly because of the Northeast monsoon between October and January. Temperature during the day is usually around 30 to 35 degree Celsius. The highest temperature recorded so far is 37 degree Celsius, and lowest 17 degree Celsius.
Show Temperature in °F Show Temperature in °F
Surface
You can drive into Rameshwaram or take the coach from Madurai. Or hire a taxi that charges you close to INR 5 per kilometer for a return trip from Madurai to Rameshwaram. The Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) also operates daily bus service on the Rameshwaram-Tirupati route.
Train
Rameshwaram is well-connected to major South Indian cities such as Chennai, Coimbatore, Karaikudi, Trichy, Thanjavur and Palaghat, via an extensive rail network.
Air
The airport closest to Rameshwaram is in Madurai, about 174 kilometers (109 miles) away. Direct taxis are available from the airport to Rameshwaram.
Madurai has a domestic airport serviced by several domestic airlines including Jet Airways,
Indian Airlines, Kingfisher Red and Paramount Airways. The flights connect mainly to Chennai.
Sea
There ain’t any well-defined network.
Rameshwaram Photo Gallery
Share your trip
You have not created any albums
Photo Title
Album Name: Taj Mahal | Related to: Album Category
Album Description
Taj Mahal Album description Taj Mahal Album description Taj Mahal Album description Taj Mahal Album description Taj Mahal Album description Taj Mahal Album description Taj Mahal Album description
Please enter Email TextBe the first to upload your travel photos for Rameshwaram