Rameswaram town in Ramanathapuram area in the Indian express of Tamil Nadu is famous as Rameshwaram throughout the world. The holy island of Rameswaram called as ?Benaras of the South? is the only real place worshipped by both Saivites and Vaishnavites as it is India?s most venerated and most visited Shiva shrines which is also associated with the life of Lord Rama, the hero of the epic Ramayana. It really is situated on an island separated from mainland India by the Pamban channel. Kashi and Rameshwaram mutually are one of the holiest places in India to Hindus and part of the Char Dham pilgrimages. The Rameshwaram island is multiply over 61. 8 square kilometers and has condition of a conch. Rameswaram is one of the 12 Jyothirlingas of India and considered one among four most sacred pilgrim centers of India specifically Rameswaram in the South, Badrinath in the North, Puri in the East and Dwaraka in the Western world. Among these, Rameswaram is dedicated to Shiva, while the other three focus on lord Vishnu. The Ramanatha Swamy Temple is the key temple of Rameshwaram which is very beautifully produced. It can be considered as the masterpiece of Dravidian architecture. The temple has twenty-two wells and surprisingly the preference of water of each well differs and wells are thought to possess therapeutic properties. Dr. Abdul Kalam, Ex-president of India, belongs to a small village, Dhanushkodi situated on the island. Legends says Lord Rama built a bridge Ram Setu over the sea at this spot to reach Lanka to rescue godess Sita and also worshipped Lord Shiva after eliminating Ravana, who was simply the best worshipper of Lord Shiva and also blessed by lord shiva. Based on the Puranas lord Rama along with Sita and Lakshmana installed and worshipped the Sivalinga here to avoid sins of eradicating Ravana, a brahmin. Sethu Karai is 22 km before the island of Rameswaram where lord Rama is assumed to obtain built a Floating Natural stone Bridge Ramasethu till Rameswaram that further continuing from Dhanushkodi in Rameswaram till Talaimannar in Sri Lanka. Rameswaram can be an acclaimed Parihara Sthala, where it is assumed all sins get absolved. Devotees take holy dips at Sethu Theertha, Agni Theertha and other sacred waters, offer pujas to get progeny, perform Shraadha for their ancestors.
Places to visit-
Sri Ramanathaswamy Temple-
This temple is immediately related to lord Rama and believed to be the must visit place for hindus if one desires to achieve nirvana from the cycle of delivery and death. You can find seven such places in India where you might like to offer prayers for attaining salvation in life and Rameshwaram temple is one particular. The temple has the longest corridor entirely of India.
This place has great significance as it is assumed that Entire Ramayan was conceived in this place.
Gandhamadhana Parvatham-
Gandhamadhana is most renowned and worshiped in the southern India having Lord rama's feet imprinted on the chakra located in the temple. Gandhamadhana is the deity of several areas in southern India. It really is a holy place thronged by devotees from all elements of India. It includes Rama tirtham built on the Gandamadhana Parvata hence th it is named Gandamadana. It really is near Dhanushkodi, where Rama found Vibhishana and has its own historical importance.
Agnitheertham-
It is one of the 12 jyotirlings of India and is one of the holiest destination to visit. It has a huge lake whose water is considered holy and folks thinks that taking bathroom in the area washes away their sins and one attains salvation. It includes 22 wells having waters of different flavor. It is one visit place.
Badrakaliamman Temple-
It is the most significant temple of Ma Kali in southern India who's the holy mother for devottes in southern India. The statue of Maa kali is of 100 % pure platinum and temple has different professional pieces of different ages.
Annai Indira Gandhi Road Bridge-
It is the longest bridge in southern India hooking up Rameswaram Island to the primary land. It is also called the Pambam Bridge as it is situated beside Pamban, the sacred place where Rama could quench the thirst of Sita by tossing an arrow in the place where they could actually retrieve cool water. It really is 7kms long.
Other temples-
There are numerous other temple having religious as well as historical relevance. Villondi tirtham is one of those temples situated on a location where lord Rama buried his bow as villondi means a buried bow. It really is about 7 kms from main Rameshwar temple and is known as to be always a sacred place by most of the fans. It has a location where drinking water is available in the midst of salty sea. Dhanushkodi Temple is other main temple on the southern suggestion of India located nearby the Bay of Bengal and Indian Ocean on the other hand. The seas are in the shape of bow and arrow when seen from the most notable. Lord Rama has his pious feet even in this temple and whole story of Ramayana revolves here as well. Five faceted Hanuman temple is other famous temple. The statues of lord Rama, Laxman, Sita and Hanuman are positioned in the temple. The temple has a floating natural stone which was believed to be used to bulid the bridge on the ocean. Nambu Nayagiamman Temple is other worth visiting temple
How to reach-
By Air-
Nearest airport is Madurai, 163 km from Rameshwaram and has good highway connection to it.
By Train-
The railway links Rameshwaram to places like Chennai, Madurai, Coimbatore, Trichy and Thanjavur and 2 km long Indira Gandhi Bridge attaches the island of Rameshwaram with the mainland of Mandapam.
By Road-
Rameshwaram is well linked by roads to all the major towns nearby, Kanyakumari, Trichy, Pondicherry, Tanjore and Chennai.
