A must visit pilgrimage city situated in Ramanathapuram District in Tamil Nadu, Rameswaram is not a town spread over a large area but is known for its
A must visit pilgrimage city situated in Ramanathapuram District in Tamil Nadu, Rameswaram is not a town spread over a large area but is known for its hallowed existence. The town is one of the most acclaimed pilgrimage attractions for Hindu devotees who come from different corners of the world. The place reminds and represents the life of Lord Rama and also the holy epic Ramayana. If you walk along the streets of this city you will realise that Lord Rama had really been existing in ancient times.
Ramanathaswamy Temple which is the centre of attraction of this spiritual town is a part of divine Char Dham Yatra in India but the glory of this beautiful ancient city doesn’t limit here. It is extended to far more than temples and other sacred places. This pilgrimage town is also famous for housing tourist spots like clean sea beaches, wildlife sanctuaries, splendid bridges, etc. Continue reading this post and come to know some of the most famous destinations established in the religious town of Rameshwarm.
List of the 10 Best Places to Visit in Rameshwaram
1. Sri Ramanathaswamy Temple
The temple has been built and designed in the Dravidian style architecture in the 17th century and is a major part of Char Dham which is famous for housing a good collection of Lingas built with stone, salt, sand, and other elements. According to the historical stories and mythologies the temple had approx. 112 ponds and at present only 12 of them is left there. The temple is reckoned for its huge corridor which is believed to be the second largest temple corridor in the world. Ramanathaswamy Temple tops the list of tourist destinations in South India.
2. Kothandaramaswamy Temple
The second most religious place to visit in Rameshwaram is Kothandaramaswamy Temple which is around 500 years old and is situated on the southernmost tip of this beautiful island city. This ancient temple is located very close to the sea and houses the idols of Lord Rama, his brother Lord Laxman, and Vibhishan, the brother of the demon king Ravana. It is believed to be the same place where Lord Rama performed the last rituals of Pattabhishekam of Vibhishana whose stories are depicted beautifully on the walls of the temples. It is believed that the complex of this temple was destroyed completely during the cyclone of 1964 but the structure of the temple was remained untouched and unaffected.
3. The Magnificent Five-Faced Hanuman Temple
The temple famous for five different manifestations of Lord Hanuman and is counted amongst top prestigious and acclaimed tourist places in Rameswaram. The temple is situated around 2 km away from the famous Ramanathaswamy Temple and is famous for its intricate carvings cut out from the most famous ancient rock called Senthooram Stone. It is believed that the Hanuman Temple houses the stones which were used to construct the famous Rama Setu constructed by the army of monkeys. The bridge was built to rescue Lord Rama’s wife Goddess Sita from the demon king of Sri Lanka.
4. Lakshmana Tirtham
One of the most popular destinations to be explored during your visit to spiritual city of Rameshwaram, Lakshmana Tirtham is a must visit place for spiritual and architectural attraction. This sacred pond is located near to the vicinity of Ramanathaswamy Temple and on the bank of this pond there is a huge temple of Lord Lakshmana standing beautifully. It is believed that the pilgrims and tourists visiting the Lakshmana Temple must take dip in this sacred pond. According to the holy epic Ramayana, Lord Lakshmana was very dear to his brother Rama and this temple represents the bond between these brothers.
5. Annai Indira Gandhi Road Bridge
This cantilever bridge built on Palk Straits was built to connect the mainland India with the beautiful Rameswaram Island. Annai Indira Road Bridge is believed to be the first sea bridge constructed in India. If you want to view this railway bridge and its wonderful double leaf bascule then visit the adjacent bi-lane road. The bascules when raise itself allow the ships to pass from its underneath. The bridge contains around 143 pillars where each of them is around 220 feet high and each weighs around 100 tonnes. This 100 year old bridge is listed among some of the most fascinating places to visit in Rameswaram.
6. Water Bird Sanctuary
An ideal destination for nature lovers which can be explored in one day only. Tourists must have got much religious experiences by now so let’s get some different experiences by visiting Water Bird Sanctuary which is shelter to various migratory water birds and also to native birds. If you are visiting this sanctuary during the months of October and February then you can see a great number of migratory birds coming to the place in search of food and breed. Located in the Ramanathapuram district of Tamil Nadu, Water Bird Sanctuary is one of the most amazing and visited places in Rameswaram.
7. Ram Setu
A historical bridge constructed to connect the Rameswaram Island of India to the north-western coast of Sri Lanka. This 2 km long bridge is constructed with the limestone shoals that starts from Dhanskodi which is the tip of Pamban Island in India and is connected to the mainland of the country. The bridge is always a burning hot debate topic among archeologists and historians. The bridge is known as the landmark of the city and is the most visited tourist destinations in Rameshwaram.
8. Dhanushkodi Beach and Temple
Being known as the ghost town of Tamil Nadu is a sparsely populated and a small beach town situated on the sea cost of Tamil Nadu. Indian history states that in 1964, this small beach town was hit by a devastating cyclone and was completely destroyed in the cyclone. After this devastating cyclone hit, the beach town was rebuilt in a unique and an unusual way. This tourist place is very less touched and explored by the tourists is left isolated from the rest part of the country. A habitat of rarely 500 fishermen and their families, Dhanuskodi is listed among tourist destinations in Rameshwaram.
9. Ariyaman Beach
Sick of hectic city life then come to Ariyaman Beach which is a perfect place to spend quality time with your friends and family. This beautiful beach in Rameshwaram is spread over an area of 2 km and is around 150 meter wide. Known for its utmost cleanliness and the gentles waves blowing in the sea is listed in the list of top picnic or weekend destinations to be spend with the family or friends. One can enjoy water sport activities like water surfing, water scooter ride, and many more on this beach and can also try out boating. The place is liked by children too as it has a children’s Park, a museum, and an aquarium as well. Adventure lovers can also opt for parasailing at this beach.
10. Agni Teertham
The popular tourist destination which tops the list of most visited and fascinated places in Rameshwaram, Agni Teerthem is listed among 64 sacred places for bath in India. Likewise other sacred bath destinations, Agni Teertham is also believed to be the place where one comes to cleanse all his sins and to gain the purity.
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