Rameshwaram is on Pamban Island separated from mainland India by the Pamban channel and is about 40 kilometres from Mannar Island, Sri Lanka. Rameshwaram is one of the four important pilgrimage centres know as Char Dham and attracts thousands of visitors. Pamban channel separates it from the mainland, and the waters surrounding it make it extremely attractive to visitors who are not particularly interested in its connection to the days of the Ramayana.
Rameshwaram
1. Ramanathaswamy Temple
This temple dedicated to Lord Shiva houses one of the 12 Jyotirlingas located in different parts of India. Said to have originally been built by Rama himself, the temple contains a very famous 197-metre-long hallway flanked by beautiful and ornately carved pillars.
With a 54-metre tall gopuram, the temple is considered a prime example of Dravidian architecture. The temple’s construction was started in the 12th century and the different parts are credited to many different rulers.
2. Gandhamadhana Parvatham
Remember the mountain mentioned in the Ramayana from where Hanuman was about to fetch the medicinal herbs to save Laxman. Yes! It is Gandhamadhana Parvatham which was carried by Lord Hanuman on his shoulders. This utterly pious and quaint religious spot is 3 km away from the centre of the town. A double storied temple of Lord Rama houses the imprints of his feet on a chakra. It is also considered to be the highest point in Rameshwaram, so you can have a birds’ eye view of the whole island from the peak.
3. Water Bird Sanctuary
If you are here and want to explore something different other than the temples, do visit this bird sanctuary which is certainly different from the conventional sanctuaries. The best thing is you can see a lot of native as well as migratory water birds in this sanctuary. It is during the months of October to January when flocks of migratory birds fly to this land for breeding and feeding their off springs. The bird sanctuary is located in Ramanathapuram District and indeed one of the most popular tourist places in Rameshwaram.
4. Five Faced Hanuman Temple
Highly revered by the Hindus, the temple of Five Faced Hanuman is only 2 km from the Ramanathaswamy Temple. It is believed that Hanumana revealed his five-faced form for the first time in this place. The statue of Lord Hanuman is smeared with sindoor and worshipped with utmost devotion. The temple here enshrines the statues of Rama, Laxman and Sita. There is a floating stone in the temple which is believed to have been used during Sethu Bandhanam as mentioned in the Ramayana.
5. Villoondi Tirtham
Literally meaning the burried bow, Villoondi Tirtham is a quaint religious destination where Lord Rama dipped his bow into the seawater to quench his consort Sita’s thirst. It is said that before burying the bow here Lord Rama shot an arrow into earth from where a stream of sweet water emerged to quench Sita’s thirst. There is a Ekantha Ramar Temple which is constructed on the same place where Lord Rama took rest before launching attack on Lanka.
6. Jatayu Tirtham Temple
Jatayu was an eagle that acted as Rama’s friend, informing him that Ravana had abducted his wife. In the story, Jatayu died in battle trying to free Sita from Ravana.
The Jatayu Tirtham Temple is a shrine for the eagle. which is supposedly buried here by Rama and held in great reverence by the pious Hindus of India.
7. Villoondi Theertham
Villoondi Theertham is a beach that is blessed with aesthetic beauty as well as a rich cultural background. It happens to be one of the Theertham (holy water body) spots of 64 known ones. Every year, pilgrims come here to take a dip and purge themselves of all evil.
The main attraction here is the water spring that originates within the sea. The entire scene is picture-perfect, so don’t forget to take your camera on a visit here.
A trip to Rameshwaram is considered very important and a must-attempt pilgrimage at least once in a lifetime by Hindus.
Even if they held no such belief, the religious and secular attractions of Rameshwaram have many people vying with each other to get here and see every single one of the beautiful places which are listed here. Comment down below when you are planning to visit this beautiful place.