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Rameshwaram

ameshwaram is a very special place in India, for Hindus all over the world. It has been revered since ancient times. Everything in and near Rameshwaram is traditionally connected with incidents in the ancient Hindu epic, 'The Ramayana'. A pilgrimage to Rameshwaram is said to bestow merits upon those pilgrims who are fortunate enough to visit it.

Rameswaram is a small island in the Gulf of Mannar. It is located off the eastern coast in Tamil Nadu at the extreme southeastern limit of the Indian Peninsula. The ride over the 2-km long Indira Gandhi Bridge to the island is truly impressive. It is less than 20 km from Sri Lanka, across the Gulf of Mannar.

Mythology says that Lord Rama meditated in Rameshwaram prior to advancing to the kingdom of Lanka, to fight the demon king Ravana. It is believed that the Lord, upon his return, also performed some rituals to thank Lord Shiva for his victory. This makes the place important to both sects of Hindus, the Vaishnavites and the Saivites.

Every devout Hindu is expected to undertake a pilgrimage to Kashi, on the banks of the river Ganges. Only after a visit to Rameshwaram and Dhanushkodi is the Kashi pilgrimage considered complete.

Dhanushkodi is the tip of the island where the Bay of Bengal, joins the Indian Ocean. 'Dhanushkodi', in Tamil means the "end of the bow". It is believed that Sri Rama, at the request of Vibishana, his friend, destroyed the bridge to Sri Lanka with the end of His bow. Sadly, Dhanushkodi was affected in a cyclone a few years ago.

The temples found here are few of the finest gems of Dravidian architecture. The intricate carvings on the temples are truly beautiful and outstanding. The pillars and corridors of the temples are among the largest to be found in any temple in India.

WHAT TO SEE

Shri Ramnathswamy Temple, 2 kms from Rameshwaram, is a temple renowned for its many pillared (and often painted) corridors, about 1220 meters in length. The temple is a fine example of South Indian architecture.
Nearby is the Gandhamadhanam Parvat. The name is said to mean 'highly fragrant hill' in Sanskrit. Here the pilgrims can view the footprint of Lord Rama. It is said that the monkey God, Hanuman took a giant leap to the kingdom of Lanka from this point.
Located about 8 kilometres away is the village of Dhanushkodhi. The bridge that Lord Rama's army built is still partially visible and there is still a partial link between the mainland and Sri Lanka.
In close proximity, is the Agnitheertham, which is said to be the place where Lord Rama prayed after returning from the war in Lanka.

The sheer artistry of the temples has magnificently conquered problems of proportions and height. This makes the temples truly remarkable. Another point to note is that, all these stones must have been transported to Rameshwaram over long distances and across the sea by a causeway. How the huge stones could have been carried across a turbulent sea is a question the answer to which proves that Indian engineers of yore were quite advanced in technology.

Rameswaram also has beautiful beaches. It is also famous for a variety of handicrafts. Near the temples you can find lots of shops that have different items made from palm leaf, beads and seashells. Khadicraft is the shop where your search ends for handicraft items in the city. Rameswaram silk sarees are very popular among the ladies. There is also a major marine food center and much of its fish and prawn catch is exported. An Indo-Norwegian fisheries project is functioning at Mandapam that also has a pearl culture project run by the Tamil Nadu Fisheries Development Corporation from where pearls can be purchased. An excursion to the Kurusadai Island, 20 kms away is breathtaking.

Rameshwaram has catapulted in the news in India. Dr APJ Kalam, the 12^th President of India was born in Rameshwaram, and went to the local school. It was the local library which laid the foundation of Kalam's career. The journey from Rameshwaram to Raisina Hills is the story of the 21^st century missile man.

Temperature (deg C):
        Summer- Max. 37, Min. 30;
        Winter- Max. 30, Min. 25.

Best Season:
        Throughout the year�preferably October to March.

Transport & Communication:

Air: Nearest airport Madurai (167 kms) is connected by Indian Airlines flights with Bombay, Calicut and Chennai.
Rail: connected by rail directly to Chennai, Madurai, Trichy and Coimbatore, where Chennai is connected with all the main places in India.
Road: connected by regular bus services with Kanyakumari 320 kms, Karaikudi 149 kms, Chennai 666 kms and Madurai 167 kms.

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