Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu
Main God
Lord Shiva (Ramanathaswamy)
Timings
5:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Location
Rameswaram
Type
JYOTIRLINGA
Start by bathing in the 22 sacred theerthams (wells) inside the temple complex. Devotees carry a bucket and move from one theertham to the next in sequence. Each is believed to wash away specific sins.
Before or after the temple theerthams, take a holy dip at Agni Theertham - the sea shore adjacent to the temple's east entrance. This is the most important sea theertham.
Enter through the main East Gopuram after completing the theertham ritual. Deposit shoes and electronics at the entrance. Walk along the grand corridors.
Proceed to the main sanctum for darshan of the Ramanathaswamy Jyotirlinga. There are two lingams - the one made by Sita (Ramalingam) and the one brought by Hanuman from Kailash (Vishwalingam).
Walk through the stunning temple corridors - the third corridor is the longest in any Hindu temple at 3,850 feet. The ornately carved pillars and the sheer scale are breathtaking.
Please follow these guidelines to maintain the sanctity of the temple
Ramanathaswamy Temple, Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu 623526
By Bus
Regular TNSTC buses from Madurai (174 km), Chennai (600 km), and other Tamil Nadu cities. The bus stand is about 2 km from the temple.
By Air
Madurai Airport (174 km) is the nearest airport. Taxis and buses available to Rameswaram (approx. 3.5-4 hours by road).
By Rail
Rameswaram Railway Station (1 km from temple). Connected to Chennai, Madurai, Trichy, and other cities. The train crosses the iconic Pamban Bridge.
Local Transport
Auto-rickshaws and cycle-rickshaws available in Rameswaram town. Most places are within a short distance. Rented bicycles are also a popular option.
Dhanushkodi
18 km
A ghost town at the southeastern tip of Pamban Island, destroyed by the 1964 cyclone. Marks the point where Adam's Bridge (Ram Setu) begins towards Sri Lanka.
Agni Theertham
Adjacent to temple
The sacred seashore on the eastern side of the temple. Devotees take a holy dip here before or after visiting the temple theerthams. Ancestral rites are also performed here.
Gandhamadhana Parvatham
3 km
A small hillock believed to be the highest point on Pamban Island. Houses a shrine with Lord Rama's footprints imprinted on a chakra. Offers panoramic views of the island.
Villoondi Theertham
8 km
A natural spring on the beach, believed to have been created by Lord Rama by striking his arrow into the ground to quench Sita's thirst. Fresh water emerges amidst the sea.
Pamban Bridge
10 km from Rameswaram town
India's first sea bridge connecting Rameswaram island to the mainland. The railway bridge section opens to let ships pass - a remarkable engineering feat built in 1914.
