The temple town of Rameswaram in state of Tamil Nadu, is an island in the Gulf of Mannar off the tip of the peninsula. It’s a place of legend: the place where Lord Rama and his monkey army built the bridge to Ravana’s Lanka to rescue Sita, as per the epic Ramayana. This is also the place where Rama, an incarnation of Vishnu asked forgiveness from Shiva for killing his follower Ravana. And so, Rameswaram is sacred for both the Shaivite and Vaishnavite sects of Hinduism.
How to Reach Rameshwaram?
By Air : The nearest airport is at Madurai (167 km), which is linked to major cities in the country by domestic airlines.
By Rail : The railway station receives meter gauge trains from Coimbatore, Trichy, Madurai, Thanjavur and Chennai, which in turn are connected to the rest of the country. Rameswaram is well connected to all the main towns in Tamil Nadu by road as well.
By Road : Chennai is quite a distance by road (666km); Madurai is the nearest big town (167 km). The Pamban Bridge connects Rameswaram to the mainland.
Best Time to Visit Rameshwaram
The best time to visit Rameshwaram will be from October to April, when the weather is pleasant enough with temperature ranging from 17°C to 32°C for you to enjoy sightseeing and other outdoor activities here.
During the summer months, from March to June, you can experience moderately hot temperature with temperature varying a minimum of 25°C to a maximum of 38°C. Rameshwaram experiences an average temperature of 35°C.
However, avoid visiting in the rainy season between July and September, as it tends to get humid thus making it difficult to enjoy sightseeing or outdoor activities.
Things to do in Rameshwaram
Being a pilgrimage town, Rameshwaram is a town that has things to do for the person in search of a spiritual quest. Pay obeisance at the old temples along the coast and the buy some shell necklaces and corals to take back home as gifts.
Places Near Rameshwaram
The district headquarters at Ramanathapuram (55 km) are to be visited for the Ramvilas Palace of Sethupati kings. The walls are very entertaining, with oil portraits of the kings and murals of such sundry occasions as battles with Marathas and business meetings with the Brits!
Erwadi (21 km) is a place of pilgrimage for Muslims. It has the tomb of Ibrahim Syed Aulia. An annual festival in memory of the saint is held every December.
Uthirakosamangai has a statue of Shiva carved out of emerald and attracts lots of pilgrims. Kanchirankullam (35 km) is a water bird sanctuary and is home to many species throughout the year. The season is from November to February.
Valinokkam (90 km) is a seaside village largely untouched by consumerism and 'tourism’. The water is clear and clean and ideal for swimming.
Hotels in Rameshwaram – Choice is Yours
There are numerous hotels in Rameshwaram ranging from 3-star, 4-star and 5-star deluxe to budget hotels.