India has a blend of mixed cultures, traditions, & faith. Every place here has something to offer to its visitors. Regarding tourism, it is not just the northern part that is bestowed with a treasure trove of natural beauty & a plethora of tourist attractions. The southern part is equivalent in driving tourist footfall with places like Rameswaram, a divine island in Tamil Nadu.This city is one of the holiest pilgrimage destinations for Hindus since it is a part of the pious Char Dham spiritual journey.
When coming to this city for vacation, one must be familiar with how it got its name. According to Ramayana, it is a place where Lord Rama worshipped his ishta deva, Mahadev, in his linga form to get his blessings in winning the war over the tyrant ruler of Lanka, Ravana. The famous Ramanathaswamy Temple is the town’s central attraction, which welcomes both Shaivas & Vaishnavas, as it is associated with both Shiva and Rama (7th incarnation of Lord Vishnu).
Places to explore in Rameswaram, a divine island in Tamil Nadu
Stocked with plenty of tourist spots, Rameswaram, a pious city in Tamil Nadu, truly deserves to be a place for leisure travel or a spiritual retreat. We will bring you a Rameswaram tour guide to help cover the main attractions if you are coming for a short visit.
Sri Ramanathaswamy Temple
Sri Ramanathaswamy Temple is one of the popular attractions for tourists in Rameswaram. Holding a mythological significance, it is a place where Lord Rama worshipped Shiva Linga to relieve himself from the sin committed in killing Ravana, who was also a partly Brahmin, other than a Rakshasa. This temple is admired for its Dravidian architecture made up of many elements including stone, sand, salt, etc. Once, it had 112 pools, but now there are only 12.
- Location: Ramanathapuram, Rameshwaram
- Timings: 5:00 AM to 1:00 PM & 3:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Panchmukhi Hanuman Temple
Coming on to the following famous temple of this divine island in Tamil Nadu is Panchmukhi Hanuman Temple. As the name suggests, it is clear that this temple is dedicated to Lord Hanuman in his five-headed forms representing Narasimha, Varaha, Garuda, Hayagriva, & his own head at the centre. The structure of this beautiful temple has been made with Senthooram stone, which was very valuable in olden times. It houses stones that helped Rama build a setu to reach Lanka.
- Location: Ramanathapuram, Rameswaram
- Timings: 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Nambu Nayaki Amman Temple
Shri Nambu Nayaki Amman Temple is among the famous temples in Rameswaram. It is worth visiting for its distinctive 3 large bells, which spread a unique spiritual aura around the circumference when being ranged. The temple dedicated to Lord Rama was built in the 14th century by the people of Ramnad district, & is crowded with devotees.
- Location: Dhanushkodi Road, Rameshwaram
- Timings: 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Kothandaramaswamy Temple
Besides Ramanathaswamy Temple & Namby Nayaki Amman Temple, Kothandaramaswamy Temple is also a temple to worship Lord Rama. Encircled by beautiful beaches & enormous skylines of dark blue ocean, the temple is a fantastic site that also houses idols of Devi Sita, Lakshmana, & of course, Hanuman. According to the Hindu faith, it was once a residence of Vibhishana, the younger brother of Ravana.
- Location: Dhanushkodi Road, Rameswaram
- Timings: 6:00 AM to 7:30 PM
Dhanushkodi
Moving over to the list of spiritually enlightened places to visit in Rameswaram lies a solitary site called Dhanushkodi. It also bears the name of Ghost Town, as one can feel the eerie silence here. Once a flourishing town, it faced a devastating storm in 1964 that took away its lustre, & turned it into a barren, infertile land, as declared by the government of Madras. Even though it is in ruins, it still attracts the attention of tourists.
- Location: Pamban island, Rameswaram
- Timings: 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Adam’s Bridge or Ram Setu
Adam’s Bridge is a popular place as it is connected to Ramayana. This famous Bridge connects Rameswaram to Sri Lanka. Now holding a reference to the epic, Hindus called it Ram Setu, a bridge of floating stone created by Rama’s ape army. When coming to Rameswaram, this is one such place that is hard to miss.
- Location: Between Pamban Island & MannarIsland, Rameshwaram
- Timings: Open 24 hrs a day
Water Bird Sanctuary
Indeed, Rameswaram is a divine island in Tamil Nadu, with so many temples, but this is not the only reason you should plan your vacation. There are other offbeat attractions to relieve you from the constant visit to holy sites. Among these is Water Bird Sanctuary. It is an absolute visual treat to explore with your children when seeing the flocks of local & migratory birds who come here to care for their young ones.
- Location: Chitrangudi & Kanjirankulam, Ramanathapuram District
- Timings: 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Plan your luxury stay at Rameswaram, the divine city in Tamil Nadu
With all such intriguing sites to explore, you also need a luxury stay in the divine city of Tamil Nadu. Before you start tapping for the best options, we suggest one better choice: jüSTa Sarang. It is one of the luxury hotels in Rameswaram, coming as a perfect sojourn for vacationers, with its exceptional services. Located in a peaceful environment, you are at the advantage of touring the famous spots of this divine city, including historical bridges, museums, bird sanctuaries, temples, & beaches. Moreover, the hotel also provides a spiritually guided tour to its famous Sri Ramanathaswamy Temple to partake in religious prayers & get the blessings of the priest.
The hotel comprises 32 luxury rooms, all acquainted with state-of-the-art architecture & lavish amenities. The artwork here represents the true essence of Rameswaram culture. However, along with a luxury stay with optimum comfort, the hotel also welcomes you to its in-house restaurant, Satva, one of the top restaurants in Rameswaram. Here, you can savour famous delicacies in Rameswaram, including various South Indian cuisines.
Conclusion
Rameswaram is a famous divine island in Tamil Nadu stocked with so many intriguing sites, ranging from famous temples like Sri Ramanathaswamy Temple to pristine beaches, & experiencing an eerie solitary ambience at Dhanushkodi, the Ghost Town. Besides enjoying sightseeing, you can also experience a memorable stay at one of the luxury hotels in Rameswaram.
