Rameshwaram is a major pilgrimage centre of the Hindus and considered as the mythological place from where Lord Rama built the bridge to Lanka. This place is on an island in the Gulf of Mannar, the narrow body of water that separates Tamil Nadu from Sri Lanka.
The attractions of Rameshwaram are the Ramanathaswamy Temple and the Dhanushkodi that is the meeting point of the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean. It is considered to be a place of absolution from all sins according to Hindu religion.
Ramanathaswamy Temple is believed to have been built in the 17th century by the Chola dynasty and has lord Shiva as its chief deity. It is believed that image of Shiva in the temple was originally made by Lord Rama and it is one of the 12 Jyothirlingas in India. The key feature of the temple is a Mandapa in the form of a dice. The temple has images of several Hindu deities. It also has 22 tanks for dipping and a dip in the Agni Thirtha is believed to remove all sins.
Dhanushkodi or Rama’s Bow is the southernmost point of Rameshwaram about 18 km from the main temple. It has a beautiful beach from where the traveller can view the Adam's bridge, which is the chain of reefs, sandbanks and islets that almost connect Sri Lanka to India. In the Hindu mythology, this place is known as the Sethubandhan, the bridge that Lord Rama makes with the help of Hanuman and the army of Sugriv.
Rameshwaram is known as the Varanasi of the South because of the belief that a visit to this place can provide absolution to the believer. Other than being a pilgrim centre, this place has a variety of birds such as flamingos, sea gulls and during winter some species of migrating birds as well.
The attractions of Rameshwaram are the Ramanathaswamy Temple and the Dhanushkodi that is the meeting point of the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean. It is considered to be a place of absolution from all sins according to Hindu religion.
Ramanathaswamy Temple is believed to have been built in the 17th century by the Chola dynasty and has lord Shiva as its chief deity. It is believed that image of Shiva in the temple was originally made by Lord Rama and it is one of the 12 Jyothirlingas in India. The key feature of the temple is a Mandapa in the form of a dice. The temple has images of several Hindu deities. It also has 22 tanks for dipping and a dip in the Agni Thirtha is believed to remove all sins.
Dhanushkodi or Rama’s Bow is the southernmost point of Rameshwaram about 18 km from the main temple. It has a beautiful beach from where the traveller can view the Adam's bridge, which is the chain of reefs, sandbanks and islets that almost connect Sri Lanka to India. In the Hindu mythology, this place is known as the Sethubandhan, the bridge that Lord Rama makes with the help of Hanuman and the army of Sugriv.
Rameshwaram is known as the Varanasi of the South because of the belief that a visit to this place can provide absolution to the believer. Other than being a pilgrim centre, this place has a variety of birds such as flamingos, sea gulls and during winter some species of migrating birds as well.
