Rameshwaram - Where The Monkey Army Builds The Ram Setu

Rameshwaram, the land of Lord Rama, is not only Tamil Nadu’s main pilgrimage town, but also one of the Char Dhams (four pilgrimage spots) in India that attracts millions of devotees every year.

In the Ramayana, this is the site from where the monkey army began to build the Ram Setu to reach Ravana’s Lanka, an issue of much controversy today. This is also where Sita is said to have built a Shiva lingam on her return from Lanka.

Read More: Rameshwaram: Temples and Beyond​

Floating Stone Bridge: Legend has it that Hanuman and his monkey army created a bridge to cross the Indian Ocean and reach Lanka for Lord Rama to rescue his wife from Ravana. This bridge is said to be made of floating stones, hence the name. This bridge can be seen between India and Sri Lanka from Rameshwaram.

Ramanathaswamy Temple: Devoted to Lord Shiva, the Ramanathaswamy temple is one of the most revered temples in India. According to folklore, Lord Rama came to worship Lord Shiva in the temple, and hence the name Ramanathaswamy temple.

Dip in Agnitheertham: When in the island town of Rameshwaram, devotees make it a point to visit another religious point known as Agnitheertham. Tourists take a holy dip in the waters of Agnitheertham to cleanse their sins. According to the Ramayana, Lord Rama took a dip here while worshipping Lord Shiva to absolve himself from the sin of killing Ravana, a Brahman.

Read More: Tracing Hindu Mythology: 7 Places You Need to Visit in India​

Getting There

Air: Approximately 177 kilometres away, Madurai airport is the nearest airport from Rameshwaram.

Train: This is the most convenient and preferred mode of transport. Located on GP Road in Rameshwaram, the railway station in the city is well-connected with most Indian cities.

Road: The road network in Rameshwaram is quite good and the town is well-connected with major cities including Kanyakumari, Chennai, Pondicherry and Madurai. Daily bus services by the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) have routes to nearby cities like Kanyakumari, Thiruvallur, Pondicherry, Trichy and Chennai. You can choose from a regular, semi-deluxe or a deluxe coach.

Hotel: A good place to stay is Hotel Daiwik which is about 180 kilometres from the airport in Madurai. The average cost per night is Rs. 4,000. Other hotel options in Rameshwaram are Hotel Arjunaa, Hotel Ragavendra and Hotel Ashoka.

Book Your Flight to Madurai (nearest airport to Rameshwaram)

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