Rameshwaram is a sacred island town in Tamil Nadu. It is one of the most important places of tirth yatra in South India, because its Ramanathaswamy Temple is both one of the 12 Jyotirlings and one of the four dhams of India, along with Badrinath, Dwarka and Puri.
What to See on a Rameshwaram Yatra
Ramanathaswamy Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is known for its very long pillared corridors. Tradition links the temple to Lord Rama, who is said to have worshipped Shiva here.
Agni Theertham and the temple theerthams: pilgrims usually take a holy dip in the sea at Agni Theertham, and then bathe in the sacred wells inside the temple, traditionally counted as 22, before darshan.
Dhanushkodi lies at the southeastern tip of the island, and is known for the ruins left by the cyclone of 1964 and for the place where the Bay of Bengal meets the Gulf of Mannar.
How to Reach Rameshwaram
Madurai is the nearest major airport, about 170 km away. From there, you can continue by road or by train. The island is connected to the mainland by the Pamban bridges.
Best Time to Visit
October to April is usually the most comfortable time, as the summer months are hot and humid. Festival days such as Maha Shivratri bring larger crowds, so allow extra time for darshan.
If you are following the 12 Jyotirlings, read our 12 Jyotirlings guide.
Planning this yatra? We do not list a fixed package for this route on the website yet. Call +91-9411-543-299 or email [email protected] to ask whether we can arrange it, or see our current Tirth Yatra packages.