Rameshwaram
Here, hymns and chants fill the air, creating a mesmerizingly hallowed ambiance. As the sea waves rise, so do the emotions in the minds of millions of devotees. Rameswaram is a vibrant destination, so divine and so very poetic.
At the very tip of the Indian peninsula lies Rameswaram, a serene strip of land that boasts of spectacular natural beauty. Renowned for being a pilgrimage destination, Rameswaram is home to the famous Ramanathaswamy Temple, known for its elaborate corridors and splendidly sculpted pillars. Though lying separated from the mainland of India in the Pamban Island, Rameswaram is connected to the mainland by the magnificent Pamban Bridge.
Considered one of the holiest places for Hindus in India and one among the four Char Dham pilgrimage sites, Rameswaram is also the closest point to Sri Lanka from India. Geological evidences state that once India was connected to Sri Lanka from this point via the Rama Sethu bridge. This quaint town has from time immemorial been a place of great interest and admiration to travellers. It is believed that Lord Rama, on his return after his war with Ravana, offered a repentance prayer to Lord Shiva to absolve his sins he had to commit during the confrontation. One version suggests that the Shiv Linga or the idol in the temple was built as a part of his worship. Another version is that the Shiv Linga was built before his trip to Lanka. However, the temple and the tales that surround it has been a factor of popularity for the town.
Apart from being a place noted for worship, Rameswaram also offers the travellers a shot at leisure through its tranquil beaches. Adventure sports like scuba diving are among the amusements offered in the region.
Ram Sethu
The Ram Sethu bridge, also known as Adam’s bridge, connects Rameswaram to the Mannar island of Sri Lanka. The bridge is a 48 km long chain of natural limestone shoals.
There are many fascinating mythological tales that narrate the reason for its existence. Ram Setu is mentioned in the epic Ramayana, as the bridge constructed by Lord Rama and his vanara (monkey) army. The bridge was constructed to cross over to Lanka to rescue Goddess Sita from the clutches of the demon king Ravana. In Valmiki’s Ramayana, the bridge is described as Sethubanthan.
The temple records here also seem to suggest that Adam’s bridge or Ram Sethu was completely above sea level till 1480. It was submerged in the shallow sea due to natural calamities.
As per other legends, it is also known as Adam’s bridge because according to the Bible and the Quran, the first man Adam travelled through the natural bridge to reach Adam’s peak in Sri Lanka. The name is believed to have been given by an East India Company cartographer who, after considering Abrahamic belief about the bridge, used the name Adam’s Bridge on his map.
Besides the myths, there are also compelling scientific theories that explain the existence of the structure. The Geological Survey of India (GSI) under ‘Project Rameswaram’ states that the islands of Rameswaram in India and Talaimannar in Sri Lanka were exposed between 7,000 and 18,000 years ago. By dating the corals, the survey indicates that Adam’s bridge was formed about 500 – 600 years ago
Scientists believe that the structure is a natural formation and that Adam’s bridge is a large tombolo, which is a coastal formation of sandbars that connects an island across the sea to the mainland. Another theory suggests that this structure was formerly the world’s largest tombolo that split into a chain of shoals with a change in sea levels a few thousand years ago.
Various scientific studies describe it as a chain of shoals, coral reefs, sand spit or barrier islands. But the site remains an important landmark, attracting both pilgrims and explorers.
Ramanathaswamy Temple
Ramanathaswamy temple is known for its imposing structure, majestic towers, intricate sculptural works and corridors, making it an architectural marvel. The main deity worshipped in the temple is in the form of lingam. There is also an idol of Nandi, which is a massive statue, about 17.5 feet tall. Other deities worshipped here include Goddess Vishalakshi, Parvathavardhini, Lord Vinayaka and Lord Subrahmanya, Utsava idol, Sayanagriha and Perumal.
The legend behind the temple is associated with Lord Rama from the Indian epic Ramayana. It is believed that Lord Rama, after defeating the demon king Ravana, wanted to worship Lord Shiva as part of atonement. He asks Hanuman to bring him a Linga from Kashi. When Hanuman delayed his return, Goddess Sita made a Shivalinga using sand so that Rama could offer his prayers. It is believed that the self-same Shiva Linga, known as Ramalingam, is now worshipped at the Ramanathaswamy temple. The lingam brought by Hanuman from Kailash is called Vishwalingam.
There are 22 Theerthams (holy water bodies) inside the temple where devotees bathe to atone for their sins.
Pamban Bridge
The efforts for the construction of the Pamban rail bridge began as early as in the 1870s when the British government decided to expand trade connectivity to Sri Lanka. Stretching to about 2.2 km, and with 143 piers, it was officially commissioned in 1914. It is the second-longest sea bridge in India after Mumbai’s Bandra-Worli Sea Link. The Pamban Rail Bridge works on the Scherzer rolling lift technology to allow ferry movement, which opens upwards at an angle of 90 degrees. The Pamban Bridge has always been marvelled at during the train journeys that offer jaw-dropping views of the blue expanse of the Arabian Sea.
Considered to be the longest bridge in India constructed over the bay, the Pamban rail bridge used to be the only link between Rameswaram and the mainland until 1988, after which a road bridge was built parallel to it.
The bridge has survived major cyclones that severely affected Dhanushkodi, the thriving part of the town. The bridge was later renovated and restored in just 46 days. It was further strengthened in 2009 for the transport of goods.
A new Pamban bridge is also being constructed with state-of-the-art technologies which would make it India’s first vertical lift railway sea bridge. The new bridge will be around 2.2 km long, and it will be possible to lift it to a height of 22 metres above sea level. The new construction is also expected to ease the influx of pilgrim visits to Rameswaram and Dhanushkodi every year.
Villoondi Theertham
Villoondi Theertham is situated about 6 km from the Rameswaram main bus stand. Besides its arresting views and silent tides, the place is also known for its pure water spring inside the sea. A few metres from the shore, this pure water well beside the sea is a marvel. Devotees connect its existence to a mythological legend from the epic Ramayana. After rescuing Goddess Sita and bringing her back to Rameswaram from Sri Lanka, Lord Rama performed rituals by installing a Shiva linga on the spot. When Sita said she was thirsty, Rama shot an arrow into the sea, and from there emerged a spring bringing forth pure water. The Shiva lingam is named Thryambakeshvarar, and there is a Shiva shrine near Villoondi Theertham.
Villoondi translates to “the place pierced by the arrow” and Theertham means “sacred water”. Devotees can access the well if they take a 120-foot long walking bridge that extends into the sea
