Ramanadhaswamy - Rameshwaram

Manamenum thoni patri madhiyenum kolai undri
Sinam ennum sarakkai etri serikadal odumpodhu madhan
Ennum paarai thaakki mariyum podhu ariyavonnaadhu
Vunai vonum vunarvai nalgaai otriyur vudaya kovee

Such is how one worships Ramanadhasamy in the form of Jothirlingam at Rameshwaram. This island is the pilgrimage place for hindus all over the country. One could see lot of devotees from the western and northern part of India while praying at this temple. Rameshwaram is the birth place of former Indian president and Indian missile man, Dr. APJ. Abdul Kalam.

Our one day trip to Rameshwaram took a night to reach Rameshwaram from Chennai in bus. The final leg of travel was in the Pamban bridge which is accompanied by the rail track running along.

Upon reaching the destination we had to take auto rickshaw to reach the temple area. Numerous lodgings are available near the temple as the devotees had to come over there immediately after taking a dip in the ocean and the sacred wells.

Rama and Sita have established the siva lingam here and worshiped him during the battle in Ramayanam where Ravana was killed. The temple houses the longest corridor. Ramanadhaswamy resides here here with the goddess Parvathavarthini. This temple also houses 64 sacred wells.

The boarding and lodging area has numerous commutation options and various prriest who perform the pithru dhosh yagna. Rameshwaram is believed to help devotees get rid ancestorial dhodhas and get their blessings instead. Regarded as twin city to Kasi, Rameshwaram sea is where the ash remains of mortals are dissolved.

After getting the blessings of Ramanadhaswamy we set forth to visit the other places of interest in Rameshwaram. It was the Ramar foot first,

This is on a small hillock and gives a glimpse of this place from above.

Next was Pancha muga Aanjaneyar,

Our next stop was Lakshmana theertham,

We had to take the evening bus to reach Chennai by next day morning. Outside the moffusil bus stand at Rameshwaram,

Traveling back via Pamban gave a glimpse of the beautiful sunset.

All though an island of just 67 sq km Rameshwaram hosts numerous devotess from around the country but still bears the signs of the devastating tsunami

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