Rameshwaram, India: travel guide
Island pilgrimage town with a temple of endless corridors
Southernmost pilgrimage island linked by the Pamban Bridge, site of the Ramanathaswamy Temple with its legendary 1,212-metre corridor.
About Rameshwaram
Rameshwaram is an island town at the tip of the Indian mainland in Tamil Nadu, linked to the coast by the Pamban Bridge. It is one of the major Hindu pilgrimage sites, tied in tradition to the Ramayana and to Shiva worship.
The Ramanathaswamy Temple is the heart of the visit, known for its extraordinarily long pillared corridors, and pilgrims bathe in the temple's many theerthams, or sacred wells, such as Agni Theertham. Beyond the temple the island offers Gandhamadhana Parvatham and the far tip at Dhanushkodi, where a ruined town sits between two seas on a narrow sand spit.
Rameshwaram suits pilgrims and travellers on a Tamil Nadu coastal route. The best time to visit Rameshwaram is from October to April, before the heat builds.
- Country
- India
- Currency
- INR
- Time zone
- Asia/Kolkata
Last updated
Top places to visit in Rameshwaram
Ramanathaswamy Temple
temple · 4.7 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
One of the Char Dham and a Jyotirlinga, this island temple is famed for the longest pillared corridor in India and 22 sacred theertham wells for ritual bathing.
Dhanushkodi (Arichal Munai)
Beach · 4.6 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
A hauntingly beautiful ghost town at the island's tip, washed away by the 1964 cyclone, where the Bay of Bengal meets the Indian Ocean near Sri Lanka.
Pamban Bridge
Viewpoint · 4.6 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate
India's iconic sea bridge linking the island to the mainland — the historic cantilever rail bridge and the new road bridge offer dramatic ocean views.
Agni Theertham
Beach · 4.4 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate
The sacred beach right behind the temple where pilgrims take a holy dip in the sea before darshan, especially moving at sunrise.
APJ Abdul Kalam Memorial
Museum · 4.5 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
A striking national memorial to the "Missile Man" and former President born in Rameswaram, with galleries, models and his resting place.
Five-faced Hanuman Temple
temple · 4.3 rating · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate
A temple displaying floating stones said to be from Rama's bridge (Setu) and a striking five-faced Hanuman idol, a popular pilgrim stop.
Gandhamadhana Parvatham
Viewpoint · 4.3 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate
The highest point on the island, a hillock shrine housing Rama's footprints with a panoramic two-storey view over Rameswaram and the sea.
Kothandaramaswamy Temple
temple · 4.3 rating · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate
The only structure to survive the 1964 cyclone on the Dhanushkodi spit, a Rama temple marking where Vibhishana is said to have surrendered.
Ariyaman (Kushi) Beach
Beach · 4.2 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate
A clean, shallow beach near Pamban with calm waters and water sports, good for a family swim away from the temple crowds.
Lakshmana Theertham
Heritage · 4.1 rating · about 0.3 h · check the fee at the gate
A sacred temple tank near the main temple linked to Lakshmana, one of the ritual bathing stops on the Rameswaram pilgrim circuit.
Things to do
- Ramanathaswamy Temple Darshan & Theertham Bath Cultural · 2.5 h · from INR 25 per person
- Dhanushkodi Land's End Jeep Tour Nature · 3 h · from INR 1,500 per person
- Pamban Bridge Viewpoint Visit Activity · 0.8 h · from INR 300 per person
- Rameswaram Pilgrim Circuit Tour Cultural · 4 h · from INR 1,000 per person
Day trips and tours
- Rameswaram Island Full-Day Tour 9 h · from INR 1,800
- Dhanushkodi & Pamban Half-Day Trip 5 h · from INR 1,500
- Rameswaram & Madurai Day Trip 13 h · from INR 3,000
Where to stay in Rameshwaram
- Temple Town about INR 2,000 per night
Sacred pilgrimage area near temples with accommodation
Hotels
- Hyatt Place Rameswaram 4-star · INR 5,500 to INR 9,500 per night
- Daiwik Hotels Rameswaram 4-star · INR 4,000 to INR 7,000 per night
- Hotel Sri Saravana 3-star · INR 2,500 to INR 4,500 per night
- Hotel Pearl Residency 3-star · INR 2,800 to INR 5,000 per night
- Hotel Royal Park 3-star · INR 2,200 to INR 4,000 per night
- Backwaters Hostel Rameswaram 2-star · INR 500 to INR 1,500 per night
Where to eat
- Devasthanam Annadanam South Indian, Tamil · about INR 200 per person
- Hotel Vasantha Bhavan South Indian, Tamil · about INR 180 per person
- Ashok Bhavan South Indian, North Indian, Chinese · about INR 200 per person
- Hotel Sri Saravana Bhavan South Indian · about INR 180 per person
- Sri Murugan Mess Tamil, Seafood, Chettinad · about INR 250 per person
- Arya Bhavan South Indian, North Indian · about INR 200 per person
- Sea View Restaurant South Indian, Cafe, Snacks · about INR 180 per person
- Hotel Tamil Nadu Restaurant (TTDC) South Indian, North Indian · about INR 250 per person
Getting to Rameshwaram
Nearest airport: Jaffna (Jaffna Intl, Palaly) (JAF), about 100 km away in a straight line. The road or rail journey is longer.
Getting around
- Auto Rickshaw
- Taxi
- Walking
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Frequently asked questions about Rameshwaram
- What are the top-rated places to visit in Rameshwaram?
- The highest-rated places in our Rameshwaram guide are Ramanathaswamy Temple, Dhanushkodi (Arichal Munai), Pamban Bridge, APJ Abdul Kalam Memorial, Agni Theertham.
- Where should I stay in Rameshwaram?
- Our guide covers these areas to stay in Rameshwaram: Temple Town.
- How do I get around Rameshwaram?
- Ways to get around Rameshwaram covered in our guide: Auto-rickshaw, Taxi, Walking.