RAMESHWARAM

HISTORY According to legend, this is the place from

where the Hindu god Rama  built a bridge , across the sea to Lanka to rescue his consort Sita from her abductor Ravan.

The history of Rameswaram is centred around the island being a transit point to reach Sri Lanka (Ceylon historically) and the presence of Ramanathaswamy Temple.

FACTS ON RAMESHWARAM Rameshwaram is one of the holiest places

in Tamil Nadu region in southern India.  Every year several people visit the place

with holy intentions of offering sacred prayers to Lord Rama. It falls in the Gulf of Mannar and is a peninsula. 

 According to the Hindu mythology, this is the place where Lord Rama created a bridge across the sea to Sri Lanka. Lord Shiva too is worshipped in this place. It’s a place where Ravana was killed and hence it has a great historical foundation.

LOCATIONRameswaram is located at9.28°N 79.3°E.[23] It has an average elevation of 10 metres (32 feet). The island is spread across an area of 61.8 square kilometres and is in the shape of a conch. 74% of the area has sandy soil due to the presence of sea and it has many islands surrounding it, the Palk Strait in the north west and Gulf of Mannar in the south East.

Rameswaram is a town  in the Ramanathapuram district in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is located on Pamban Island separated from mainland India by the Pamban channel and is about 50 kilometres from Mannar Island, Sri Lanka.

 Together with Varanasi, it is considered to be one of the holiest places in India to Hindus, and part of the Char Dham pilgrimage.

POPULATION AND LITERACY

As of 2001 India census, Rameswaram had a population of 37,968. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%.

 Rameswaram has an average literacy rate of 72% with a male literacy of 77%, and female literacy of 66%.

CLIMATE Rameswaram has dry tropical climate,

Average annual rainfall is 94cm, Receives mostly from North East monsoon from October to January.

Temperature will be around 30°C to 35°C

Between January and March is the best time to visit Rameshwaram.

TRANSPORTATION BY ROAD: The road network connects

Rameshwaram with Chennai, Madurai, Coimbatore, Trichy, Thanjavur and other important cities.

BY RAIL: The rail network connects Rameshwaram with Chennai, Madurai, Coimbatore, Trichy, Thanjavur and other important cities.

BY AIR : The religious land of Rameshwaram is well connected with the other major cities of India. The nearest airport at Madurai is 163 kilometers away.

WHAT TO SEERamanathaswamy Temple

The Ramanathaswamy temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva is situated in the middle of the island. It houses the linga that Lord Rama, , is said to have installed and worshiped after his victory against Ravana in Lanka.

Founded by the Chola rulers but expanded extensively during Nayaka period, in the 16th and 18th centuries 

 The water of the 22 sacred wells in the temple taste differently.

DHANUSHKODINamed after Lord Rama's bow, the place of Dhanushkodi lies to the eastern end of the island. 8 kms in distance from Rameshwaram, 

this was the particular place from where Hanuman placed the boulders of rocks to reach Lanka crossing the sea. Known as Adam's bridge, the place was completely destroyed by the cyclones of 1964.

Gandamadana Parvatham

Placed at the highest point of the island, the parvatam or the hills is found to bear imprints of Lord Rama's feet on a chakra or wheel which is the prime importance of this shrine dedicated specially to the Hindus.

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