Rameshwaram

The religious island of Rameshwaram is sprawled in an area of 61.8 sq. kms and is in the shape of a conch. The island of Rameshwaram is the island, where Lord Rama's temple is located. Apart from being a major pilgrimage for the Hindus, Rameshwaram is also a popular holiday spot. Tourist often take a holiday trip to this destination to indulge in beach sports activities in Rameshwaram.
Also known as the 'Benaras of the south', Rameshwaram is an important Hindu pilgrimage, infact a pilgrimage without visiting Rameshwaram is not complete. It is said that in order to attain Moksha one must visit Rameshwaram. The presiding deity is the Linga of Sri Ranganatha, which happens to be one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of India.

History
The Hindu mythology says that in the story of Ramayana, Lord Rama performed thanksgiving rituals to Lord Shiva after the battle at Sri Lanka and his triumph over the demon king Ravana. This is the reason why Rameshwaram attracts Vaishnavites (worshippers of Lord Vishnu) and Saivites (worshippers of Lord Shiva) both. The entire area of Rameshwaram is associated with various incidents from the Ramayana. Infact Rameshwaram is one of the most visited pilgrim sites in India.
Attractions At Rameshwaram
Rameshwaram is a destination, which attracts tourists with its history and grandeur. Rameshwaram has some of the most exciting attractions. Some of them include, Ramanatha Swamy Temple and the Agnitriham tank. People coming to visit this temple , ideally take a bath at the Agnitriham. Another significant attraction is the Ramjharoka temple, which houses the imprints of Lord Rama' s feet placed on a chakra. This temple is situated at the highest point of the Island of Rameshwaram, Gandamadana Parvatham, another major tourist attraction. This point is situated at a distance of 5 kms from Rameshwaram.
The entire Rameshwaram is dotted with temples in honor of Rama, Sita, Lakshmana and Hanuman. In the south of the island of Rameshwaram is Dhanushkodi, a place that derives its name from the dhanush or bow of Lord Rama. Dhanushkodi is at a distance of 2 kms from the Railway Station and is easily approachable by road from any part of Rameshwaram.
The island of Rameshwaram is a place loved by nature lovers. This island is charming and intoxicating with coral reefs, shimmering sun, sand and sea. The lush greenery all around, makes it a perfect picnic destination. This small island in the Gulf of Mannar is a rejuvenating experience in itself. There's also the Kurusadai Island located in between the mainland and the island in the west. This island is flocked by biologists and the researchers. The Kurusadai island is just 20 kilometers away from Rameshwaram.
Nearby Excursions
Rameshwaram offers many excursion destinations, that definitely are worth visiting. Some of the most popular destinations from Rameshwaram are Erwadi situated around 24 kms from Rameshwaram. It is noted for the tomb of saint Ibrahim Syed Aulia. Ramanathapuram is another important destination nearby Rameshwaram.
The highlight of this ancient town is the Ram Vilas Palace of Sethupati Rajas. Uthirakosamangai, situated 16-km southwest of Ramanathapuram has a well-known Shiva temple. The temple has inspired many Tamil works of devotion. Sethu is situated around 5-km south of this temple which is also the venue of the celebrated temple of Sri Anjaneya. According to the legends this the place where Sri Rama built a bridge to Sri Lanka.
Reach Rameshwaram
By Air : The nearest airport at Madurai is 163 kilometers away, it takes care of the air travel of people from across the globe and within the country.

By Rail : There are two express trains to/from Chennai daily, the Sethu Express, and the Rameswaram Express. Rameshwaram is connected by rail with Chennai, Madurai, Coimbatore, Trichy, Thanjavur and other important cities. The two kilometer long Indira Gandhi Bridge connects the island of Rameshwaram with the mainland of Mandapam.

By Road : Rameshwaram is well connected to all major cities by road. The bus station is two km west of town. Buses run to Madurai four times daily and to Kanyakumari, Trichy and Chennai. There are also a number of buses to Pondicherry, Trichy and Thanjavur via Madurai.