Rameswaram Temple

After the visit to the Uthirakosamangai temple, the driver suggested that we visit Rameswaram. This town is another 80 km away from the temple and it is famous for the Rameswaram Temple. I thought since I have covered more than half the distance already, I might as well visit the town and the temple.

Over the years my grandfather and my mother have often suggested a visit to this temple every time I visit India. Back then, the roads were not so good and I never wanted to travel for about 4 hours to see this or any temple. It was strange that this time I was receptive and actually looking forward to it.

Rameswaram Temple is another famous old temple. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva and it is said that Rama stopped and prayed at this temple on his way to Sri Lanka to rescue Sita.

The drive to Rameswaram was interesting because on the left side you can see waters of the Bay of Bengal and on the right is the Indian Ocean and you can see where they finally meet. Quite fascinating and the waters looked clean and blue!

Strangely Rameswaram temple, which is in the town of Rameswaram, is not on the land mass of India but on another island called Pamban Island. This island is connected to the mainland by the Pamban bridge.

Rameswaram temple is visited by tens of thousands of people every day and mostly by North Indians. My driver noted that there has been a huge increase in the number of North Indians visiting Rameswaram temple after Covid. The road going towards the temple is a single lane road, and typical of Tamil Nadu roads, was congested.

It is a magnificent temple and the queue waiting to go in was so very long. I paid for a special darshan and therefore got to go in front and offer prayers. After walking around the temple a bit I left. I did feel very sorry for the people who did not pay for any special darshans. They were giving about one to two seconds in front of the deity and they were continuously asked to move on. This after waiting for about an hour or so.

I then visited another shrine nearby, which is said to bear the footprints of Rama. It’s a small shrine up on a hill and the view there is nice because you can see all of Rameswaram.

Finally I visited the Villondi Theerttam. This is the place where it is said Rama struck his vill into the land to obtain water for Sita. I walked out onto the pier and I could see that the waters of the Bay of Bengal were crystal clear. I tasted the water from the Theerttam and it was slightly salty.

So  I can now say that I have finally been to Rameswaram!!