How to Reach

Travel from Delhi to Ramanathaswamy Temple (Rameshwaram)

• By Air: There is no direct airport at Rameshwaram. The nearest airport is Madurai Airport, located about 170 km away. From Delhi, one can take a flight to Madurai via Chennai or Bengaluru, and then travel to Rameshwaram by taxi or bus.
• By Train: Delhi is well connected to major cities in Tamil Nadu. Trains are available from New Delhi to Madurai or Chennai. From Madurai, direct trains and buses are available to Rameshwaram.
• By Road: Traveling by road from Delhi to Rameshwaram is very long and usually not preferred. However, one can drive via major highways passing through cities like Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Madurai.

Travel from Ahmedabad to Ramanathaswamy Temple (Rameshwaram)

• By Air: Flights are available from Ahmedabad to Madurai with one or two stopovers, usually via Chennai or Bengaluru. From Madurai, Rameshwaram can be reached by road or train.
• By Train: Trains are available from Ahmedabad to Madurai, Chennai, or Trichy. From these cities, connecting trains or buses are available to Rameshwaram.
• By Road: Road travel from Ahmedabad to Rameshwaram involves a long journey through Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu. This option is suitable mainly for those who prefer long-distance road trips.

History of the Temple

Ramanathaswamy Temple, located in Rameshwaram on Pamban Island in Tamil Nadu, is one of the most sacred Hindu temples dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is one of the twelve Jyotirlinga temples, where Lord Shiva is worshipped in the form of a lingam. The temple also holds great importance in the Ramayana. According to legend, Lord Rama worshipped Lord Shiva here to absolve himself of the sin of killing Ravana, a Brahmin king. It is believed that the Shiva Lingam was established by Sita Devi using sand, and later consecrated by Lord Rama.

The temple is also associated with the Char Dham pilgrimage, making it one of the four most important pilgrimage sites in India. The present structure was expanded by several rulers including the Pandya dynasty, Jaffna kings, and later the Sethupathi rulers of Ramanathapuram. The temple is famous for its magnificent corridors, especially the longest temple corridor in the world, with massive sculptured pillars. Ritual bathing in the 22 holy theerthams (water bodies) inside the temple is considered highly sacred by devotees.