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Location
: Island In The Gulf Of Mannar, Tamil Nadu
Main Attraction : The Ramanathaswamy temple
And The Indira Gandhi Bridge
Rameshwaram is on
an island in the Gulf of Mannar, connected to the mainland at Mandapam
by rail, and by one of India's engineering wonders, the Indira Gandhi
Bridge. Rameshwaram is the Varanasi of the south and a major pilgrimage
centre for both Saivaites and Vaishnavaites, as it was here that Lord
Rama offered thanks to Lord Shiva. At the town's core is the
Ramanathaswamy (also spelt as Ramnathaswami) Temple, one of the most
important temples in southern India.
The Marine
Fauna
The sea here is
very calm and quite, with rare sea species and coral reefs. Remarkable
variety of marine life-algae, starfish, sea cucumber, crabs, sponges and
the sea cow are found here. The serene beach and shallow water here are
ideal for swimming and sunbathing. This is the only place where one
could swim in the sea day and night. An enjoyable sight is frolic of
dolphins in the water.
A leisurely drive
along the Dhanushkodi road is a pleasant experience. The clear sea,
backwater edged with waving bulrushes, surrounds the road. Stretches of
virtually untouched beach sparkle in the fading light and it is from
here that you get a spectacular view of the sunset. Towards the end of
the road a few transient settlements of fishermen can be seen in the
fishing season.
HOW TO GET
THERE:
Air: There is no
airport at Rameshwaram and the closest one is at Madurai, which is about
154-km away. Flights from Madurai fly to Mumbai several times a week and
the trip takes about 2 hours. Chennai is about 1 hour from Madurai.
Rail: Rameshwaram
is well connected by rail with all the major cities of India. To reach
Madurai by rail it takes about four and a half hours by the Rameshwaram
Express, which leaves daily. Chennai is about 15 hours away by the Setu
Express, which travels daily.
Road: Buses
travel frequently from Rameshwaram to some of the major cities of the
region including Madurai, Tiruchapalli, Chennai and Kanyakumari. The
journey to Madurai takes about 4 hours.
WHERE TO STAY
Accommodation is
available at the economy hotels, Devasthanam lodges and cottages in
Rameshwaram
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