Rameswaram

Rameswaram is a town and island in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located off the south-eastern coast of the mainland. It forms part of Ramanathapuram district and lies on Pamban Island in the Gulf of Mannar, connected to the Tamil Nadu mainland by the Pamban Bridge.

The town is best known for the Ramanathaswamy Temple, a major Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva. The temple complex is renowned for its long corridor-like halls, sculpted pillars, and sacred water bodies. In Hindu tradition, Rameswaram is associated with the legend of Lord Rama from the Ramayana, and the site is revered as a place of pilgrimage for followers undertaking the Char Dham yatra.

Economy and demographics: The local economy is primarily driven by pilgrimage tourism and fishing, with additional activity in small-scale trade and services. The town serves as a gateway to the Gulf of Mannar islands, a protected area known for biodiversity and coral reefs.

Nearby attractions include Dhanushkodi, a town at the tip of the island that was destroyed by a cyclone in 1964, and the Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park, which comprises a network of islands and lagoons. The area is associated with the Rama’s Bridge (Adam’s Bridge), a chain of limestone shoals that tradition says connects to Sri Lanka and is recognized in geological terms as a maritime feature.