If you are planning your trip to Rameshwaram, I like to guide you with some useful tips from my personal experience with the Rameshwaram Trip. Rameshwaram is an island that is located in the Ramanathapuram District of Tamilnadu, southern state of India .This is a one among the holiest places in India which is considered as equivalant as to Kasi, the famous holy place in North India.It represents the southernmost of the 12 Jyotirlingams of India.

How to Reach Rameshwaram?

The nearest airport is at Madurai, 163 km from Rameshwaram.If you are going by train, you can get the direct train from Chennai to Rameshwaram or you can go to Madurai and go from there.If you are going from Chennai, there are two trains starting from chennai.(Train Number 6713 starts at 17.00 from Chennai Egmore railway station and reaches the rameshwaram at 05.15 in the next day morning.The train number 6101 starts at 19.55 and reaches the rameshwararam at 09.00 in the next day morning.) During this train journey, you can have a nice and the grandiose glimpse of the sea at the early morning while the train crosses the Pamban Bridge.Don't miss this great experience.(You can see the picture below).

Place to Stay at Rameshwaram

There are many private hotels and devastanam cottages available at Rameshwaram.If you want to stay at the best place and also at a budget, there is a good lodging service called "Goswamy Madam" which is run by some religious trust. It is a decent and peaceful place to stay.Once you get out of the train at Rameshwaram station, you can hire an auto by paying 30 Rupees to the Goswami Madam. The temple is at walkable distance from this lodging house.

The Procedure Before Rameshwaram Temple Darshan

You need to know the right procedure before entering into the temple for offering your prayers.First, you should go to the seashore which is just located infront of the temple.You have to dip yourself in the sea water and come to the temple with the wet clothes.Then, you have to visit all the 22 theerthams that are located around the temple.Theethams are shallow waters of the sea extending upto some metres. There are 22 such theerthams in Rameshwaram. Hindus believe that a bath in all of these theerthams will remove our sins.

Besides the temple staff, there will be some local people who will be standing infront of the temple with buckets in hand.If you negotiate with them and pay 50 Rupees per person to them, you can hire them as your assistant.They will guide you to all the theerthams and take the responsibility of pouring and showering you with the holy water of the 22 theerthams as a personal special service to you.

After Shower Rituals

Once you have completed showering in sea and all the 22 theerthams, you can goback to your hotel room and change your dress.Then you can enter into the temple and pray the Lord shiva in the temple.The deity here is Lord Shiva in the name Ramanathaswamy. Once you have completed it, you will have plenty of time before catching the train to Chennai at the night.So, you can hire an auto or taxi to visit the nearest places.If you pay 250 Rupees to auto, they will cover all the places as a package trip to you.

Places to See (Rameshwaram Sightseeing)

You can visit Ramerpatham in which the Lord Rama's footprints are maintained in a holy temple.The other places to visit are Sita pond, Floating stones at Hanumar temple, Sugreevar pond. These are the nearest places to visit.You can visit Satchi Anjaneya Temple where the Hanuman after return from Lanka told Rama that he has seen Seetha there.(You can see the picture below).Then you can go to Panjamuga Anjaneya temple.Floating stones which were said to be used to construct the Sethu bridge by Nalan are in display.You can goto Naganatha swamy temple and Lakshmana Theertham near the temple.

Then, the auto driver will take you to the Dhanushkodi,Thirupullani, Gandamadana Parvatham and Devipattanam navagraha temple.Dhanuskodi is the easternmost tip of Rameshwaram. Most of this spot is occupied by the sea during tropical cyclones.All these places will be covered withing the package trip at the cost of 250 Rupees.You can also visit Dr.Abdul Kalam's house.(This is the home town of Former President of India and now his brother is residing there.)

Wish you a happy journey and may the Lord bless you with all good things in life.