Rameswaram, Rameshwaram or Ramesvaram is one of the 4 Dhams as well as one of the most famous tourist spots located in the state of Tamil Nadu. This location is also a site that houses one of the major Jyotirlingas of the 12 Jyotirlingas. Located on Pamban Island, Rameswaram is only 40 km away from Mannar Island in Sri Lanka. And furthermore Rameswaram is separated from the Indian mainland by the Pamban Channel. This is moreover considered as one of the holiest sites of pilgrimage that you can visit in India. One of the Char Dham, Rameswaram is further related to Lord Rama and the Hindu epic Ramayana. Therefore, historically, mythologically, culturally as well as geographically it is one of the major tourist destinations. And this article will be all about the Rameswaram tour plan that will help you to plan a trip there.
In this article I will share a 2 days 1 night Tamil Nadu Rameswaram tour guide. It will be a helpful article for you if you are planning a trip to Rameswaram soon. No matter if you are travelling solo or in a group this article will be helpful for you. I will mention everything that you need to know about Rameswaram tour along with modes of communication, Rameswaram tourist places, budget etc. So keep on reading this article and gather the information that you need to plan a trip to this location.
Rameswaram Tour Plan
How to reach
By train
You can choose to travel by train to reach Rameswaram and in that case the nearest railway stations to reach there would be Mandapam or Ramanathapuram Railway Station. Technically the nearest railway station to reach Rameswaram is the Rameswaram railway station. But currently the Rameswaram Bridge is under construction and because of the work you will have to either reach Mandapam or Ramanathapuram to reach Rameswaram.
These two railway stations are basically well connected to major cities and towns. So you will get trains to reach any of these railway stations from your location. But in case you don’t get a direct train to reach any of these 2 stations then there is another way to reach Rameswaram. In that scenario you can take trains to either Madurai or Chennai which are the nearest major cities to Rameswaram. And then from there you will have to take another train to reach Mandapam or Ramanathapuram. From Mandapam station you will easily find auto rickshaws as well as buses to reach Rameswaram. The fare would be around Rs. 25 to Rs. 45 per person. The distance of Mandapam railway station to Rameswaram is 19 km.
By air
There is no airport in Rameswaram so if you wish to travel by air then the nearest airport would be in Madurai or Chennai. From Madurai Airport the distance of Rameswaram is about 179 km. It will approximately take you around 3 hours to reach Rameswaram from Madurai. And from Chennai International Airport the distance of Rameswaram is 538 km. And it will take around 9 hours and 15 minutes to reach Rameswaram from Chennai. From the airports you will get buses, cabs as well as shared rides to reach Rameswaram easily.
The best option however would be the Madurai airport as the distance from there would be comparatively lesser. And the time taken to cover the distance from Madurai to Rameswaram will also be much lesser than Chennai. Also if you are travelling from Madurai you can travel by buses or else cabs to easily reach Rameswaram. But in the case of Chennai since the distance is more you will either have to take a train to reach Mandapam or Ramanathpuram. Or you can take buses and the bus journey will also be very tiring and long.
There are flights to reach Madurai from most of the major cities. The flight price from Delhi to Madurai is Rs. 9000, Bangalore to Madurai is Rs. 5000, Kolkata to Madurai is Rs. 9000 etc. From Madurai you will get government buses to reach Rameswaram and the fare is Rs. 120 per person. And for a reserved cab from Madurai the charge will be Rs. 2000 to Rs. 2500.
By road
You can even choose to travel by road to reach Rameswaram and for that the buses are an option that you can choose to reach there. But keep in mind that buses to reach Rameswaram are limited. You will get buses from locations like Chennai, Bangalore, Thiruvananthapuram, Madurai etc to reach Rameswaram.
Where to Stay
After you reach Rameswaram the first thing that you need to do is to check in to your hotel. It would however be convenient if you can book a hotel near the Rameswaram Dham temple. You can opt for advance online booking of your hotel in Rameswaram. But I booked the hotel after I reached near the Rameswaram temple. There are options of multiple hotels at this location in Rameswaram. So even if you have not booked your hotels in advance, it would not be much of an issue.
The starting price of the hotel would be around Rs. 700. I stayed in Hotel Venbha and I had to pay Rs. 1000 for 3 people for 1 night. Personally I would not recommend this hotel as the staff behavior was not up to the mark. It would be best if you can check in advance the online reviews of a hotel and then book it. Other than hotels there are options for Dharamshalas here as well that you can check out. The price for staying at a dharamshala ranges from Rs. 300 to Rs. 500 per person.
Rameswaram Tour Itinerary
It is currently a little complicated to reach Rameswaram as early as you can in the morning. But it is also important to reach Rameswaram on Day 1 by 10 am in the morning. And for that you need to do a proper Rameswaram tour plan and then start your journey. So now we will discuss the day wise itinerary of Rameswaram Tour.
Rameswaram Tour Plan Day 1
On day 1 you will not visit the Rameswaram temple though. On this day 1 it would be better to explore the Rameswaram tourist places nearby. At first on day 1 you will have to check into the hotel. And then after having breakfast you should start with your journey of exploring the sightseeing locations. However, for that you can book an auto rickshaw here by paying Rs. 1000 to Rs. 1200. You can get autos here from the auto stand near the temple easily.
Ramar Padam
So this is the first destination for day 1 in this Rameswaram tour plan. Ramar Padam or Ramar Patham Temple is one of the important temples in Rameswaram. According to beliefs Lord Rama visited this temple and planned how he could get Devi Sita back and also kill Ravana. Also people believe that the temple houses the footprints of Lord Rama on a stone. The temple is old and has a beautiful ambiance.
It further offers a breathtaking view of the whole city of Rameswaram. You would be able to see the beach and water that surrounds the temple. And the temple is located in the middle of the island. Additionally people also believe that this is the location where Lord Hanuman informed Lord Rama that he had found Devi Sita. And later Lord Rama visited Dhanushkodi from here to build the Rama Setu. The temple is located around 20 km away from Dhanushkodi which is yet another popular tourist destination at Rameswaram.
Pancha Mukhi Hanuman Temple
This is the 2nd sightseeing spot that you should visit in Rameswaram. As the name suggests this is a Panchmukhi Hanuman Temple that literally translates to 5 faced idol of Lord Hanuman. It is also one of the most popular temples in Rameswaram and a lot of devotees visit this Hanuman Temple on a regular basis. One of the main attractions of this temple is the floating stone here. According to beliefs these floating stones were used by Lord Rama to create the Rama Setu. And some of those are still here and floating in the water. It is also believed that the idols here have the actual souls of God. And with all that myths it gives a mystic vibe to this temple which is worth exploring.
Nataraja Temple
The Nataraja Temple in Rameswaram is another sightseeing location that you should visit here. There is a Nataraja Meditation Hall here where you can choose to spend some time.
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Pamban Bridge
The Pamban Bridge is one of the major sightseeing attractions in Rameswaram and you cannot miss out on this location. It is one of the dangerous railway bridges in the country and the view here is breathtaking. The bridge is called the Annai Indira Gandhi Road Bridge and it is located around 7 km away from Rameswaram. There is an Old Pamban Bridge as well as a New Pamban Bridge. And the new bridge is currently under construction and set to open very soon. The main attraction of this bridge is the location of this bridge. Even ships can pass from under this bridge here. Therefore it is one of the most convenient ways of communication in this location as well.
Banganga
This is yet another popular sightseeing location in Rameswaram and it is the Banganga. The location has a mythological significance as well as it is believed that Lord Rama quenched the thirst of Devi Sita here. He threw an arrow here to retrieve some cool water for Devi Sita. There is a Shiva linga located here as well. The location is breathtakingly beautiful with blue water everywhere. And there is a well that is believed to be the location where Lord Rama had thrown his arrow. What is so enchanting about the well is that the water here is sweet in contrast to the water of the ocean here that is salty. All these mythological stories make this site even more interesting and exciting to explore.
APJ Abdul Kalam National Memorial
The Kalam National Memorial is basically a museum that is built in honour of APJ Abdul Kalam. It was actually an initiative that the Defence Research and Development Organisation took in 2015. Here you would find an impressive collection of memorabilia that honours the contributions of APJ Abdul Kalam. You would get to see replicas of rockets and missiles here which are interesting to look at. Also you would get a lot of insight about the Pokhran Nuclear Test as well. It is one such location where you must visit once when you are visiting the many tourist destinations in Rameswaram.
Laxman Tirtham
The Laxman Tirtham is yet another major tourist attraction in Rameswaram that you must visit here. There is a kund here or a holy pond that is called the Laxman Kund. According to beliefs Lord Laxman took a bath in this pond to wash away all his sins. The Laxman Teertham is further constructed to offer sacred prayer to Lord Laxman. It also honours him as an invaluable part in the land of Lord Rama as well. Inside you will find some beautiful sculptures of Lord Laxamana which are made out of marble carvings. Also you will find statues of Lord Rama and Devi Sita here as well. In a way the presence of these statues and sculptures here represents the unity and unitedness that existed between all three of them.
Ram Kund and Ram Sita Laxman Temple
The next location is the Ram Kund and according to beliefs Lord Rama took a bath here to wash away his sins after defeating Ravana. The Ram Sita Laxman Temple is located just opposite the Ram Kund. This is a small temple, but the architecture was splendid. The temple looks vibrant and really colourful in its appearance.
So after visiting all these nearby locations the auto driver will again drop you near the auto stand. From there you need to get to your hotels and have your lunch. After resting for some time again around 3:30 pm to 4 pm you should start the second part of sightseeing on Day 1. And finally now it is time to visit the famous Ram Setu and Dhanushkodi.
It is better to visit Dhanushkodi during the evening as it is an open location. So if you are visiting there during the morning it can be a little uncomfortable due to the heat. To reach Dhanushkodi the best option is to take public buses. You will get these buses from Agnitheertham bus stand beside the auto stand. The bus fare is Rs. 30 per person and it will take around 45 minutes to reach Dhanushkodi. The bus number to reach Dhanushkodi from Rameswaram is 2. But I will recommend you to book an auto rickshaw again by paying around Rs. 1200. That way you will have the freedom to explore places on your way. Because if you are taking the bus you will directly reach the last stop that is Ram Setu. And that way you would miss out on 2 more sightseeing locations in between.
Kothandaramaswamy Temple
This is the next sightseeing location in Rameswaram and it is located on the southernmost tip of India. Located on an island near the Bay of Bengal this temple is a must visit location in Rameswaram. The temple is an architectural marvel as it has survived many cyclones and is still standing tall. Furthermore a deep mythological significance is also attached with this temple. According to beliefs this is the temple where Lord Rama gave over the governance of Lanka to Vibhisana, the younger brother of Ravana after Lord Rama defeated Ravana. Therefore this temple also worships Vibhisana as well. You will find statues of Lord Rama, Lord Laxmana and Devi Sita here. And along with that you will find statues of Lord Hanuman as well as Vibhisana standing by the side with folded hands.
The temple looks beautiful and you would get to see various wonderful paintings here as well. You can even take a guided tour of this temple as well to know more about the history and the mythology attached to this temple.
Old Dhanushkodi City
This is yet another interesting site to explore in Rameswaram and you must visit here once. Basically at one point of time this was a full fledged village where people used to live. There were railway stations, houses, churches etc. But in 1964 a violent cyclone destroyed the village completely. Currently this is an isolated location and is untouched as well. The location is also popular as Tamil Nadu’s Ghost Town. You won’t be able to visit the 2 above mentioned places if you are traveling by bus though. So it would be recommended that you travel via an auto rickshaw to be able to explore these two locations.
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Dhanushkodi
And finally you will reach the most important destination in Rameswaram that is Dhanushkodi or the last land of India. The location holds a lot of mythological and historical relevance as well. According to beliefs this is the location from where Lord Rama started building the Ram Setu along with his army of monkeys to reach Lanka. Even at present the location doesn’t have any mobile connectivity. And there is a rule that you cannot stay back here after 5 pm in the evening. So make sure you are visiting Dhanushkodi before that time. The right side of the location has the Indian Ocean and on the left side there is the Bay of Bengal. There is a statue located here that marks the end of land in India. And beyond that you will find the land of Sri Lanka located 21 km away.
After visiting the Ram Setu you will finally return to the area of your hotel. If you want you can explore the markets there in the evening or enjoy some street food there. And then you should sleep a little early as day 2 will start very early in the morning.
Rameswaram Tour Plan Day 2
On Day 2 of the Rameswaram tour plan you will have to reach the Rameswaram Temple by 4:30 am in the morning. Now I will explain why I did not include visiting the temple on day 1 itself. The first reason is that we reached Rameshwaram at 10 am in the morning. And so you cannot get a darshan of the Sphatik lingam here at that time in the morning. So if you were planning a visit to the temple on Day 1 this would not have been possible. And secondly it would take a long time to stand in the queue at the temple before it gets to your turn of darshan. So in both ways it will be better if you plan a visit to the temple on Day 2 because then you would get to reach there as early as possible in the morning.
Rameswaram Temple
So try to reach the temple by 4:30 am to 5 am for the darshan of Sphatik lingam. For this darshan you will have to reach the east gate of the temple. The timings for this darshan is only from 5 am to 6 pm. Keep in mind that you will have to leave your gadgets like mobile phones at the locker room here before going for the darshan. The Sphatik lingam darshan is only possible for 1 hour at the temple. The lingam is taken out for darshan just from 5 am to 6 am. And during any other time of the day it is not possible to get a darshan of this lingam.
The ticket price for a normal darshan line is Rs. 50. And for special darshan the ticket price is Rs. 200. The Sphatik Lingam basically means a crystal Shivalinga and it holds a lot of relevance and significance. According to beliefs it is the purest form and most auspicious form of Lord Shiva as well.
Rituals at Rameswaram Temple
After a darshan of Sphatik lingam do not be late. You would get to see the rituals starting as soon as you are done with the darshan. After reaching the temple at first you will have to go for the Agni Theertham bathing and then Bais Kunda bathing. From there you will have to wear a fresh pair of clothing to visit the Rameshwaram Jyotirlinga.
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Agni Theertham
As a location Agni Theertham holds a lot of importance as this is the same location where Lord Rama brought Devi Sita after saving her from the clutches of Ravana. However this is also the location where Devi Sita asked Lord Laxmana to light the fire to prove her purity. And after going through that fire she was unhurt. But later the God of Fire Lord Agni had to wash away his sins for touching a pure Goddess like her. And therefore Lord Agni took a bath here and worshipped Lord Shiva to wash away his sins. From that time itself this location is popular as Agni Theertham. Even today devotees believe that whoever takes a dip here gets their sins washed away.
After taking a bath at Agni Theertham you will have to feed a cow here. And then you can take a bottle along with yourself to later fill it with the water of Bais Kund. The bottles are available here and you can pay Rs. 20 to get them.
Bais Kund
After taking a bath at Agni Theertham you will have to reach Bais Kund. And you won’t have to change your wet clothes here. You can wear the same clothes to again take a dip at Bais Kund. Here you will have to buy a ticket that costs Rs. 25. So you will find the Bais Kund or 22 kunds that are located inside the temple premises. As soon as you enter here the priests will pour water on you as you will reach each of these kunds. During that time you can fill your bottles with the same water of the Bais Kund. And later you will be able to use the same water back home during any puja or rituals.
Then you can visit the lockers to keep all your necessary belongings. You will also get separate changing rooms here for both male and females. So you can then change into a fresh pair of clothing and finally go forward to visit the temple.
Things to keep in mind
However keep in mind that after taking a bath at Agni Theertham you will be towards the East gate of the temple. But you cannot take a bath at Bais Kund from that east gate. For that you will have to take the right to reach the north gate. From there you can go and take a bath at Bais Kund. Secondly the dress that you will be wearing while bathing at the Agni Theertham can be the same outfit that you can use to take a bath at Bais Kund. But after that you will have to reach the lockers in front of the temple. Drop all your baggage there and then change into a fresh pair of clothing to visit the Jyotirlinga. Here you will also have to pay a ticket price of Rs. 25.
More about Rameswaram Temple
There are a total of 4 gates in the Rameswaram Temple. The east gate is for the darshan of Sphatik linga and Jyotirlinga. And the north gate is for taking a bath at the Basis Kund. The south gate is for all the devotees to come out of the temple after taking a bath. Also there are two Shiva Lingas at this temple, namely Vishwalingam and Ramalingam. According to beliefs Devi Sita had made the Ramalingam with her own hands. Also there is a belief that Lord Hanuman had himself brought the Viswalingam from Kailash.
The area of the Rameswaram Temple is huge and it is one of the major architectural marvels as well. There are around 1212 pillars in this temple corridor. And for that this is one of the longest temple corridors in the world. Each of these pillars is beautifully carved and has intricate carvings on them which are all different from each other.
Darshan at Rameswaram Temple
There are 2 lines for darshan at the Rameshwaram Temple. One is the normal line that is free of cost and then there is the special line that costs Rs. 200. If you are opting for the normal line here then it will take you around 1-2 hours for the darhan to complete. And for the special darshan line it will take around 30 minutes to complete the darshan here. However the time taken for the darshan to complete would entirely depend on the crowd for that day. So the time required might go a little up and down during your visit.
Finally after the darshan you can have your breakfast or lunch depending on the time and then you should check out of your hotel. And then you need to get on to your preferred mode of transport to get back home. With this we come to an end of the Rameswaram Tour Plan.
What to Eat
Now in this Rameswaram tour plan we would discuss the kind of food that you can get here in Rameswaram during your trip. The cost of food here is very affordable especially if you are having South Indian dishes. You can try dishes like Idli, Vada, Dosa, Curd Rice etc here. For each day the cost of food in Rameswaram would be around Rs. 400 to Rs. 500. But if you are opting for other cuisines like North Indian or Chinese dishes like Paratha, Paneer Masala, Fried Rice then the price would be a little more.
Rameswaram Tour Budget
For hotels the price will be around Rs. 1000 for a night. And for food it will therefore be Rs. 800 for 2 days and Rs. 400 for 1 day. Furthermore for local transport the cost would be around Rs. 200 (like from station to Rameshwaram Temple etc). Then for sightseeing in Rameswaram the cost would be Rs. 1200 for each time making it Rs. 2400. And I am also keeping Rs. 500 extra in case of special darshan ticket or other expenses.
So,
1000+ 800+ 200+ 2400+ 500= Rs. 4900 for a solo traveler.
And if you are travelling in a group of 2 or more people the cost would be around Rs. 3000 as the cost of hotel and sightseeing will be divided.
However keep in mind that I have not included the cost of journey from your destination to Rameswaram and returning from there in this budget. Because the budget of transport would depend on the kind of location that you are travelling from.
Also if you are travelling solo or as a couple you will get options to rent a scooty in Rameswaram for sightseeing. In that case also the cost of sightseeing will be much lesser.
Wrapping Up!
So that was all about the Rameswaram tour plan and now you can plan a Rameswaram tour easily. I have mentioned all necessary details that you might need to make this Rameswaram tour successful. As a location Rameswaram is extremely important not only as a tourist destination. It is furthermore important as a site of pilgrimage as well and therefore holds a lot of importance. Additionally the relation with mythology and Hindu epic Ramayana further makes this an interesting site to explore.
So if you are opting for a visit to Rameswaram then keep this article on Rameswaram tour plan handy. In this Rameswaram tour plan article you will find every detail about a visit to this location. So when are you planning a trip to this beautiful destination and important site of pilgrimage, Rameswaram? And also don’t forget to let me know if this article on Rameswaram tour plan is helpful for you in planning a trip to this location.
