Rameswaram is a town on Pamban Island, in the southeast Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It’s known for Ramanathaswamy Temple, a Hindu pilgrimage site with ornate corridors, huge sculpted pillars and sacred water tanks. Devotees bathe in the waters of Agni Theertham, off the beach east of the temple. Gandamadana Parvatham is a hill with island views. A chakra(wheel) here is said to bear an imprint of Lord Rama’s feet.
The area is dotted with Hindu places of worship, including Panchmukhi Hanuman Temple, with its 5-faced statue of the monkey god Hanuman. A thin strip of land extending southeast off the island is home to the huge, sandy Dhanushkodi Beach, a popular surfing spot. Farther southeast is the Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park, a collection of biodiverse islands and coral reefs, with forests and mudflats. It’s home to native mangroves, tropical fish and endangered species such as the sea cow. To the west, the 1914 Pamban Bascule Railway Bridge connects the island to mainland India.
