Rameshwaram is one of the most sought after pilgrimage tourist destinations in India. Pilgrims from all around the world come to visit this place in huge numbers. No Tamilnadu temples Tour is completed if you have not visited Rameshwaram temple. According to legends when lord Rama prayed to Lord Shiva to absolve his sins after his war against demon Ravana, Shiva playfully hide one of the lotuses from the required hundred for the ritual. Realizing this, Rama then took out one of his eyes and completed the Puja. Rama is therefore also known as Kamalnayan. It is believed that Lord Shiva himself came to give that eye back to Rama and to bless him. Since then this place is abode for one of the twelve Jyothiralinga in India and the temple on this place, the Rameshwaram temple is one of the holiest Hindu Char Dham Shrines.
This ancient Shiva temple is huge in size and area. Rameshwaram temple premises walls measure around 865 feet furlong from east to west and 657 feet from north to south. The Setumandapam shrine is in the form of a chess board and hence called Chokkattan Mandapam. There are about 1200 pillars in the outer corridor and the total length of this corridor is 3850 feet. Ramanathaswamy temple has both the religious and architectural importance and attracts the visitors from all around the world to Rameshwaram in a huge number. Devotees perform Puja and Gangajal Abhishekam to Ramanatha in Rameshwaram temple and during annul festival "Bhrammotsavams", the city is thronged by worshippers.
