Places to Visit near Ramanathapuram, Thirupullani & Rameswaram

Places to visit in and around Thirupullani

Adhi Jagannatha Perumal Temple, Thirupullani

One of the 108 Divya Desams. Sri Rama lay on a bed of darbha grass (pullu) here for three days praying to the Sea King before building the bridge, which gives the place its name, Thiru-pullu-anai. The temple has a reclining Darbhasayana Rama sannidhi, and Vibhishana's surrender to Rama is remembered here, so it is also called Saranagathi Kshetram. Temple timings are roughly 6:30 AM – 12 PM and 3:30 PM – 8 PM.

Sethukarai (Adhi Sethu)

About 4 km from Thirupullani. The seashore where, by tradition, construction of the Rama Sethu began. A holy bath at Sethukarai is part of Thila Homam and Pitru Dosha pariharam. The Anjaneyar temple on the shore faces the sea, and the calm water here is shallow and safe for a dip.

Kilakarai

About 10 km south of Thirupullani on the coast road. An old trading and pearl-fishing town known for its centuries-old mosques built in a Dravidian stone style, its seafood and its narrow traditional streets.

Places to visit near Ramanathapuram (Ramnad)

Ramalinga Vilasam Palace

In the heart of Ramanathapuram town. The 17th-century palace of the Sethupathi kings, who were the hereditary guardians of the Sethu and of the Rameswaram temple. Its walls are covered with painted murals of battles, court life and Ramayana scenes, and it now houses a museum run by the state archaeology department.

Uthirakosamangai Mangalanathar Temple

About 15 km from Ramanathapuram. An ancient Shiva temple famous for its Maragatha (emerald) Nataraja. The idol is kept covered in sandal paste all year and is shown without it only on Arudra Darisanam in the Tamil month of Margazhi, when thousands of devotees gather.

Devipattinam – Navabashanam

About 15 km from Ramanathapuram. Nine stones standing in the shallow sea are believed to be the Navagrahas installed by Sri Rama. Devotees do navagraha worship and pitru tarpanam here, and the Thilakeswarar temple is close by.

Places to visit in Rameswaram

Rameswaram is about 55 km from Ramanathapuram and 60 km from Thirupullani, roughly a 1 – 1½ hour drive over the Pamban bridge.

Arulmigu Ramanathaswamy Temple

One of the twelve Jyotirlingas and one of the Char Dham. The temple's outer corridor is among the longest in India, lined with over a thousand carved pillars. Pilgrims bathe in the 22 theerthams (holy wells) inside the temple before darshan; plan for an early morning visit to avoid long queues.

Agni Theertham

The beach right in front of the east gopuram. Devotees take a holy dip in the sea here before entering the temple, and many families perform tarpanam on the shore.

Pamban Bridge

The road bridge and the railway bridge across the Pamban channel link Rameswaram island to the mainland. The view of the old cantilever rail bridge and the new vertical-lift rail bridge from the road bridge is one of the most photographed sights in Tamil Nadu – stop at the viewpoint on the way in.

Dhanushkodi & Arichal Munai

About 20 km from Rameswaram town. Dhanushkodi was a busy port town until the 1964 cyclone washed it away; the ruins of the church, railway station and post office still stand in the sand. The road ends at Arichal Munai, the land's end where the Bay of Bengal meets the Indian Ocean, believed to be where the Rama Sethu began on the island side. Visit in daylight and do not swim – the currents are strong.

Kothandaramar Temple

On the road to Dhanushkodi, about 12 km from Rameswaram. By tradition, Sri Rama crowned Vibhishana as king of Lanka here – the same Vibhishana whose saranagathi is celebrated at Thirupullani.

Gandhamadhana Parvatham (Ramar Padam)

About 3 km from the temple, the highest point on the island. A small shrine holds Sri Rama's footprints, and the terrace gives a wide view of Rameswaram and the sea.

Panchamukha Hanuman Temple

Close to the town. The five-faced Hanuman shrine displays floating stones, said to be like those used to build the Sethu bridge.

Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam National Memorial & House of Kalam

The memorial at Pei Karumbu honours the former President, who was born in Rameswaram. His family home on Mosque Street has been turned into a small museum of his life and work.

Villoondi Theertham

About 7 km from the temple. A fresh-water spring inside the sea, believed to have been created when Sri Rama shot an arrow into the water to quench Sita's thirst.

Distance chart

Distances are by road and approximate. See Travel & Accommodation for trains, buses and stay in Thirupullani.

Suggested 2-day plan with Thila Homam

Day 1 – Thirupullani & Ramnad

• Early morning: holy bath at Sethukarai and Thila Homam at Thirupullani.
• Darshan at Adhi Jagannatha Perumal Temple.
• Afternoon: Uthirakosamangai and Ramalinga Vilasam Palace in Ramanathapuram.
• Evening: Devipattinam Navabashanam at sunset.

Day 2 – Rameswaram & Dhanushkodi

• Leave Thirupullani by 5 AM; dip at Agni Theertham and bathe in the 22 theerthams.
• Darshan at Ramanathaswamy Temple.
• Drive to Kothandaramar Temple, Dhanushkodi and Arichal Munai.
• Return via Abdul Kalam Memorial and Pamban Bridge.

We can help arrange a car for the day and accommodation at Thirupullani – just contact us.

Travel tips

• Best time to visit: October to March, when the weather is cooler. April – June is very hot, and the coast is windy from June to September.
• Dress code: traditional dress is expected inside the temples; carry a change of clothes for the theertham baths.
• Auspicious days: Amavasai (new moon), Mahalaya Paksham, Thai Amavasai and Aadi Amavasai are crowded days for tarpanam and Thila Homam – book early.
• Getting around: a hired car or taxi is the easiest way to cover these places. Town buses run from Ramnad to Thirupullani (1A, 1B, 5, 5A, 5B, 10 and 17) and frequent buses run to Rameswaram.