One evening, on our upcoming Festivals & Temples spiritual adventure to South India and Malaysia, we’ll board an overnight train and make the long journey south east to the coast and cross the Indira Gandhi bridge to the laid back fishing island of Rameswaram. Located only a few miles from Sri Lanka this island is steeped in history and is considered to be one of the holiest places for Hindus in India.
The Ramanathaswamy temple boasts four maginificent corridors lined with seemingly endless elaborately carved pillars. The temple is built in honor of the Hindu God Siva and is famed for housing 21 theerthams (wells) within the complex which are believed to have particular powers. Pilgrims bathe in waters from these wells as they are ushered from one well to another.
The magnificent tower, at 53 meters high, is the tallest structure on the island and majestically rises over the green groves of palm, coconut and island shrub.
