Annai Indira Gandhi Road Bridge (Pamban Bridge): ( Rameshwaram 7km;Built in 1914 ,It is a railway & roadway bridge

connecting Pamban Island to Indian mainland. Longest until Bandra-Worli sea link was built. It's over bay , beside
Pamban,where Rama could quench Sita's thirst by throwing an arrow (Here actually retrieve cool water). Entrance
has a picture of weeping man holding some body parts; British appointed a man to roll bridge wheels up/down -
opens up like a scissor from middle to let ships pass& comes down to join together to form a railroad. One day when
bridge was still up, a train approached & he started rolling down to let train. Helping son's finger stuck in wheel. He
kept rolling as stoppage to save son,will make 100s of people die. Train passed safely, but boy got crushed in wheels.
Agnitheertham: most important of 64 sacred baths on beach side of temple. Take a dip &Offer prayers to atone sins.
Rama took bath after killing Ravana; Sita did Agnipariksha to prove her chastity &wasn't hurt ; Agni took bath here to
wash away his sin of touching Sita during Agnipariksha & offered prayers to Shiva. Take a dip in holy water (on new
moon and full moon days is most auspicious) before starting pilgrimage to Rameshwaram. While bathing, Pray for
children &/or peace of ancestors & perform last rites .
Rameshwaram Ramanathaswamy Temple : 1 of 12 Jyotirlinga temples & with longest corridor (3850 ft in total) of
world; Lingam was installed by Lord Rama . Worship Shivalingam 1st & then Ramalingam; For salvation, worship
Lord Shiv and take dips in 22 holy water bodies. Lord Rama killed Ravana, a Brahmin to save Sita. To expiate the
'dosha' he asked Hanuman to bring largest lingam from Himalayas. As it was taking very long , Sita made a small
sand lingam, Ramalingam (still in sanctum) & worshipped. As Hanuman was disappointed he placed his lingam
next to Ramalinga and named it Shivalingam. Construction led by Setupathi dynasty over centuries.
Portion of E Gopuram was by Dalavai Setupati in 17th century; 3rd corridor (Chokkatan Mandapam) was by Muthu
ramalinga in late 18th century. For renovation stone blocks from Koneswaram temple shipped by Sethupathy
dynasty Jaffna King Jeyaveera Cinkaiariyan & Gunaveera Cinkaiariyan done structural development.It has a high
wall (madil )on four sides (E to W 865 ft ; N to S 675 ft) .Long corridors run between huge colonnades on 5 ft H
platforms. 2nd corridor is with sandstone pillars, beams & ceiling. 3rd corridor on W leads to Setumadhava shrine.
1,212 pillars in outer corridor; rajagopuram is 53 m H; Main halls are- Anuppu, Sukravara , Setupati , Kalyana &
Nandi Mandapams.Ramalingam by Sita is main deity. Vishwalingam is brought by Hanuman from Kailash.
05:10 Spadigalinga;05:45; 07:00; 10:00; 12:00;18:00;20:30;20:45;05:00. 05-13;15:21; Still camera Rs 25;
Wear decent clothes. kurta and dhoti or pyjama; sarees or suits. Purchase tickets from counters.
22 tirthas are inside temple premises to take baths to get rid of sins. Major one is Agni Theertham.
S of Hanuman Temple Mahalakshmi Theertham Dharmarajan became rich
W of Hanuman Temple Savithri ,Saraswathi & Gayathri King Kasibar rid of his curse.
Tank at 3rd corridor Sethu Madhava Theertham Lakshmi's blessings,heart purification
Sethumadhava Temple area 1.Gandhamadana 2.Kavatcha 3.karpaga Virutcha Shelter
1.Rid of penury, absolve sins,Get riches 3.Gavaya 4.Nala 5:Neela Theerthams 4.Get Soorya Thejas & reach Heaven
2.Not go to hell 5.Agni Yoga,Samastha(entire) yaga benefit
Temple Inner corridor 1.Sanku 2.Sakkara 3.Brahmahathi 3.Brahamahathi's sins absolved.
1.Sage Vathsanaba rid ingratitude sin Vimochana 4.Sooriya 5.Chandra 4,5.Know Mukkaalam; reach wanted world
2. Sun's hand turned golden. 6.Ganga 7.Yamuna 8.Gaya Theertham 6,7,8.Gananasuruthi Rajah got wisdom.
S of Temple nandi Deva Siva Theertham Completion of Bhaira Brahmahathi.
In Amman Sannathi Sadyamirtha Theertham Emperor Bururoonu rid of his curse.
In front of Lord Ramanatha's sannathi. Sarva Theertham Sutharishna rid of blindness, illness ,
old age & prospered.
In Temple 1st corridor Kodi Theertham Krishna rid of Sin of killing kamsan.
Panchmukhi/Five-faced Hanuman temple: 06-19;at Gandhamadhana Parvatham; Hanuman covered with senthooram .
Rama, Laxman, Sita &Hanuman idols have actual soul of Gods. During war as per Ravana's request ,Patala king
Ahiravana disguised as Vibhishana, & took Ram Lakshman to Patala to kill them. Hanuman found that Ahiravana's life
hidden in five lamps in different directions & they should be extinguished at same time to kill him.So he became
Panchamukha Hanuman and blew out them.5 faces are Hanuman, Hayagriva, Narasimha, Garuda and Varaha.
They represent the five elements (wind, water, earth, fire and sky) which are the basis of creation.
They signify the five senses (panch indriyas) over which great yog Hanuman has mastery.
Floating stone (oval shaped ,coarse textured with small craters) used in bridge on sea is outside in a water tank .

Gandhamadhana Parvatham/Ramar Patham temple: It is revered, deity of several communities in S. India. Massive
two storey and Lord rama's feet are imprinted on chakra placed in temple. Here Hanuman told Rama that he had
found Sita in Sri Lanka. Sakshi Hanuman Temple at Gandha madhana Parvatham is on the way to Ramar padham

Kalam National Memorial : 09-13;14-19; ;at Peikarumbu in 2015 by DRDO .Displays memorabilia cherishing his
contributions, incl. replicas of missiles, rockets and Pokhran Nuclear Test information. Blend of Mughal and Indian
architecture with components from all over country. Midway between temple & bridge
APJ Abdul Kalam House : Rs.5; 08-19; Sat,Sun X; Near Temple;Parents raised him with his siblings; Now museum ;See
his life & achievements. Burial Place of APJ Abdul Kalam: His mortal remains are laid to rest in peace. Pay homage.
Dhanushkodi is 18 kms by road from Rameshwaram. It is an island between Bay of Bengal & Indian Ocean (shape
of bow & arrowIn birds eye view) on southern tip of India; Arrow head is a sacred place to offer prayers. Rama's
foot marks are in this temple ; He built Ram Sethu from here. Land border between India & Sri Lanka.It became
ghost town with ruins after 22nd Dec Cyclone as all life & buildings wiped out. Beach is white sand & deserted .
If possible, hitch a ride on a fishing boat. See old Dhanushkodi Rly Stn& remains of old church near seashore.
Adam's Bridge (Rama's Bridge or Rama Setu) is 1.7 million years old natural bridge (50km L & 3km W) connecting India
from tip of Pamban Bridge (few meters away from Dhanushkodi) to Sri Lanka's Mannar Island. It seperates Gulf of
Mannar from Palk Strait, above sea level & passable on foot until it was destroyed in a cyclone in 1480. Sea depth is
3 ft mostly & max 30 ft at some locations.It is made of rocks (air trapped within a shell of silica), small islands, coral
reefs, sandbanks. It was believed to be constructed by Rama - Indians & by Ravana- Sri lankans. Islamic legend
believes Adam used it to reach "Adam's Peak" in Sri Lanka.Use taxi/jeep or on foot at till sea, &bridge is walkable too.