After leaving Madurai our next stop was Rameswaram, the pilgrimage site on Pamban island. The drive was a smooth and pleasant 3 hours along the brand new NH87 four-laned highway. With the network of NH highways, traveling by motor vehicle has become a breeze in these parts. We stayed at the Hyatt - comfortable, clean and modern hotel belonging to the international chain. A few years ago there were not many nice options for quality accommodation, but this is rapidly changing.
Rameswaram is home to the famous Ramanathaswamy Sivan temple. We will dedicate another post to it.
The island has many interesting sites and a storied past. At Dhanushkodi, the very tip of the island you can see the ruins of the ghost town of Dhanushkodi devastated and abandoned by the cyclone of December 1964 that took many lives in Northern Sri Lanka and Rameswaram. The ferry to Mannar used to leave from here.
The island has many sites intimately connected to the Ramayanam.
The Pamban bridge to the island is one the longest sea bridges in India.
As you enter the island you will also encounter the memorial to APJ Abdul Kalam, scientist, statesman and former president of India. This newly built modern monument is well designed and worth a visit.
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