Separated from the mainland by an arm of the sea, this former jumping off place for sri lankan travellers, has apopulation of 30,000 and is, for hindus, one of the most holy places india, on a par with varanasi. The rama temple is the centre of pilgrim worship.
The tower is 38.4m (114 ft) high. It is one of the major fishing centres in the south of the country with much of its catch being exported.
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In my opinion one of the best beaches of india goes along the island °m rameswaram to dhanushkodi, about 18km (11 miles) south. Once e railway line went to there, and the ferry to talaimannar (sri lanka) !ft from there, but 1964 saw the end of that era. All that remains of the Church and other buildings are the outer walls. Even the old pier (11 miles) from sri lanka has fall into disrepair. Instead of the ce important dhanushkodi there is now only a lonely, simple fishing
Village of pahn-woven huts which lies unprotected and naked on the hot
(reservation recommended)
Mandapam (for rameswaram): 2.45am, 7.15am, 10.15am, 4.45pm and
9pm - 9 hour trip - 30rs. It goes via the snobbish green kerala's palmyra
Palm-covered countryside of tamil nadu.
Madurai: between 6am and 9.30pm continual service.
Trivandrum: there is a continual service between 6am and 9.30pm.
Kovalam beach: there is a good service between 6.30am and 6.15pm.
Bangalore: 6pm
Madras: 9.45am, 12.45pm, 4.45pm and 8.45pm. All services go via Madurai.
Ooty: 6.45pm (via madurai).
Hotel rooms in rameswaram are scarce and often shabby. It may be worthwhile paying a few rupees more and staying at one of the newer hotels, like the alankar or maharaja's. They operate on the 24 hour system.
Rickshaw drivers await the arrival of tourists. The trip to a hotel costs about 8rs.
The railway retiring rooms at the station don't give a bad impression.
On the way to the temple is the shabby lodge michael at 34 varthagan street (singles 18rs, doubles 35rs, on the veranda 8rs).
There are numerous budget hotels around the temple like the sree mahalakshmi lodge, 41a south car
This and the temple elephants which guard the longest colonnade in india are worth seeing.
Even though the border with sri lanka is still closed, it wasn't peaceful on palk strait. Quite often tamil warriors and refugees cross the straight illegally for around 500rs. On top of that, there are fishermen and smugglers who transport heroin and kerala 'grass' to sri lanka and return with video cassettes and electronic goods. And, in the middle are the navies of india and sri lanka.
As in other holy places, there is a bathing ghat for pilgrims about 200m from the tourist bungalows. Pilgrims pay
The closest airport is madurai, 173km away. There is a daily rail service from the bus terminal at mandapam to rameswaram between 3.25am and 11.20pm, and in the opposite direc¬tion between 2am and 10pm - approximately 2.5ors and a 45 minute trip.
From mandapam there are direct services to kannyakumari, nagercoil, madurai and madras. Bus is faster than train.
