Arulmigu Ramanathaswamy Temple
Rameswaram island, Ramanathapuram district · Lord Shiva as Ramanathaswamy (Ramalingam, installed by Rama), with Goddess Parvathavardhini
Where Rama worshipped Shiva: a Jyotirlinga, a Char Dham, 22 holy wells and the longest temple corridors in India.
The Ramanathaswamy Temple stands on the conch-shaped island of Rameswaram, joined to the mainland by the Pamban bridges. It covers about 15 acres. Here, says the Ramayana tradition, Rama worshipped Shiva in a linga of sand made by Sita, to atone for killing Ravana. That makes it both one of the 12 Jyotirlingas (the southernmost) and one of the four Char Dham pilgrimage sites. Pilgrims first bathe in the sea at Agni Theertham, then in 22 holy wells inside the temple, before darshan. Its outer corridor, with about 1,212 pillars, is reputed to be the longest of any Hindu temple.
Timings
- Temple opens: 4:00 AM (devotees admitted from 5:00 AM)
- Spatika Linga darshan: 5:00 – 6:00 AM
- Main sanctum (moolasthanam) darshan: 6:00 AM – 1:00 PM
- Closed: 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
- Evening darshan: 3:15 PM – 8:00 PM
- Temple closes: 9:00 PM
- 22 theertham bathing: 5:30 AM – 12:30 PM and 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM
- Paid quick/special queues (₹50 / ₹200): 6:10 AM – 12:45 PM and 3:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Darshan types and costs
- Free (general) darshan – Free
- Swamy Sannathi Special Entrance Darshan – ₹100 per person
- Swamy Sannathi Quick Entrance Darshan – ₹200 per person
- Ambal Sannathi Special Entrance Darshan – ₹50 per person
- Spatika Linga Darshan – ₹50 per ticket
- 22 Theertham bath – ₹25 per person
Sevas and costs
- Spatika Linga Darshan / Pooja – ₹50 (Daily, 5:00 – 6:00 AM)
- 22 Theertham Snanam (holy well bath) – ₹25 per person (includes water-pouring helpers) (5:30 AM – 12:30 PM and 3:00 – 7:00 PM)
- Rudra Abhishekam – ₹3,000 (6:30 – 8:00 AM and 4:01 – 6:59 PM)
- Panchamirtha Abhishekam – ₹3,000 (Half-hour slots: 10:01 – 11:59 AM and 4:01 – 6:01 PM)
- 108 Kalasa Abhishekam – ₹3,000 (8:00 – 11:00 AM and 3:00 – 6:00 PM)
- 108 Sangu Abhishekam – ₹3,000 (7:00 – 11:00 AM and 3:30 – 7:00 PM)
- 108 Velli (Silver) Kalasa Abhishekam – ₹5,000 (8:00 – 11:00 AM and 3:00 – 6:00 PM)
- 1008 Kalasa Abhishekam – ₹10,000 (8:00 – 11:00 AM and 3:00 – 6:00 PM)
- 1008 Sangu Abhishekam – ₹10,000 (7:00 – 11:00 AM and 3:30 – 7:00 PM)
- 1008 Velli (Silver) Kalasa Abhishekam – ₹25,000 (8:00 – 11:00 AM and 3:00 – 6:00 PM)
- Gangai Abhishekam (with your own Ganga water) – ₹50 (During darshan hours)
- Kodi Theertham Abhishekam – ₹25 (1 litre) (During darshan hours)
- Milk / Panneer / Vibhuti Abhishekam – ₹25 each (During darshan hours)
- Sri Swamy / Sri Ambal Sahasranama Archanai – ₹200 each (During darshan hours)
- Swamy Nagabharanam Sathupadi / Ambal Kavasam Sathupadi – ₹200 each (Check timing with the temple office)
- Archanai – ₹10 (During darshan hours)
- Golden Chariot (Thanga Ratham) – ₹2,000 (Evenings (check with the temple office))
- Silver Chariot / Panchamoorthi Purappadu (Rishaba Vahanam) – ₹30,000 each (On request (check with the temple office))
- Vadamaalai – ₹300 (During darshan hours)
How to book darshan
Darshan tickets, the Spatika Linga, abhishekams, archanai, the theertham bath and Kodi Theertham prasadam can all be booked on the official HR&CE portal. Chariot sponsorships and Vadamaalai are booked at the temple office.
Dress code
Traditional dress inside the sanctum: dhoti or pants with a shirt for men, saree or churidar with dupatta for women. HR&CE rules ask for traditional dress. For the theertham bath, wear modest clothes you can get soaked in, not thin or see-through fabric, and bring a full change of dry traditional clothes for darshan.
Best time to visit
October to April. Avoid the hot midday hours in summer. Come for the Spatika Linga at 5 AM, which also beats the crowds at the theerthams. Amavasya days (especially Thai and Aadi Amavasya and Mahalaya Amavasya) are extremely crowded with pilgrims doing ancestral rites.
How to reach
- air: Madurai International Airport is about 175 km away (3.5–4 hours by road). There are no commercial flights to the island.
- rail: Rameswaram station (RMM) is about 2 km from the temple. Trains from Chennai (Rameswaram Express, Boat Mail), Madurai, Coimbatore and northern cities (e.g. Varanasi, Ayodhya, Okha) cross the sea on the new vertical-lift Pamban rail bridge, opened in 2025.
- road: The Pamban road bridge (Annai Indira Gandhi bridge) links the island to the mainland. Frequent TNSTC buses come from Madurai (about 4 hours), Ramanathapuram (about 1 hour), Trichy and Chennai (about 10–11 hours). Autos and taxis run around the island.
Festivals
- Maha Shivaratri Brahmotsavam – Masi (February–March), about 10 days
- Thirukalyanam (Aadi festival) – Aadi (July–August), about 17 days
- Ramalinga Prathishtai – Aani (June–July)
- Thai and Aadi Amavasya – January–February and July–August
- Mahalaya Amavasya – Purattasi (September–October)
- Vasanthotsavam – Vaikasi (May–June)
- Navaratri – Purattasi (September–October)
- Arudra Darshanam – Margazhi (December–January)