Rameshwaram has been an important tourist spot due to its religious significance. It is on Pamban Island. Rameshwaram is one of the 12 Jyotirling and one of the four divine sites (char dham) along with Badrinath, Puri, and Dwarka. Rameshwaram has a lot of significance in Hindu mythology. Don’t get misled by the name of Ramanathaswamy Temple (Which is an important place in Rameshwaram), Its a temple of Lord Shiva, not Lord Rama.
As per mythology, Ram had prayed here to Shiva in order for forgiveness for killing a Brahmin (Ravana). According to legends Ram had sent Hanuman to bring a Linga from the Himalayas to worship but Hanuman was delayed so in the meantime Sita had built a small Linga from the beaches near the temple. Thus this temple has two Lingas.
The jyotirlinga is the supreme partless reality, out of which Shiva partly appears. The jyothirlinga shrines, thus are places where Shiva appeared as a fiery column of light.
Pamban bridge connect this island to India. Rameshwaram is the closest distance to Srilanka. According to Mythology from Setu Karai the place from where Lord Rama started construction of the bridge to go to Srilanka to get her wife back from Ravana.
Yes it was my first visit. Obviously, i went for RamanathanSwamy Temple and I like it. The art inside the temple was amazing. I enjoyed the way as well it was beautiful.
