Rameswaram (pop. 44,856) is a major Hindu pilgrimage site in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Its holiness to Hindus is second only to that of Varanasi, in Uttar Pradesh. Rameswaram is on one of the series of islands, known as Adam’s Bridge, that lie between the mainland of India and Sri Lanka. Rameswaram is connected to the Indian mainland by the Indira Gandhi Bridge, which opened in 1988.
Hindus revere Rameswaram as the place from which the god Rama went to Sri Lanka to rescue his wife Sita, who had been abducted by the demon god Ravana. Having killed Ravana, Rama, an avatar (incarnation) of the god Vishnu, worshiped Shiva to absolve his sin. Hence, Rameswaram is holy to both Shaivite (followers of Shiva) and Vaishnavite (followers of Vishnu) Hindus.
The Ramalingeswara Temple is the largest of Rameswaram’s temples. It is known for its long corridor of hundreds of pillars. It dates mainly from the 1600’s. Another temple on the island houses the footprints of Rama.
Industries other than the pilgrimage trade in Rameswaram include fishing and the ferry trade to Sri Lanka. It is the terminus of the railroad from the mainland.
