A Jyotirlinga and one of the four Char Dham sites, famous for having the longest corridor of any Hindu mandir in India, its pillared passageways stretching for hundreds of metres.
A Jyotirlinga and one of the four Char Dham sites, famous for having the longest corridor of any Hindu mandir in India, its pillared passageways stretching for hundreds of metres.
Rameswaram's association with the Ramayana — as the point from which Rama is said to have built a bridge (Ram Setu) to Lanka — has made it sacred since ancient times, though the present mandir structure was built up gradually between roughly the 12th and 17th centuries CE under successive Pandya, Chola, and Setupati (Ramnad) rulers, with the latter contributing much of the mandir's famous corridors.
The mandir is renowned above all for its corridors (prakarams), the longest of which runs to roughly 1,200 metres, lined with intricately carved pillars — commonly cited as the longest mandir corridor in India. The complex follows a classic Dravidian layout with two main gopurams and numerous mandapams.
According to the Ramayana, Rama worshipped Shiva here to atone for killing Ravana, a Brahmin by birth, before his return to Ayodhya. Unable to wait for a linga to be brought from the Himalayas by Hanuman, Sita is said to have fashioned a linga from sand — this is worshipped as the Ramalingam, while the linga eventually brought by Hanuman is worshipped alongside it as the Vishwalingam.
Darshan | Start | End | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mandir opening | 5:00 AM | — | Open | Daily opening |
Morning darshan | 5:00 AM | 1:00 PM | Open | Main morning darshan session |
Midday Break | 1:00 PM | 3:00 PM | Closed | Mandir remains closed for rituals |
Evening darshan | 3:00 PM | 9:00 PM | Open | Evening worship and darshan |
Mandir closing | — | 9:00 PM | Closed | Daily closing time |
Aarti | Time | Fee | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
Palliyarai Deeparadhana | 5:00 AM | Free | Early morning awakening ceremony of Lord Ramanathaswamy |
Spatika Linga Darshan | 5:10 AM | Paid Entry | Sacred darshan of the crystal Shiva Linga |
Kalasanthi Pooja | 7:00 AM | Free | Morning worship with Vedic chanting |
Uchikala Pooja | 12:00 PM | Free | Midday worship and offerings |
Sayaraksha Deeparadhana | 6:00 PM | Free | Evening lamp ceremony |
Ardha Jama Pooja | 8:30 PM | Free | Final worship before mandir closing |
Darshan | Price | Waiting Time | Booking |
|---|---|---|---|
General Darshan | Free | 20–60 min | Walk-in |
Special Darshan | ₹100 onwards | 10–20 min | Mandir Counter |
Spatika Linga Darshan | ₹50 onwards | Limited Time Slot | Mandir Counter |
22 Theertham Holy Bath | Separate Charges | Depends on Queue | Available at Mandir |
Seva | Time | Price | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
Rudrabhishekam | Morning | ₹500 onwards | Sacred Abhishekam performed to Lord Shiva |
Spatika Linga Abhishekam | Early Morning | ₹500 onwards | Special worship of the crystal Shiva Linga |
Archana | Throughout the day | ₹100 onwards | Personal prayer offered in the devotee's name |
Mahamrityunjaya Pooja | By Booking | ₹1,000 onwards | Special ritual for health, longevity, and protection |
Pitru Tharpanam | Morning | Varies | Rituals performed for ancestors at Agni Theertham and mandir premises |
Festival | Month | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
Maha Shivaratri | February–March | The mandir's largest festival featuring all-night worship, Rudrabhishekams, devotional music, and lakhs of devotees. |
Mahodaya Amavasya | January–February (when applicable) | A highly auspicious occasion for taking the holy dip at Agni Theertham and performing ancestral rituals. |
Arudra Darshan | December–January | Special Abhishekam and worship dedicated to Lord Nataraja with elaborate mandir ceremonies. |
Navaratri | September–October | Nine-day celebration with special poojas, alankarams, and cultural programs. |
Thai Amavasya | January–February | Thousands of devotees perform Pitru Tharpanam and sacred sea bath at Agni Theertham. |
Aadi Thirukalyanam | July–August | Celebrates the divine wedding of Lord Ramanathaswamy and Goddess Parvathavardhini with grand processions. |
Karthigai Deepam | November–December | Mandir illuminated with thousands of oil lamps, accompanied by special Shiva worship and devotional celebrations. |
Prasadam | Price | Description |
|---|---|---|
Laddu | ₹30–₹80 | Traditional mandir sweet |
Panchamrit | ₹30–₹50 | Sacred mixture used during Abhishekam |
Vibhuti | Free | Sacred holy ash blessed at the mandir |
Bilva Leaves Prasadam | Free | Blessed Bilva leaves offered after worship |
Charanamrit | Free | Sacred holy water distributed after darshan |
Nearest airport: Madurai Airport (~170 km). Rameswaram Railway Station is connected via the Pamban Bridge to mainland Tamil Nadu.
No reviews yet — be the first to share your experience.
Book your puja directly through Ramanathaswamy Mandir's own official mandir portal — secure, and handled entirely by the mandir administration.
Book Puja on Official Website ↗Thinking of visiting Ramanathaswamy Mandir? Share your travel dates and group size, and our travel desk will put together a personalised itinerary — transport, stay and darshan timings, all planned around this mandir.
📍 Ramanathaswamy Mandir, Rameswaram, Ramanathapuram, Tamil Nadu 623526
Planning to stay overnight? Find places to stay near Ramanathaswamy Mandir.
Search Hotels on Booking.comRameswaram town has hotels and lodges across a range of budgets, most within a short distance of the mandir.
Dhanushkodi (the abandoned town at the island's tip), the Pamban Bridge itself, and Adam's Bridge (Ram Setu) viewpoints are all worth the visit.
