Ramarpatham Shrine at Rameshwaram, Tamil Nadu || The site that has Lord Ram's footprints sculpted on a rock
When you explore Rameshwaram, Tamil Nadu, you discover many shrines, some hidden in the wilderness, others out in the ocean, and almost all of them revolving around the life of Lord Ram. One such shrine is the Ramarpatham, which is located on a little hill, surrounded by shrubs and bushes.
The name of the hill is Gandhamadana Parbatam and the forest surrounding it is so serene that this temple is the perfect place for some meditation. And because of the almost constant sea breeze, it is almost always pleasant in the shade, even when it is bright and sunny out there.
The temple itself is built on the spot where Lord Hanuman is said to have started his journey toward Sri Lanka. This temple also has imprints of Lord Ram's feet sculpted on rock. The temple is built in a mix of Dravidian and Pallava styles of architecture.
The carvings on the walls and ceilings depict scenes from the epic Ramayana, as well as other mythological stories. The intricate carvings and sculptures on the pillars, walls, and ceilings are a testament to the skill and craftsmanship of the ancient artisans who built the temple.
One of the most unique features of the Ramarpatham Temple is the rock-cut mandapa, which is located outside the cave temple. The mandapa has a beautifully carved ceiling with intricate designs and motifs. The mandapa also houses several smaller shrines dedicated to various deities.
It is a beautiful temple, but one needs to climb a few steps to reach there. And as if God sent, several fresh fruit sellers sit on the steps. They chop up fresh mangoes, pineapples, watermelons etc. We had pineapple and mangoes and they were so refreshing, especially since we had them on our way back.
The temple offers excellent views of the surrounding forest and hills and also of the Rameshwaram city. Also visible from here is the Doordarshan tower, backwaters, some ancient shrines, and almost the entire Rameshwaram city.
The temple is about 20kms from Dhanushkodi, but only 2kms from the famous Lord Ramanathaswamy temple. It is worth the journey for sure, especially if you are in the mood for some peace and quiet. I quite enjoyed myself here. And I am sure most of you will do so too.
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