Arulmigu Ramanatha Swamy Temple, Rameswaram

One of the twelve temples in which Shiva is worshipped as a Jyotirlingam--a pillar of light, Arulmigu Ramanatha Swamy Temple represents one of the country's most significant religious sites. Legend has it that Rama's wife Sita built a lingam (sacred mound of sand) in order to worship Shiva here, after the god Hanuman failed to bring her a Himalayan mountain--the biggest lingam available. Walk between huge colonnades of sandstone pillars through possibly the longest corridor in the world--197 m (646 ft) long and 133 m (436 ft) wide. See devotees bathe in 22 holy wells, which represent the arrows in Rama's quiver. Bring a small towel since its always hot and damp inside the temple. Choose to start, finish, or center your holiday on a trip to Arulmigu Ramanatha Swamy Temple by using our Rameswaram trip planner .