8 Lesser Known facts About Rameshwaram

Dec 11
08:41

2015

Balwant Rai Garg

Balwant Rai Garg

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Rameshwaram is considered as one of the most important pilgrimages of India and is visited by hordes of pilgrims every year. There are many interesting facts about Rameshwaram that many might not know. Here we have listed some of these facts.

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Rameshwaram is considered as one of the most important pilgrimages of India and is visited by hordes of pilgrims every year. Needless to mention,8 Lesser Known facts About Rameshwaram Articles it’s because Rameshwaram is one of the Char Dhams according to Hindu Religion.

But there are many interesting facts about Rameshwaram that might not know. Here we have listed some of these facts.

HISTORICAL FACTS

#1 Rameshwaram island was better known by the name “Gandhamadhanam” before the arrival of Lord Rama. It is also believed that in those days, there already existed a temple of Lord Shiva.

#2 Rameshwaram was regarded as one of the important trading harbors for during the period of Chola and Pandya Kingdom for exporting conches (mostly the right hand conch) and pearls (black, brown, white) to countries like Rome, Egypt, China, Sumeria, Arabia, etc.

#3 The renovation and reconstruction process of the Ramanathaswamy temple was started in 1414 CE by Udaiyaan Sethupathi and Pararajasekara Aryasakravarthy, a Srilankan (Tamil) King. The granite stones were used to obtain from a Srilankan mountain Thirkonamalai and other various mountains and were transported to Rameshwaram via the water route.

#4 In the year 1904, the granite stones were obtained from Ambasamudram situated in Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu, which were transported to Thuthukudi via bullock carts, and from there they were shipped to Rameswaram through sailing ships “RAMANATHAR-PARVATHAVARTHINI”.

#5 The British Government released a stamp with the picture of the Rameshwaram Temple in the year 1935. 

FACTS ABOUT PAMBAN RAIL BRIDGE

#6 Pamban Rail Bridge is called as the queen of Indian bridges, and is the first sea bridge and the second longest in India. With a length of 2.06 KM and 143 piers, the bridge has completed its 100th anniversary in 2014. The first train ran on this bridge was on February 24, 1914.

FACTS ABOUT PAMBAN ROAD BRIDGE

#7 The Pamban Road Bridge, better known by Annai Indira Sea Bridge was commenced on October 2, 1988 by the former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. The bridge is 6 KM long and has 77 long pillars, used to hold the bridge.

FACTS ABOUT THE TEMPLE

#8 Here are some other interesting facts about the Rameshwaram Temple enlisted below.

Coverage Area

15 Acres

Outer Wall Length

East-West is 865 feet; South-North is 657 feet

The Temple Gopurams

Coated with Alkaline resistant paint to prevent from saline and humid air

West Gopuram Height

78 feet

Number of tiers of West Gopuram

5 tiers

East Gopuram Height

126 feet

Number of tiers of East Gopuram

9 tiers

The Great Nandi Statue

17 feet tall with a width of 12 feet. And is made up of bricks, lime stones and sea shells.

The Pillars

Coated with Snow-cem cement to prevnt them from corrosion

Gandhamadhana Eswara Lingam

It is believed to be existed before the Rama’s arrival