Kothandaramar Temple

Getting there

• By air

  Madurai is the nearest airport, about 175 km from Rameswaram.

• By train

  Rameswaram is the railway terminus for lines from Chennai and Madurai.

• By road

  The temple is about 18 km from Rameswaram and can be reached by road.

Why devotees come here

Kothandaramar Temple stands at Dhanushkodi, the southernmost tip of Rameswaram island, in Ramanathapuram district, Tamil Nadu. It is dedicated to Rama, who is shown holding a bow, which gives the temple its name. It is the only historical structure to survive the 1964 cyclone that washed Dhanushkodi away.

Locals believe the temple marks the spot where Vibhishana, Ravana's younger brother, sought refuge with Rama and his vanara (ape men) army. Local tradition also says Vibhishana surrendered to Rama at Dhanushkodi, as told in the epic Ramayana. Dhanushkodi is the southernmost tip of Rameswaram island, and the temple stands there.

The temple is estimated to have been built 500 to 1000 years ago. The 1964 cyclone washed the town of Dhanushkodi away, yet the temple alone stayed intact. It is counted among the 108 Abhimana Kshethrams of the Vaishnava tradition.

The main idol shows Rama with a bow, the Kothandam, which gives the idol its name, Kothandaramaswamy. Lakshmana, Sita, Hanuman and Vibhishana are also enshrined in the temple with Rama.

Tips for your visit

• Dhanushkodi has a fine beach where sea surfing is possible.
• Until 2016, Dhanushkodi could be reached either on foot along the seashore or by jeep.

Questions people ask