Rameshwaram Darshan Simplified – I’ve long intended to write about our visit to the Rameshwaram Temple, but life always seemed to get in the way. Finally, here’s a simplified guide to experiencing Rameswaram Darshan for all of you. Use Table of Contents to quickly jump to the desired section.
Table of Contents
Rameswaram Temple Darshan simplified
Since in this blog I want to make the Rameswaram Darshan easy for my readers, let me take you straight to that topic. Rameswaram darshan can broadly be divided into three main phases. The three phases are:
Phase1 – Angni Theertham Snana – This is a beach at the eastern gate of the temple. To start with, one has to take a dip here first, before proceeding to the next phase which is the Bais Kunda snana.
Phase2 – Bais Kunda Snana – These are 22 wells, known as theerthams, which lord Rama formed by shooting arrows. These wells are inside the temple campus. You will be required to buy a ticket from the temple campus at North Gate to do Bais Kunda Snana.
Phase3 – Main Temple Darshan – After taking the bathe at Agni theertham and bais kund, one can visit the Rameshwaram temple through East Gate for the main darshan.
Though, there are additional darshans that can be done at the temple but read through to plan well. Let’s explore these three phases in detail.
Before we proceed, you can watch our Video that Nutan did on Rameswaram Temple Darshan and Places to Visit in Rameswaram
Phase 1 – Agni Theertham Snana
Agni Theertham Snana, a beginning, is definitely a soul touching experience. This is the first activity in the list. Agni Theertham is a beach which is considered Holy in Hindu religion and has been mentioned in sacred Hindu texts like Skanda Purana, Narada Purana and Sethu Purana. Surprisingly the waves are quite gentle here. Doesn’t give you the feel of a beach but a riverbank. Reminded me of visiting Ghats during Chhath Puja in Bihar. It is said, taking a dip in the Agni Theertham is equivalent to penance. This place is famous among Pilgrims who come here to take a dip and wash away their sins.
Let me frame some questions, the answers for which if you know, will help in simplifying the whole Darshan experience.
What does Legends say about Agni Theertham?
Two important events from Epic Ramayana, that happened here, elaborates the significance of this place in the Hindu religion.
- After Lord Rama freed Goddess Sita from Ravana captivity, to prove her Purity, she requested Lakshamana to light a fire so that she could sit in it to prove her purity. Lord Agni, to wash off his sins of having touched Goddess Sita in this process, took a dip in the Theertham and prayed to Lord Shiva for forgiveness. The name Agni Theertham originated from this event.
- After returning from Lanka, Lord Rama prayed by taking bathe in the sea and prayed to Lord Shiva to indemnify the killing of the demon Ravana, who also happened to be a half pandit.
How much time is required at Agni Theertham?
20 to 30 mins at Agni theertham should be minimally kept in hand for taking a dip in the sea and coming back to the Rameshwaram temple for 22 Kunda Snana.
Do we need to buy ticket for Agni Theertham?
No, you do not need to buy any ticket to take a dip at agni theertham. But, since one would be wet after taking bathe/ dip in the sea, standing in the queue for buying ticket to experience the Bais Kunda snana can get difficult, though not impossible.
Which Gate / Gopuram is the nearest to Agni Theertham?
East gate is the nearest gate to Agni theertham.
Which Gate / Gopuram one should start from and why?
One should start from North Gate. This is because, you can buy the tickets for Bais Kunda Snana before going to Agni Theertham for a dip. After Agni Theertham you need to go to Bais Kunda for which you would need this ticket.
Where to keep Slippers while going for Bais Kunda?
Since, the ticket counter for Bais Kunda is at the North Gate, you can leave your slippers secured free of charge here at the North Gate entrance. There is a dedicated section for that and is safe.
Phase 2 – Bais Kunda Snana
Bais Kunda Snana is supposed to be done after taking a dip in the sea at Agni Theertham. You can now enter through the east gate and follow the signs or the crowd to reach the entrance to the Bais Kunda snana area. However, if you have not bought your ticket for the Bais Kunda snana yet, you will be required to go to the ticket counter in the temple campus at the North gate.
It is believed, when Lord Rama returned from the war after defeating Ravana, there were 22 arrows left in his quiver and these wells were formed by those. If you speak to locals, you will come to know, there are about 102 theerthams in and around Rameswaram, but only 64 have been found so far. Lord Rama shot his arrows to form these theerthams to quench the thirst of his army.
Let me try and answer few queries which I had when I was planning a visit to Rameshwaram temple:
Is it mandatory to do snana in Bais Kunda?
No, it is not mandatory to do bais kunda snana for darshan. It is up to the devotee, depending on the time they have, they can choose to follow the complete rituals or just do the main temple darshan.
Are non-Hindus allowed to go for Bais Kunda Snana?
No, the rules allow only Hindus to perform the Bais Kunda Snana. Furthermore, non-Hindus cannot even enter the temple for darshan.
How long it takes to do Bais Kunda snana?
Depending on the day and time of visit, it can take from an hour to three. Weekends can be crowded. Best would be to visit on a Weekday and morning time.
Do we need to book a guide for Bais Kunda snana?
No, you don’t need any guide for Bais Kunda snana. They claim to complete the snana process faster, but when we visited, we did not notice any special privilege given to people with guides. They were also in the same line with us waiting for their turn. The lines are usually fast moving and its a fun filled activity. This engaging process of moving from well to well sprays water over your head. Consequently, you will soon find yourself disconnected from the outside world. So, forget about everything and enjoy the process and you can gift yourself this little me time.
What are the charges for Bais Kunda snana?
Rs. 20 per person.
Can I carry mobile for Bais Kunda snana?
Yes, you can carry your mobile for Bais Kunda Sanana. However, while going for main darshan, you will not be permitted to carry your mobile. After Bais Kunda snana, you can keep your mobile at the cloak room available at East Gate.
What are the names of the 22 wells or Bais Kunda?
The names of the Bais Kunda or 22 wells are:
Mahalakshmi Theertham, Savitri Theertham, Gayathri Theertham, Saraswati Theertham, Sethu Madhava Theertham, Gandhamadana Theertham, Kavatcha Theertham, Gavaya Theertham, Nala Theertham, Neela Theertham, Sangu Theertham, Chakra Theertham, Brahmhathi Vimochana Theertham, Surya and Chandra Theertham, Ganga, Yamuna and Gaya Theerthams, Siva Theertham, Satyamirtha Thertham, Sarva Theertham and finally Kodi Theertham. All these wells are numbered from 1 to 22, for easy identification by pilgrims.
After Bais Kunda snana where to change clothes?
There is changing area in the temple campus. Once you are done with the Bais Kunda snana and have exited the Bais Kunda area, just follow the crowd, you will soon be led to the changing area. It is inside the temple campus itself. If you feel lost, you can always ask any temple volunteers, they are always more than happy to help.
Are there changing rooms inside the Rameshwaram temple?
No, the temple doesn’t offer changing rooms, but it provides a dedicated changing area separated for male and female devotees. Specifically, the female changing area uses dividers for separation, though it lacks a fully covered premise. Conversely, the male area includes no dividers. The setup keeps these two areas apart to maintain privacy. Therefore, if you don’t feel comfortable, you can return to your hotel, change, and come back for the main darshan.
Phase 3 – Darshan of main Rameshwaram Temple
If you chose to change your wet clothes in the changing room, you can directly head for the Main darshan from within the campus. Just follow the sign boards or ask anyone for directions. But, if you are like us, who chose to go back to hotel and come back again, then you can enter through East Gate. Temple authorities do not allow you to carry any electronic items inside while going for the main darshan.At the entrance, security personnel will ask you to go and keep your belongings in a cloak room nearby.
One interesting incident would like to share from our visit. We were about to enter through the East Gopuram after keeping our mobile phones at the cloak room nearby and we noticed someone blocking our path. Then when we looked up who it was we couldn’t believe our eyes. It was Indian film actor Aparshakti Khurana. Before we could say anything, he told us, either it is you guys following me or me following you guys. And we all burst into a big laughter. Actually, this was our second encounter in Rameswaram. We had met him a day before at another holy site in Rameswaram and had a good chat and few pictures.
Here is a pic from our earlier encounter:
Rameswaram Temple main darshan queries | Rameshwaram Darshan Simplified
Coming back to the Rameswaram temple main darshan, let me try and answer the queries we had when we visited Rameswaram:
For Rameshwaram temple darshan, which gate we should enter from?
Though one can enter through any gate, but would be advisable to enter from East gate, as that’s the main entrance for darshan. If you enter from other gates, you will feel lost to reach the main darshan area.
What are the Rameshwaram temple darshan timings?
All day 05:00 AM to 01:00 PM and 03:00 PM to 09:00 PM.
How much time it takes for darshan at Rameshwaram temple?
The time required depends on the day and hour you visit. Weekends bring extreme crowds, but weekdays offer a better experience. When we did the darshan, it took us about two hours to complete the entire process.
What is the dress code for Rameshwaram temple darshan?
While no specific dress code applies, you only need to dress decently and cover yourself to avoid any problems.
What are the different types of darshan done in Rameshwaram Temple?
You can do two types of darshan (ritual viewing) at Rameshwaram temple. The first, Mani Darshan, starts at 4 AM. After this, you must go for a dip in Agni Theertham and Bais Kunda snana before you proceed to the Main deity Darshan.
What are the charges for Mani Darshan?
Rs. 50 per person for special line, else no charges.
Are there any charges for main deity darshan?
No there are no charges for main deity darshan. But one can always take special tickets for a faster darshan experience. Ranging from Rs. 100 /- to Rs. 500/- for special lines depending on the day of visit.
Recap of Steps to do deity Darshan in Rameswaram Temple
- Once at the temple, one can go to North Gate and keep the slippers there at the entrance.
- Enter through the North Gate and you will see a long queue to a ticket counter. Get in the queue to buy your ticket for Bais Kunda Snana. Note: You can buy this ticket even after taking a dip in Agni Kunda. Step 2 prevents one from standing in the queue after getting wet during the Agni Kunda snana.
- After buying the tickets, one can head towards the east gate from within the temple campus and head to the Agni Kunda.
- Take a dip at the Agni Kunda and come back to the east gate.
- Enter the temple through the East gate and head towards the Bais Kunda area. Just follow the crowd or ask the temple volunteers inside the campus for directions.
- Avoid going for guides for Bais Kunda, as it doesn’t make any difference in saving time.
- Complete the Bais Kunda snana and head to the Changing area.
- If coming directly for Darshan, enter through the East Gate and follow the instructions to do the darshan.
Where to stay in Rameswaram?
There are plenty of stay options available in Rameswaram. We stayed at SreMethila Hotels. It was neat and clean and just under 2 KM walk from the temple. Very near to the Auto Stand.
Below is the list of recommended Hotels in Rameswaram and Booking.com link embedded:
- SreMethila Hotels – Semi Budget – SreMethila Hotels Official Website
- The Residency Towers, Rameswaram – Super Luxury (4 Star Hotel)
- Hotel Ashoka – Semi Budget
- Akash Residency – Budget
- Hotel SS Grand – Semi Budget
- The Residency Towers, Rameswaram – On the Expensive side
- Hotel Star Palace – Semi Budget
- Hotel KNP Nest – Budget Hotel
How to reach Rameswaram?
You can reach Rameswaram either by air, bus, car, or train. Direct Trains are available from Chennai, Coimbatore, Pondicherry and Bengaluru. One can also use the direct bus services available from Chennai, Madurai, Puducherry, Trichy and Coimbatore. We travelled from Bangalore in our own car.
Which is the nearest Airport from Rameswaram?
Madurai sits about 180 km from Rameshwaram and serves as the nearest airport.
Bangalore to Rameswaram by Road
Like us, if you are travelling from Bangalore to Rameswaram by Road, you can check my blog for some insights on route from Bangalore to Rameswaram:
Mahakumbh Mela Guide 2025
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Rameswaram to Kanyakumari by road
In this trip we covered Rameswaram and Kanyakumari. Listing the other blogs from the trip to help you access all the info that you would need for a good trip:
- Bangalore-Rameswaram Road Trip
- YouTube Video – Bangalore to Rameswaram by Road
- Rameswaram Darshan Simplified – You are already reading this blog
- YouTube Video – Rameswaram Yatra
- A dedicated video from our visit to Dhanushkodi
- Places to visit in Kanyakumari
- YouTube Video – Places to see in Kanyakumari
Rameshwaram/ Rameswaram
Rameshwaram (or Rameswaram), a revered pilgrimage site for Hindus and one of the four char-dhams, is a sacred island in Tamil Nadu, India. A narrow stretch of water separates the island from Sri Lanka. Legend says the mythical Rama Sethu bridge once connected this landmass to Sri Lanka, and geological evidence supports that claim. The magnificent Rameshwaram Temple (or Ramanathaswamy Temple), which people dedicate to Lord Shiva, makes the island renowned.
Rameswaram History/ Mythology
This historic town has long captivated travelers with its profound spiritual significance. According to Hindu mythology, Lord Rama, upon returning victorious from his battle against Ravana, sought atonement for the lives lost during the conflict. People believe he established a magnificent Shiva temple here, consecrating a sacred Shiv Linga within its hallowed walls. While some accounts suggest he created the Linga specifically for this act of worship, others maintain it existed prior to his journey to Lanka. Regardless of its origin, the temple and its associated legends remain central to Rameswaram’s enduring allure.
Beyond the spiritual realm, Rameshwaram offers a diverse range of attractions to captivate every visitor. From pristine beaches and serene lagoons to historical sites and vibrant local culture, the island promises an unforgettable experience, leaving you yearning for a return visit.
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