Kerala to Rameswaram new train ride: What to see, timings, stops

Rameswaram is a favourite destination for devotees, tourists and history enthusiasts. The birthplace of former Indian president APJ Abdul Kalam. Until now, visitors used to travel by train up to Madurai and then continued to Rameswaram by bus or train. However, with the decision to extend the Thiruvananthapuram–Madurai Amrita Express to Rameswaram, travellers from Kerala can now reach Rameswaram directly. The Railway Board recently approved the move. 

The Thiruvananthapuram Central–Madurai–Thiruvananthapuram Central Amrita Express (Train Nos. 16343/16344) has now been extended to Rameswaram. The Thiruvananthapuram Central–Rameswaram Amrita Express, Train No. 16343, departs from Thiruvananthapuram Central at 8 pm to arrive in Rameswaram at 12.45 pm.

From Rameswaram, Train No. 16344 departs for Thiruvananthapuram Central at 1.30 pm and arrives the following day at 4.55 am. The decision to extend the Amrita Express to Rameswaram was made following the opening of the new Pamban Bridge. Three additional stops, Manamadurai, Paramakudi, and Ramanathapuram, have been added between Madurai and Rameswaram. 

For a long time, there was no direct train service between Kerala and Rameswaram. Trains that operated during the meter gauge era were discontinued under the pretext of gauge conversion. Despite the completion of the gauge transition in 2018, services to Rameswaram were not resumed. The long-standing demand to extend the Amrita Express to Rameswaram has now been fulfilled. Several pilgrimage centres and tourist attractions await visitors here. 

Ramanathaswami Temple 
Ramanathaswami Temple is the main attraction for devotees visiting Rameswaram. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, it is one of the 12 Jyotirlinga temples in India. According to legend, Lord Rama prayed to Lord Shiva here, seeking forgiveness for the sins he committed knowingly or unknowingly. The temple is regarded as one of the four major Hindu temples in India. 

Dhanushkodi
 Dhanushkodi is known as a ghost town, having been completely devastated by a severe cyclone in 1964. Even today, it remains sparsely inhabited. Located at the southern tip of Rameswaram Island, it juts out into the Gulf of Mannar along the southern edge of Tamil Nadu’s eastern coastline. To its east lies the Bay of Bengal and to the west, the Indian Ocean. The name Dhanushkodi translates to `tip of the bow.' According to the Ramayana, Lord Rama built the bridge, Sethubandhanam, here. A large number of visitors arrive here daily.

Dr A P J Abdul Kalam Memorial
This memorial is dedicated to the late Indian President Dr A P J Abdul Kalam and is located at Pei Karumbu Vil in Rameswaram. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the memorial, spread over a property of 2.11 acres, in 2017. It has been designed meticulously to reflect Kalam’s personal interests and preferences. The garden surrounding the memorial resembles a Mughal-era garden and is adorned with plants sourced from Bengaluru, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. 

Pamban Bridge 
Steps toward the construction of the Pamban Bridge were initiated following a decision by the British to expand trade links with Sri Lanka in the 1870s. Train traffic on the old Pamban Bridge was suspended due to safety concerns on December 23, 2022. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the new Pamban Bridge this April. The new bridge incorporates the latest technologies and is India’s first vertical lift railway causeway, stretching two-and-a-half kilometres. An electro-mechanical vertical lift system is used to raise and lower the bridge, allowing it to be elevated up to 22 metres above sea level to facilitate the movement of larger vessels and ships. Trains can travel at speeds of up to 75 km/h on the new bridge. The use of stainless steel in its construction is expected to enhance the bridge’s longevity.

Ramasetu
Rameswaram serves as the link to Mannar Island in Sri Lanka. The 48-kilometre-long Ramasetu is believed to be constructed using natural limestone formations. In the Ramayana, Ramasetu is described as the bridge built by Lord Rama and his monkey army. According to temple records, Ramasetu remained above sea level until 1480 and is believed to have submerged due to natural disasters. Ramasetu is rich in both faith-based and scientific interpretations. A large number of visitors come each year to witness Ramasetu, also known as Adam’s Bridge.