Ramanathapuram district is an administrative district of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, situated in the south-eastern part of the state. The district headquarters is the town of Ramanathapuram, also historically known as Ramnad. The district is bounded by the Palk Strait and the Gulf of Mannar to the east and south, and by the districts of Pudukkottai, Sivaganga, Virudhunagar and Thoothukudi on its other sides. It is closely associated with the temple town of Rameswaram, one of the Char Dham pilgrimage centres of India.
| Key facts | |
|---|---|
| Country | India |
| State | Tamil Nadu |
| Headquarters | Ramanathapuram |
| Region | Pamban–Rameswaram coast, Gulf of Mannar |
| Languages | Tamil |
| Notable town | Rameswaram |
The district lies along a long stretch of coastline on the Bay of Bengal, encompassing the Palk Bay, Pamban Island and the chain of shoals known as Adam's Bridge (Rama Setu) extending towards Sri Lanka. Pamban Island, on which Rameswaram is located, is connected to the mainland by the Pamban road bridge and the historic Pamban Railway Bridge. The Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park, which protects a chain of 21 islands and surrounding coral reefs, lies partly within the district and is one of India's biosphere reserves. The terrain is largely flat, low-lying and sandy, with limited rainfall received mainly through the north-east monsoon.
The region was historically part of the Pandya country and later came under the Chola, Vijayanagara and Madurai Nayak rulers. From the 17th century, the area was administered by the Sethupathi rulers of Ramnad, who held the hereditary title of guardians of the route to Rameswaram. The Ramalinga Vilasam palace at Ramanathapuram, built by Kizhavan Sethupathi, survives as a museum and an example of Nayak-period mural painting.
Under the British, the territory formed part of the Madras Presidency. After Indian independence the larger Ramanathapuram district was reorganised: the present-day Sivaganga district was carved out in 1985, and Virudhunagar district was also separated from the former Ramnad area, leaving the present district with its current boundaries.
The district is administered by a District Collector and is divided into revenue divisions, taluks, blocks and revenue villages. Major taluks include Ramanathapuram, Paramakudi, Rameswaram, Mudukulathur, Tiruvadanai, Kamuthi and Kadaladi. Paramakudi and Ramanathapuram are the principal urban centres, while Rameswaram is the most prominent pilgrimage town.
The district's economy is largely agrarian, with paddy, chillies, cotton, pulses and groundnut being important crops. The long coastline supports significant marine fisheries, and the district is among Tamil Nadu's leading producers of marine fish and chank/conch. Salt manufacture along the coast, traditional handloom weaving, and pilgrimage-related services at Rameswaram also contribute to local livelihoods.
The Ramanathaswamy Temple at Rameswaram, dedicated to Shiva, is one of the twelve Jyotirlinga shrines and a major Char Dham pilgrimage destination. The temple is noted for having the longest temple corridor in India. Other significant sites include Dhanushkodi, the abandoned town at the eastern tip of Pamban Island; the Erwadi dargah, an important Muslim pilgrimage site; and the Ramalinga Vilasam palace at Ramanathapuram. The district has a mixed Hindu, Muslim and Christian population with strong traditions of Tamil literature and folk arts.
National Highway 87 (formerly NH 49) connects Madurai with Rameswaram via Ramanathapuram, and other state highways link the district with Tuticorin, Devakottai and Karaikudi. The Southern Railway operates services to Rameswaram across the Pamban bridge, with Ramanathapuram and Paramakudi as principal stations. Madurai Airport is the nearest major airport.