Thursday, October 15, 2015

Mandapam Beach, Rameswaram

Mandapam Beach, Rameswaram
Mandapam Beach is located in Mandapam which is the main land that links the Island of Rameswaram. Rameswaram being one of the Char Dhams of Hinduism is greatly visited by the pilgrims and so also the Mandapam beach. This beach is a Gateway to many small islands. It is a quiet beach with long stretches of sand. This beach comes under the Remand district of Tamil Nadu.
Most of the Pilgrims also love to spend hours on this beach as this beach is home to peaceful and serene beauty. The natural coral reefs in Mandapam are another tourist attraction. Both the foreign and domestic tourists visit this place for seeing the unique coral reef formation lying below the water surface. Beach Park in Mandapam is located at 9°16'54.6"N 79°11'05.7"E or 9.281835, 79.184907.


Best known for its scenic beauty and the coral reefs, the Mandapam Beach is one of the best place for both the foreign and the domestic tourists, who love a calm atmosphere. The place also has the facility of boat riding. The Mandapam beach also has an amusement park to keep the children engaged. One of the key amusements is the glass bottomed boats run by the forest department, which allows the tourists to see the reefs under the water clearly.
Activities
The recently-opened beach park at Mandapam, near here, has turned out to be a top tourist attraction of Rameswaram, thanks to its design and location. The park was established at a cost of Rs. 24.30 lakhs on 40 acres of land belonging to the Mandapam Special Village Panchayath. It was designed to meet the expectations of tourists, who were often disappointed over the inadequate tourist spots at Rameswaram.


The major attraction at the park is the children's swimming pool, just 50 metres off the sea. It has a spectacularly designed seahorse fountain, artificial coral reefs at the entrance and an artificially created starfish. This part, colorfully decorated artificial hillocks and play equipment do not fail to draw attract tourists of all age groups. The calm and gentle waters of Gulf of Mannar scintillate those visiting the park.




An evening walk along the beachfront is said to be one of the most satisfying experience by many. The Beach park has slides, swings and see-saws where children can come and enjoy. Benches and Porticoes are present in the park where older people can rest when taking in the sea wind. Though the park is bordered on the South by the Sea, it is not advisable to venture to the shores due to the presence of slippery rocks there. Recently All Terrain Vehicles are being given for rent in the park for tourists to ride around the park. Mandapam Beach Park is a recreational park managed by the Panchayath of Mandapam. This park is located on the Kochi Dhanushkodi road, 4.2 km east of the Mandapam Railway Station.
Mandapam Beach Park not only offers you fabulous views of the sparkling ocean; it also offers a stunning view of the elegant Pamban road bridge and the rail bridge, which is over 80 years old. The park, which extends over 40 acres, is a place where children will have loads of fun.
There are colorfully decorated hillocks and play equipment too, making it a delightful place for kids to frolic. There is a fabulously designed seahorse fountain, artificial coral reefs at the entrance and an artificially created starfish – the marine theme never lets you forget how close you are to the sea and all its spectacular beauty!



The beach, fringed by emerald coconut palms, is the ideal place to enjoy a quiet sojourn tanning you in the sun whilst listening to the splash of the waves lapping the golden sands. If you are lucky you may see dolphins frolicking in the sea. Crabs scurry along on the seashore and you could also glimpse sea cucumber, algae and sea cows.
What you must do when you are at Mandapam Beach is take a ride in the glass-bottomed boats operated by the Forest Department. It’s a surreal experience and you get to see the beautiful coral reef formations underwater. If you are into surfing, you could enjoy skimming the waves here.
The place is also more enjoyed with the activities like boat riding. The local fishing communities can facilitate the travelers for a smooth boat ride. Seeing the local fishermen community and studying their life style is another attraction for the tourists at Mandapam.
It is a great place for the children to spend their Sundays. People also love to take a beach walk on the beachfront which engages the visitors during the evening hours.
Connectivity
As Mandapam is a city in Tamil Nadu, one can find buses from Chennai and Madurai to Mandapam. One can also hire taxis and cabs from Madurai to reach Mandapam. Madurai is only 150km away from this place and it can be reached by rail road. There are also rail routes from Chennai to Mandapam. It takes around 9 hrs to reach Mandapam by train if one starts from Chennai.