The memorial constructed for Swami Vivekananda in this southern coastal town is really a marvelous monument. This is a noble structure being built on the pristine shores of Pamban island in Ramanathapuram district of Tamil Nadu. The magnificent memorial is said to have built by the Tamil Nadu Government at a cost of Rs one Crore near the Gulf of Mannar. The elegant architectural and sculptural works performed on the memorial are enough to transform the location as one of the topmost tourist destinations in Rameswaram island.
The spectacular monument site houses a life-size statue of the spiritual personality, a photo gallery showcasing the life history Swami Vivekananda and also a meditation hall where acute tranquility is being maintained. Besides, there are proposals to start boat services in the seawaters and set up fancy fountains to attract tourists to this eye-catching location. The elegant beach behind the colorful memorial is really a gift for tourism.
Swami Vivekananda’s association with this pilgrimage spot dated back to 1893. It was at this seashore town where Swami Vivekananda landed on his return after attending the World Religions convention at Chicago in 1893 and delivering a series of lectures in the US and England.
It is said that, the knowledge of Swami Vivekanda on the Holy Scriptures was impressed by, the then Ramanathapuram King Bhaskara Sethupathy, who asked him to take part in the all religions conference in Chicago, US, and deliver a speech. Accordingly, Swami Vivekananda had set sail to the US on May 31, 1893, and gave a historic speech to the global community glorifying India and the high points of its centuries old culture and civilization. After finishing up his four-year overseas visit, he reached the Pamban island on January 26, 1897.
The memorial, which highlights Swamiji’s visit to Rameswaram, was also an attempt to link his home state West Bengal with the southern most Tamil Nadu State in India. The memorial constructed at the historic place is expected to propagate Swami Vivekananda’s message of ‘service to the poor’ to the tourists arriving here for ever.

Video on the Swami Vivekananda memorial in Rameswaram