The district is home to the pilgrimage centre of Rameswaram and tourist spot Dhanushkodi, an abandoned town.

In 1741, the area came under the control of the Marattas and then under the Nizam in 1744, Nawab's rule made displeasure in the mind of those chieftains.

After the passing of Queen, the Marudhu Brothers took the charge by paying regular revenue to the East India company.

Colonel Agnew captured Marudhu Brothers and hanged them and made Gowri Vallbah Periya Udaya Thevar as Zamindar of Sivaganga.

Most of the area is covered by the unconsolidated sediments of the Quaternary age except in the northwestern part, where isolated patches of Archaean crystallines and Tertiary sandstone are exposed.

A major part of the district is covered with the fluvial, fluvio-marine, Aeolian and marine sediments of Quaternary age.

The fluvial deposits which are made up of sand, silt and clay in varying degree of admixture occur along the active channels of Vaigai, Gundar, Manimuthar and Pambar rivers.

In Rameswaram Island also brown sand deposits occur around Sambaimadam on either side of NH 49 west of the town.

The marine formation comprises coastal plain deposits of sand and clay in varied proportions.

Marine calcareous hardpan occurs as low terraces and platforms, with admixture of quartz, limonite and garnet concentration.

According to 2011 census, Ramanathapuram district had a population of 1,353,445 with a sex-ratio of 983 females for every 1,000 males, much above the national average of 929.

The IUCN Commission on National Parks and WWF, identified the Reserve as being an area of "Particulars concern" given its diversity and special multiple-use management status.

In addition, as the first marine biosphere reserve declared in India, this area has long been a national priority.

The Gulf of Mannar and its 3,600 species of flora and fauna is one of the biologically richest coastal regions in all of the mainland of India.

It is equally rich in sea-algae, sea grasses, coral reef pearl banks, fin and shellfish resources, mangroves, and endemic and endangered species.

In the crevices, these sponges are found with many animals, ranging from tiny crabs and brittle star to bivalve molluscs.

[14][15] It is primarily grown in the Ramanathapuram district's Tiruvadanai, Mudukulathur, Kadaladi, RS Mangalam and Kamuthi taluks.