Due to a minor mishap, our arrival in Rameswaram was delayed by almost 5 hours.
Reaching Rameswaram at around 12 noon, we checked into our hotel, ordered food and had a bit of rest since my parents were tired by the night long journey.
The hotel was really good, just 5 minutes walking distance from the Ramanathaswamy Temple.
One could also see the sea from higher floors.
The in-house food was also very good and tasty.
Later in the evening we visited the Ramanathaswamy Temple.
One of the grandest Shiva temple in India, is simply stunning. Due to security restrictions mobile phones and cameras are banned inside the temple premises now, so we could not capture the beauty of the temple. But one google search and you will know what a grandeur Rameswaram temple is.
One among the 12 holy Jyotirlingas, Rameswaram is a major pilgrim town.
Paying our reverence to Lord Shiva, we visited the Rameswaram beach and enjoyed some really nice Vadas and coconut water by the beach. Being a fishing town, there were a lot of fishing boats docked at the harbor.
One can also shop for local handicrafts at the shops adjoining the beach and the temple.
We later roamed around the town in search of local cuisine, and found a really nice place offering thalis for dinner in just ₹70 per person. (I do not remember the name the hotel, but it is nearby to the temple, Also there are many small hotels you can try) .
The next day, we had to cover a lot of places and just had half a day.
Early morning we began our road trip towards Dhanushkodi. It was raining the earlier night, so we were sceptical about the weather, but this morning it was a clear sunny day and we were happy.
One can easily hire a rickshaw(3 seater/6 seater) or a van or a local car for a trip to Dhanushkodi. Bargain with the rickshaw-wallah or car rental as they tend to quote a very high price.
It takes about an hour to reach Dhanushkodi from Rameswaram town.
The view enroute is simply stunning. (follow me on Instagram @indiatrotter_prachi, to see the video on my road trip). Sea waves crashing on either sides of a well constructed National Highway, wind blowing, just amp up your favourite song and enjoy the ride.
The journey itself is worth all the hassles to reach the southernmost part of India and the destination is all the more awesome.
On reaching Dhanushkodi end point, the view of Bay of Bengal on one side and Indian Ocean on the other, leaves you speechless.
The windy beachfront, is clean and not much crowded.
One can also shop for handicrafts at the shops lining the beach.
You will also visit the abandoned ghost town of Dhanushkodi, the village which completely destroyed by tsunami.
There are just some ruins remaining now.
After enjoying the Dhanushkodi islands, we returned to Rameswaram to visit the Pamban bridge.
An engineering marvel, the bridge was the longest bridge of India since it's construction in 1964 to 2010.
Also we visited the Villoondi Theertham.
Legend has it that this was created when lord Rama shot an arrow to get fresh water from the sea to quench his wife Sita’s thirst. A long platform leads you to this holy well and it is magical to walk on it as you see the sea from both the sides. The water in the well is quite mysteriously sweet in spite of being surrounded by salt sea water all around and devotees believe it will do them good if they take a sip of this holy water. Truly one is amazed how the water can be sweet.
Next we visited the APJ Abdul Kalam Memorial.
India's beloved president was born in the town of Rameswaram. Hence a memorial stands here in his name, where we can see his famous accomplishments, his personal items, a short documentary on his life and much more.
A visit to this place leaves you highly inspired.
This was the end of our day.
After lunch we boarded reached the Rameswaram railway station to board our train to Madurai.
The train will travel from the iconic Pamban bridge.
This was one of the items in my bucket list - travelling in a train atop the Pamban bridge.
There are just 4-5 trains which travel from the famous bridge, so book your ticket in advance.
Do visit the Rameswaram island for some peace, serenity and fun!
The best time to visit Rameswaram is from October to April. The Monsoons (July to September) are humid with average rainfalls, but, the scenic view of the coastal region during these months is enjoyable, that is when we visited this place!
The roads are well maintained, nearest airport is Madurai.
#happytravel