The journey from Bangalore to Rameswaram (Tamil Nadu) is around 570 kms. We had planned to visit the Ramanathswamy temple which is known for being one of the twelve Jyotirlinga temple. We (Me and my friend) boarded the bus at late evening 8 pm from electronics city, Blr and reached the destination by next morning 7, thanks to the good road between these two cities which allows travelers to achieve time efficiency.
The bus dropped all it's last passengers at the main bus stand. The rick owners surrounded us immediately to take us to the temple and demanded a non-negotiable flat 100 Rs for a distance of 3 kms. We were in no mood to start the day on an extravagant note and we parted away bringing disappointment to their faces and headed into the local bus. We ended up saving 90 Rs as the ticket hardly costed Rs. 5 each - must say, pretty economical.
We quickly found ourselves in the TTDC hotel, a stone throw away from the temple. The hotel is spread on vast area facing the sea and houses many rooms catering to all types of travelers (budget to sea view).
After a quick freshen up, we headed to honor the various rules of the land, starting with taking a holy dip in the sea water (Agni Theertham) and continued our footsteps to the entrance of the temple, with water soaked clothes on. The entrance to the temple costs Rs. 25 each which also covers importantly a holy bath at each of the 22 wells (Tirthas and each having significance) within the temple premises. As we walked the path to the main deity, we soaked ourselves again at each well, from head to bottom with the sacred water that was splashed over us, out of the buckets drawn out from the well by the designated temple staff. It was a great experience which once our Mom blessed us with back in our childhood days. We had to dry ourselves in the hot sun before heading to the main deity as one is not allowed to meet the Lord in wet clothes. After waiting for our turn crossing a long line of devotees, the darshan of the Lord was a very pleasant experience.
We quickly found ourselves in the TTDC hotel, a stone throw away from the temple. The hotel is spread on vast area facing the sea and houses many rooms catering to all types of travelers (budget to sea view).
After a quick freshen up, we headed to honor the various rules of the land, starting with taking a holy dip in the sea water (Agni Theertham) and continued our footsteps to the entrance of the temple, with water soaked clothes on. The entrance to the temple costs Rs. 25 each which also covers importantly a holy bath at each of the 22 wells (Tirthas and each having significance) within the temple premises. As we walked the path to the main deity, we soaked ourselves again at each well, from head to bottom with the sacred water that was splashed over us, out of the buckets drawn out from the well by the designated temple staff. It was a great experience which once our Mom blessed us with back in our childhood days. We had to dry ourselves in the hot sun before heading to the main deity as one is not allowed to meet the Lord in wet clothes. After waiting for our turn crossing a long line of devotees, the darshan of the Lord was a very pleasant experience.
Finishing the temple visit, we decided to head on to Dhanushkodi, which is around 22-25 Kms away. We quickly hurried to our rooms and after decent amount of rest, we proceeded to catch the local town bus to Dhanushkodi. The ticket costed 11 Rs each, as usual worth the penny paid. The bus after covering a distance of around 5 Kms left behind the town of people and soon engulfed into a lonely dry deserted straight road until it reached the entrance to catch the glimpse of the sea (Indian Ocean) on the right side and a brown dried up sea bed and hiding the sea (Bay of Bengal) behind it far away, on the left side.
The bus came to a dead halt at the last stop, though the last tip of the land was another 3-4 kms ahead from that point and the road leading to it was also in a very good shape but the entry beyond that point was restricted. All the vehicles had to turn back from this point, as no vehicles were allowed beyond that point. We inquired and found that the road was constructed way three years back was supposed to be inaugurated by the PM of the country and until then the use of the road was banned. We got down from the bus at the stop and the whole stretch of this road hardly had any shops and if one wants to avoid making their stomach turn enemy, better replenish with good sufficient food back when in town. Carry good amount of water with you.
The bus came to a dead halt at the last stop, though the last tip of the land was another 3-4 kms ahead from that point and the road leading to it was also in a very good shape but the entry beyond that point was restricted. All the vehicles had to turn back from this point, as no vehicles were allowed beyond that point. We inquired and found that the road was constructed way three years back was supposed to be inaugurated by the PM of the country and until then the use of the road was banned. We got down from the bus at the stop and the whole stretch of this road hardly had any shops and if one wants to avoid making their stomach turn enemy, better replenish with good sufficient food back when in town. Carry good amount of water with you.
After finding one hawker a distance away who was serving a plate meal consisting of rice, rasam and with no choice of options we calmed down the hunger fire parting with 60 Rs each. Post lunch, we had to strike a deal with one of the van guys to reach Dhanushkodi, who took along a houseful of other visitors via the dried up sea bed and charged around Rs 150-180 per head. The Van (highly depreciated had reached its utility saturation point) started its journey towards the Bay of Bengal sea and pulled itself with great effort obeying its master's order on the dry bed and drove for around 5 kms. The Van driver indicated that due to lack of rain, the whole sea bed had dried up over the years and the sea too never tried to conquer this piece and had chosen to keep itself far away. On reaching, we were greeted by a bluish green sea (Bay of Bengal) who was lazing itself calmly and relaxing under the scorching sun and allowing some boats do their rounds. The beach was quite clean and scenic and one could spend decent time in the peaceful atmosphere (very sunny and hot though) with the friendly slow waves touching the feet with care, but the van driver had allotted only 30-45 minutes at this place so we had to soon bid goodbye to it and we continued our journey to the abandoned town in ruins. We were informed that the nearest point of Sri Lanka was just 30-35 kms away from this point and the famous Ram Sethu which once connected these two countries had chosen to hide itself deep down in the layer of the sea.
As we reached the ghost town we were explained about the presence of an old railway station which was destroyed way back in the 60s leaving hardly behind any traces of tracks, platform. A small temple nearby where one can catch the glimpse of the stones having properties to float in water. There were some thatched huts housing few localities who seem to live their life fishing and tourism dependent. Crossing the road to the other side, we found an old church beyond recognition facing the Indian Ocean sea. I was taken aback when I caught the glimpse of the clean blue sea. It was quite rough, roaring and lashing itself hard bashing its waves on the shore, as if challenging the Bay of Bengal to wake up. I immediately turned to the left to catch the sight of Bay of Bengal which continued to laze around. This sight of these two seas was certainly surprising - one being quite active and the other least bothered to react. The place is quite scenic and will transform one into a tranquil state as one rarely gets to be greeted by the two seas but the eerie feeling of the dead town does remind that the same natural beauty when in anger can swallow mankind in its fury. After spending some decent time, with a heavy heart and relaxed mind, we returned back to our hotel.
Back there, we decided for a evening stroll alongside the shore and were greeted by a soothing cool breeze which lifted our spirits up - A great way to end a tiring day.
The next day, we decided to head to Madurai to visit the famous Meenakshi temple, noticing that there was nothing much left to explore in Rameswaram. We cancelled our bus tickets to Bangalore for that evening and decided to catch the passenger train which left at 11:55 am as per google search. We reached the platform at 11:25 dot and to our dismay the train had just left the platform right at 11:20 as per its scheduled time. We realized that the train time wasn't updated in google yet.
We immediately headed to the bus station catching a nearby rick and were advised to get into an express non-stop bus to reach early and save time. We found a bus waiting to leave to Madurai and having a sticker of 1 - 2 - 3 on its glass shield, which meant that it would stop only at 2 main bus stations on its way until it reaches Madurai (3rd final stop) and would return back to 1 (Rameswaram) respectively.
The bus wasting no time swayed into its way and very soon reached the Pambam bridge which we had missed sleeping away on our journey the earlier day. As the bus put itself on the bridge, the place just looked like a wallpaper pasted out. I have no words to explain the jaw dropping sight. Wow, what a beautiful place to catch the sea standing on the tall bridge and soothing the eyes with serene clear and clean blue sea, just marvelous! Most of the vehicles including buses had parked themselves aside allowing the visitors to catch the glimpse of the wall paper and added to it, there was a train slowly passing by on the tracks and people just rushed to catch this amazing rare scene. Being an express bus and accustomed to such sights frequently, the bus just moved away showing no interest. I pinned this place for next time visit and wished the city goodbye for sharing some delightful moments.
As we reached the ghost town we were explained about the presence of an old railway station which was destroyed way back in the 60s leaving hardly behind any traces of tracks, platform. A small temple nearby where one can catch the glimpse of the stones having properties to float in water. There were some thatched huts housing few localities who seem to live their life fishing and tourism dependent. Crossing the road to the other side, we found an old church beyond recognition facing the Indian Ocean sea. I was taken aback when I caught the glimpse of the clean blue sea. It was quite rough, roaring and lashing itself hard bashing its waves on the shore, as if challenging the Bay of Bengal to wake up. I immediately turned to the left to catch the sight of Bay of Bengal which continued to laze around. This sight of these two seas was certainly surprising - one being quite active and the other least bothered to react. The place is quite scenic and will transform one into a tranquil state as one rarely gets to be greeted by the two seas but the eerie feeling of the dead town does remind that the same natural beauty when in anger can swallow mankind in its fury. After spending some decent time, with a heavy heart and relaxed mind, we returned back to our hotel.
Back there, we decided for a evening stroll alongside the shore and were greeted by a soothing cool breeze which lifted our spirits up - A great way to end a tiring day.
The next day, we decided to head to Madurai to visit the famous Meenakshi temple, noticing that there was nothing much left to explore in Rameswaram. We cancelled our bus tickets to Bangalore for that evening and decided to catch the passenger train which left at 11:55 am as per google search. We reached the platform at 11:25 dot and to our dismay the train had just left the platform right at 11:20 as per its scheduled time. We realized that the train time wasn't updated in google yet.
We immediately headed to the bus station catching a nearby rick and were advised to get into an express non-stop bus to reach early and save time. We found a bus waiting to leave to Madurai and having a sticker of 1 - 2 - 3 on its glass shield, which meant that it would stop only at 2 main bus stations on its way until it reaches Madurai (3rd final stop) and would return back to 1 (Rameswaram) respectively.
The bus wasting no time swayed into its way and very soon reached the Pambam bridge which we had missed sleeping away on our journey the earlier day. As the bus put itself on the bridge, the place just looked like a wallpaper pasted out. I have no words to explain the jaw dropping sight. Wow, what a beautiful place to catch the sea standing on the tall bridge and soothing the eyes with serene clear and clean blue sea, just marvelous! Most of the vehicles including buses had parked themselves aside allowing the visitors to catch the glimpse of the wall paper and added to it, there was a train slowly passing by on the tracks and people just rushed to catch this amazing rare scene. Being an express bus and accustomed to such sights frequently, the bus just moved away showing no interest. I pinned this place for next time visit and wished the city goodbye for sharing some delightful moments.
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