So far as we are able to share nothing has been left undone, either by man or nature, to make India the country with most enchanting landscapes. Its so awesome how the landscapes changes from grainy coastlines to the lush green hills in a drive of 7-8 hrs ? Sounds great right? It did the same to us and we created one such itinerary for our Diwali trip. The idea of exploring the virgin beaches and the tranquil hills all in one trip got us pretty much excited.
Diwali- A festival we all love
So in this blog we will take you back in time, through the places that we explored. Trust me witnessing the places in person and then connecting to the mythological stories we’ve been hearing since our childhood feels so better and nostalgic too.
Lets get started! Pamban Island- An Island meant for True Explorers!
–Written by Sukirti
Before the Diwali weekend, we left from Bengaluru in our car. Its a 10 hours drive so we left early in the morning. We took a small pause finally to capture some pictures after reaching near Pamban Bridge. It lies above the blue ocean with the Indian mainland in the distance.
Until 1988, when the road bridge parallel to it was built, Pamban bridge (sea bridge in below picture) was the only surface transport connecting Pamban Island to the Indian mainland. Now we can say that, we drove on the roads floating over the sea as well.
After crossing the bridge (road one) we reached our hotel in Rameswaram. It is one of the famous Char Dhams of India, standing alone in the sea between India and Sri Lanka. Since our bodies were quite stiff and tired we took rest that day. Ordered some evening snacks with tea in the room itself and the day was ended having a nearby walk.
Ruined Seashores:
1960s
Back in 1960s, there is something both eerie and striking about such abandoned places. Whether it was ruins of church, remains of the railway track, or a village overtaken by sand dunes on the coast Indian Ocean. Standing at the last land, where before me, many moons ago a whole town thrived.
Day 1:
It was our first Diwali when we were not home. Somewhere in an island which was quite away from the home for sure, it was a different but good feeling. So as the day started, we were off on a drive to the India’s International border with Sri Lanka. It was the first time when I drove the car under a radiant blue sky, surrounded on three sides by equally radiant blue oceans waters.
Dhanushkodi- a tiny patch where land, sea and sky meet. Also where one of the Hindu mythology’s most significant event took place. It is the also known as the last land of India.
Across the ocean is Sri Lanka & the legendary Ram-Setu, A selfie with a concrete pillar topped with a replica of Ashoka the emblem of the Republic of India stands sentry at land’s end (extreme right)
Driving ahead, we reached the end of the strip of land. With the Bay of Bengal to our left, Gulf of Mannar straight ahead, and the Arabian Sea to our right, the view was spectacular. As we captured some pictures while sitting there, sharing some of them below.
Feeling the cool wind whipping our hair, the taste of salt on our lips, for a moment, time stood still. This was what sitting at the India’s southernmost point or border looks and feels like.
A Lil read about Ram-Setu:
Ram Setu was all about a limestone trail. It used to connect Pamban Island (Rameswaram) to the Mannar Island off the coast of Sri Lanka. How? Lets find out that, from what we explored there actually.
But first, Let’s take a short dive in the History & story of Ram-Setu:
The structure has a great significance in Hindu Mythological beliefs. Lord Rama, hero of the epic Ramayana and the 7th avatar of the god Vishnu. He built a bridge with the help of his army of monkeys across the Gulf of Mannar into Ravana’s Lanka. It was made to rescue Maa Sita (his wife) from the demon’s clutches. Although its hard to believe that an army of monkeys could actually build a bridge, that too over a sea! As per some experts that bridge constructed from India to Sri Lanka still exist but it is completely submerged in the sea.
I personally don’t believe in Mythology so much, but my never ending love for history, stories and ancient times is also a truth. That made me curious enough to explore all these places, and stories that we’ve been hearing for so long.
The best part still remains the same, i.e the moments spent sitting on the last shore where the tides of the 2 different oceans were merging. (Bay of Bengal was much calm then the Indian Ocean’s high tide)
“When the silence is deafening and the beauty is overwhelming, you know you’ve found the perfect moment”.
Dhanushkodi- The Ghost Town
Coming back from the last point, we were wandering in the lost town of Dhaushkodi. It was all about haunted ruins of a church, a railway station, and a water tank amidst pristine sand dunes. All this got destroyed after the cyclone that took place in 1960s.
Look what happens with a love like that. It lights the whole sky.
area is far too prone to natural calamities.
When it is high tide, the sea water reaches the edges of the road, often submerging it completely, making it difficult to figure where the tarmac is. No wonder why the visitors are told to leave the island by 5 pm before high tide, and god forbid, another cyclone strikes maybe. The ruins looked so vintage on the seashore that we couldn’t wait to capture all that.
Around 4 in the afternoon we left from there, after having our dose of history, mythology, lost town ruins, sun, sea and sand.
Reached back to the hotel and took rest for the day, after absorbing too much of sun rays and light in those wide and open roads amidst the oceans. Also life with migraines gets a bit tough after too much sun and light exposures in a row.
Day 2:
Ramanathaswamy (Jyotirlinga) Temple:
Since no trip to Rameswaram is complete without a visit at the famed Ramanathaswamy Temple. Here the story of Lord Rama continues after the Ram-Setu story that I shared above.
Although Ravana’s death marked the victory over truth, Joy over agony, but after killing Ravana who was a devotee of Lord Shiva, Lord Rama felt bad. And to get rid of this guilt, (sin of killing a Brahmin & a Shiva devotee) Lord Rama did worship and installed a Shiva linga on the shore of Rameshwaram to conduct a Pooja after he returned from Sri Lanka.
After that Ramanathaswamy Temple is built there. This temple is also known as one of the 12 Jyotirlinga temples dedicated to Lord Shiva with an architectural excellence. It has the longest corridors engraved with gods scriptures all over the pillars and ceilings.
What we can't imagine today
Our ancestors built centuries ago.
Insides of the Ramanathasway Temple,
with longest corridors.
Agnee Teertham (beach) We washed our feet in that first tirtha only, which was quite enough for us, as I don’t think we’ve done that much sins yet, hopefully! 😉
Pilgrims are supposed to douse themselves in 22 tirthas or water bodies to achieve penance. Although we visited the first tirtha outside the temple by the Bay of Bengal as rest 21 tirthas were inside the temple only. After washing our feet in the so called Holy water, we entered the main temple. Although photography is strictly prohibited inside, but I took just one picture, that I spared for a memory 🙂
Ramar Padam:
After a blissful visit to the main Jyotirlinga temple we had our breakfast. And then we left to visit the second temple of the day which was Ramar Padam.
It seemed a Quaint temple with some legendary claims for having the imprints of Lord Rama on an ancient stone. We can’t say whether they are actually the footprints of Lord Rama himself, but for sure it looked like a very ancient place with those ancient sculpture & walls that spoke a lot about the old times. The surrounding views were stunning with a Doordarshan tower looming above, one can witness from the terrace of that temple. I guess apathy of the govts has a large role to play here when it comes to the maintenance.
Panchmukhi Hanuman Temple & Floating Stones:
This was the third and the last temple that we visited after Ramar Padam. It also seemed quite ancient and significant one, visited by almost every devotees who come for a Rameshwaram Tour. After visiting there we got to know that in 1964, after the cyclone in Dhanuskhodi, the five-faced statue of Lord hanuman made from a single black stone was placed here.
Also the floating stones from the Ram-Setu bridge are kept here. Photography was strictly prohibited inside so we captured the outside part only. The best part is that all the 3 temples are very near to each other so it does not take much time to commute.
Finally the day came to an end, and we arrived back to our hotel. We really loved visiting the 3 main temples of this small pilgrimage town called Rameswaram.
Day 3:
Day 3 was already planned to visit the Memorials of our two favorite personalities. Both are our favorite human beings and such amazing souls. The experiences are always quite overwhelming and inspiring when we visit places like these.
Memorials that stands as a true tribute to the personalities that inspired several generations
Those life replicas of Kalam sir kept inside make you feel like he is actually standing there and watching us with his modest eyes. I can never forget that humble face ever after that visit.
One can witness all his achievements, certificates, even his personal belongings till the time he took his last breath. All that is well kept there. There is a tour where we can see the life size replicas of Kalam sir in his various life scenarios since his childhood to his meetings with the US president, and his last lecture at IIM Shillong’s stage, where he collapsed. All incidents are so well presented it seems like they are talking to us loud. His grave occupy the center of the hall.
Phew! With a heavy heart and watery eyes we took an exit from there and went to have some lunch since it was late afternoon by then.
Lastly, after the lunch, we visited Swami Vivekananda Memorial. (an Indian Hindu monk & chief disciple of 19th century’s saint Ramakrishna Paramhans) It is situated on the shore of Kunthukal beach. The museum commemorates the return of Swami Vivekananda to Rameswaram from USA. After delivering his speech at the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago in 1987. The lofty building with the background of the calm sea initially got our attention and we totally loved our visit here.
The memorial building is painted in bright orange and white domes on the top. The life history of Swamiji is shown through the photo posters inside the hall. A huge life size golden sculpture occupies the prime spot. There was a meditation hall where we sat for some time and felt the calm vibes.
After that we visited the Kunthukal beach situated just behind the memorial building. Gentle waves and beautiful views were enough for us to spend a blissful evening. This was the beautiful end to our day 3 and last day of the Rameswaram trip as well.
Day 4:
How we found an abode in the hills – Yercaud
After reclining on the gorgeous sandy beaches for last 3 days, the eerie faint echoes of the woods and jungles started calling us. And thats when we left for the hills. The route was going to be very interesting with 20 hairpin bends upwards the hill. So we started the drive with our favorite Lucky Ali’s tracks in the background that says exactly what we were feeling at that moment-
“दिल भी कहीं है पहाड़ों में…थोड़ा सा कहीं है किनारों में” and we istantly connected to these lines..
Those who wish to sing
-wise person
Always find a song
So this is an 8 hour drive from Rameswaram to Yercaud (a hill station in Tamil Nadu itself) where we booked a resort for next 2 nights.
There was some traffic initially while crossing Madurai city, and some more traffic around Salem city. Although the Salem-Yercaud loop road gives a very nice driving experience. When you drive up the mountain, and the hairpin bends start, view on the hills and the beautiful landscape opens wide. It was indeed a pleasure for Akshay to drive on those winding roads.
The temperature was dropping down considering a little higher altitude of the hilly destination. We reached Great Trails Yercaud around 2pm almost at lunch time.
The manager gave us a long tour of the resort after the check in formalities at the reception. It seemed a comfy setup amidst vast stretches of hills and coffee plantations overlooking the majestic valley all around it.
We booked a room with a beautiful view of infinity pool and greenery of the hills and valleys. Birds chirping all around during the early mornings from our room’s balcony is something I am gonna miss a lot.
The property has amenities like pool, gym, adventure games, an open terrace lounge with a spectacular view (Sky Rock) etc. The food buffet was quite good with variety of options. There was a skywalk with a glass flooring outside the lounge/bar, through which you can walk and feel the height of it, and feel a lil bit of thrill as well. I made Akshay walk through it too as he was reluctant initially due to the fear of heights. The view from there was a bit scary though, but it was fun and thrilling, so we walked through it together.
Overall we would say it’s a great place for a getaway or an after trip from the beach to get refresh amidst the tranquility of hills. Lastly I’ll just share a picture (that says it all) which I captured just after it got a bit dark after sunset while sitting at the balcony during our last night in the resort.
Nature.
Your reality is a manifestation of your thoughts and nature is a reflection of you. When you look at the sky, sunsets, and mountains you are really seeing yourself. Nature embraces us, and when we embrace nature, we embrace ourselves. Humans and Nature are one; made from Light, Love and Divine.
Traveliving Forever
Traveliving Together – It leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller
Such a beautiful description of the entire tour, pictures added icing on the cake.
Loved the way you potrayed it
Thanks Mona!! Glad you liked it.