Scared strolls: "Rameshwaram to Varanasi" Part-1

 A Glimpse of the Experience

Some Journeys teaches us so many things and some journeys makes people close together and gives us a  wonderful and divine experience that makes our journey wonderful and creates some beautiful memories that makes us happy. A journey is not only about joy, fun or memories it is rediscovering yourself and finding new things in "WAY OF LIFE" 

  Today I want to share a beautiful journey where I learnt so many things and created a lot of happy memories with my family. A Family trip Rameshwaram to Varanasi before telling my experience. I want to share a small story that how we started this journey you can actually guess it is started by my MOM to explain this clearly we have to go past 2022(JAN) where my family started to discuss about journey to Rameshwaram that once we have to go in our life and experience it.

   So we started to discussing booking the train tickets to our trip. Where we booked the train tickets 3 months in advance. And our journey is set in April with stopping destinations of "Madurai, Rameshwaram and Chennai". So totally it is a 5-day trip that given me so many happy memories.

              So My fellow readers grab your "coffee or snacks" and drive into my journey where I will  share my experience and new things and my first time experiences that I learned through out the trip.

Day 1: Arrival in Madurai – The City of Temples

  So my first stop is Madurai we reached Madurai by train this place holds a special memory in my heart from my childhood. I want to visit this place and the temple. where I listened so many stories about the temple and this architecture, culture and it has a unique energy. So we reached our room and taken some rest and got ready to go Meenakshi amma temple and taken some photos with my family specially with my sis we wore a traditional dress so we taken a good photo for our happiness. As we started to enter the temple. 

      I can see the there are four gate entrance like four gates like North, south, East and West gate entrance and south gate entrance is bigger one. And There are 14 Gopurams in total, but the Southern Gopuram is the tallest and biggest one. we taken a special ticket and we are moving in queue and at last we have a dharshan of Meenakshi amma and it is sacred view that we can't forget. And the architecture and sculpture of the idols were stoned in pillars and tells the history of the temple and the beauty.

And in the evening where my sister and me scrolling in the streets near to the temple and it bought me some memories of my favorite movie ARJUN (Mahesh babu) movie and a lot of scenes shot here and the filmmakers taken the Meenakshi Amma temple architecture as a reference for the climax of the movie

Day 2: Exploring Madurai

 On Day- 2 we started to explore another places In Madurai like we have almost 5-6 places to visit. so we taken a tour bus to visit all that place and my first destination Thirumalai Nayakkar Palace and it is nice to taken good photos and videos and it give a feeling of Charminar vibes and next we went to Gandhi Memorial Museum , Mariamman Teppakulam (river) and next place is Alagar Koyil this temple is located about 20 km from Madurai and this temple is for lord Vishnu and while we are traveling to this place we can see small type of forest and quiet good scenery to watch.

 

               At last we went to Sri Subramanya Swamy Temple this place near to Alagar koyil and we can see a breathtaking scenery of Madhuri every where we can see large plants and trees and gives a  peace full moments to you.

        By here we completed the Madurai and near places of Madurai and we started our main journey to Rameshwaram.         

        

Day 3: On the Road to Rameswaram – "Crossing the Pamban Bridge"

        On Day-2 night we left Madurai and took our train to Rameshwaram. It is one of the greatest experience in my life and everyone have to experience it and. We started our journey towards Rameshwaram and in the middle we need to cross Pamban bridge to reach there. And I have no words how to express my feeling it is quiet exciting and thrilling experience that we are in train and it travelling on bridge and down you can see the sea. And it is quiet authentic experience at last we reached our Hotel and it is raining heavily we took some rest.

On Day-3 Morning I woke up in excitement and our family went to Sea side(Bay of Bengal) to take a holy dip in sea. And this is the first to see the sea and still it is in my memory. As far as I could see, there was only water, and very far I could spot there are so many ships sailing and the cool breeze carried the sound of the waves gently crashing on the shore. It was a magical experience that I’ll always remember. And we started towards the temple.

Exploring the 22 Sacred Wells in Rameswaram

              We hired one guide person to help us and tells the significance of the wells and the history there are total 22 wells are there. As we moved from one well to another well guide explained each and every thing about the well. and there are SEVEN most important wells are there Agni Theertham, Surya Theertham, Chandra Theertham, Vishnu Theertham, Brahma Theertham, Sankara Theertham, and Rama Theertham. And we have to talk about especially about Rama Theertham the water in this well is sweet and considered pure, unlike the others that have salty water. it is quiet historic one "even over Bay of Bengal ocean is salty how come Rama Theertham has normal water very mysterious thing".

          After taking the dip of 22 wells of holy water in Rameshwaram we moved towards the main temple for dharshan and it good experience and it went well.

Evening ship Ride in Rameswaram 

      As I told you at the starting of my blog there are so many first-time experience are there here comes "My first ship ride in Bay of Bengal" and it is my first time riding in ship and I can see the view of sea there are so many ships are around there and it is a 40 min ship ride and it started to move in sea and nowhere in middle and rain started pouring but still we got a good view and we taken so many photos and videos. For some time it went like I don't want to go back just stay there and watch the Sunset and the cool breeze of wind and sound of the shores it is unforgettable memory and my ship come to end and we went back to our hotel to take some rest.

Day 4: Rameswaram and Dhanush Kodi – A Day of History and Beauty  

     At early morning we went to "Spatika Linga Darshan" and it is crystal lingam located in temple. And we can have dharshan at early mornings only (6:00-7:00) I think and we completed our dharshan 2nd time and had some break fast and started to explore nearby places like Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam House, Panchamuki Hanuman Temple, Agni Theertham, Rama Theertham, Pamban Bridge, Sri Aadhi Jagantha Permul Temple, Vibhishana Theertham (Kothandaramaswamy Temple), Mandapam, Ramanathapuram, Villoondi Tirtham, and Satchi Hanuman Temple. And these are nearby places to explore and especially Abdul kalam museum we can see his achievements all those things 

    

             Dhanush Kodi is called a "The end of the road" and we can see stunning views of Bay of Bengal and Indian ocean and it connects our Hindu mythology where we believe that Sri Rama has built Rama setu to Sri Lanka in search of Sita mayaa and by using telescope we can see the Sri Lanka and it is located just about 18 miles (around 30 kilometers) across the Palk Strait. And it is a interesting scenic experience to see another country from edge of the India. We can get a beach  experience and for photos it is great view. 

                And last we reached a hotel at evening and had some snacks and strolled in streets of Rameshwaram. Where we can see the number of different shops and we can find accessories like bags, pattu sarees, and other things. we have hundred of shops for shopping. The streets often filled with local vendors and devotees and it give a spiritual experience and where temple also have 4 entrances like North, South, East, West and each and every entrance architecture had unique vibe and tells the history of the city and story of the temple.

       As the last day in Rameshwaram I spent my time happily and peaceful and got a lot of spiritual and first time experiences.

Day 5: Chennai Awaits – Wrapping Up the Journey

    On Day-5 early morning we wrapped our journey in Rameshwaram and started our journey to Chennai and I am quite excited to see and explore authentic Chennai city. At last we reached Chennai and kept our luggage in train clock room and got freshen up and we took cab to Mahabalipuram. It is a one heritage place to visit near Chennai and you can spot a different styles of architecture that sculptured on stones like Varaha Cave Temple, and our first stop is Shore temple, and it is has some nice views and We then explored the Pancha Rathas, Shore Temple, Arjuna’s Penance, Krishna’s Butterball, Cave Temples, and Descent of the Ganges.

    

Then we spend some good in Mahabalipuram beach and taken some photos with my family and this is my second beach in the trip and I am quiet started to like beaches. and afternoon we went to water park and had some rides. Here our trip is completed and we didn't explored the much Chennai due to less time and our time is scheduled on that night so we reached station and had some dinner and my family completed 5-day journey of Rameshwaram.

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             This Wraps up Part 1 of journey Rameshwaram and filled with beautiful and spiritual experience and beautiful landscape Now, I’m heading to Kashi (Varanasi) for Part 2, eager to explore its ancient ghats, temples, and the sacred Ganges River. Stay tuned!