Travelogue on Rameswaram & Dhanushkodi Journey

The moment when happiest and saddest day joins together is something different. April 14 of the year 2017 was such a day. The day shared the specialty when Vishu and good Friday joins together. But the day was very special to our family in another manner,we were starting journey to a holy place,the historical place Rameswaram and historical place Dhanushkodi . My favorite people were there on journey. The best companion Kiran, Amma, Girijamma, Hima chechi, Emerson chettan and little Vasu. Loved the journey a lot as it was much pretty . It was the longest journey in our new car.

The journey began at 7.45 AM. We were carrying the tasty, healthy and delicious food prepared by Girijamma. With the rhythm of FM music and honey voice of family, the red beauty start to roll. The prayer songs were enlightened and blessed the journey from outside. Trip was via Kumaly, enjoying the beauty of nature.

We gave the food for our vehicle from the very nearest pump in our route. Hima chechi was little tired because of her long journey issues. Everybody else were fine. Blessing songs of 'Way of cross' , beauty of yellow 'kanikkonna poovu', nature's murmur, made me happier and made the journey happiest. 

On the way, there were so many attracting things beside the road. A few interesting houses, well structured buildings, road side parks, the route was via the administrative headquarters of Ernakulam distrct, Kakkand. 

Most of the shops were closed on the path and road was
relatively free. Had a cup of tea from 'Vaziyoram' restaurant at Mundakkayam. Met a few foreigners there. It was the first break zone in the trip. Had to wait there for some time to taste a hot tea. Since it was a festival day, there were nothing else for us to have. But we had fueled our body with fruits and tasty Iddly. 

Journey continued via the land of famous  writer / novalist Vaikam Muhammed Basheer - Thalayola parabu. Then my friend Sreeja's place - Pala.Thus we reached Kumaly via Kuttikanam through Kanjirappally and Mundakkayam ( Which is known as eastern end of Kottayam district). Kuttikkanam brought me to the memories of sweet collage days. The entrance to the 'Misty Mountain' plantation resort gave back the chill of college days with Reshma, Soney, Lakshmi, Saranya, Deepthy, Geethu and every dear ones in SNMIMT. We got a distant view of Kuttikanam Marian college. For the first time in life, met the land known as Periyar. Periyar Tiger trail in Thekkady is on the route. It is the land of chocolates and tea plantation. as the same is area of spice.

Photographer: Kiran Kumar

Continued the journey via the route Kumbum - Theni. Heavy long water pipelines were there on the road side. So many grape plantations, coconut farms also were there. Saw ox, horse and donkey at road side. Saw a water fall without flow of water :)
Kambam, is a town and municipality in Theni district, and is a valley, surrounded by hills. Crossed the Kerala - Tamilnadu district via Chelimada. The area distinguishes two districts very clearly. Kumaly is the border town between Kerala and Tamilnadu. The traffic raised on the road when reached Tamilnadu district. Kumbum is famous for its coconut and cardamom trading market in the south side the famous tourist place Thekkady exists. Got a clear idea of route since was sitting in the front left side of the vehicle. Kumaly is the largest grama panchayat in Kerala, which is the gateway to Thekkadi, and the spice capital  of Kerala.

Photographer: Kiran Kumar

The time was literally flying. Stomach started to inform us the feeling of hunger. We tried to find a tree shade just close to road and away from crowd. Found so many tree shades  in natural beautiful setting, but none were fine enough to camp and have lunch. We have postponed so many spots for lunch because of that holy region, even they are much prettier. Thus around 2 to 2:30 found a spot on Kumbum Theni route.

The veg biriyani turned stale by this time, but chappathi and Iddly were enough for us. Capturing the natural beauty, the team had lunch. Probably it was my first lunch without rice and we prepared fruit salad and Kerala Sambharam . We could see coconut farm at one side and long view of hill at another side. Tender coconut was the dominant produce on this particular farm. We could see so many temples on the road side as well as across the horizon.  Hima chechi took some photos, while Kiran dozed off as he was tired due to the long drive. Later we had fruit salad and lots of water to rejuvenate ourselves.Again get into the car and started to travel. 

Photographer: Kiran Kumar

There were so many wind mills in the open region. Mechanical energy from wind is converting to electrical energy. So many large white 3 fan windmill were there in open area. Everybody says Tamilnadu is not having much water or electricity. So these white mills might be their angels.
There are lot of open land where the fruits and vegetable cultivating for everybody including, we the Keralites. But those land seems like too dry, might be because of unavailability of water and heavy temperature from sun.

Photographer: Kiran Kumar

Continued the journey with word fights, lovely quotes, little vasu's sweet calls. Along with our journey sun was moving from eastern side to southern side. The only bad thing i could see is two wheeler riders are not wearing helmet and vigorously changing the direction just on spot. There was a chance for an accident with our car a scooter. But god's grace nothing happened and smoothly move on.

The whole journey was with the support of google map. Big salute for Lars Rasmussen and team, as such they gifted us the google map. We have missed the shortest path to Madhura from Kumaly, once we switch off the google map. Then again requested technology's help and reached the highway via Madhura. Since it was public holiday the road was relatively less crowded. As per the advice from a pedestrian, it might be too traffic.Then saw a temple at Madhura ( Not meeenakshi temple), which would be in a large pond. But it was too dry. So many people were playing cricket / football / badminton in the pond haha :)

On the way we could see a rail, which would carry the train Ernakumal to Dhanushkodi which runs on Sunday evenings. We have stopped our vehicle at a pump for some urgency case. The pump keeper was complaining us that government is ignoring him and all. They are very friendly. At the other side of the road, at a distance we could see a reddish sun who is ready to say good bye to the day. Saying bye to the pump keeper, we have continued the journey. Chit chat, fun, discussion, science v/s believes so many topics made our journey active. Google map turned into black back the nature too. The vehicles lightened and followed vehicles one by one. In between a bike rider hijacked our ride a fight self and then gave the route back to us and again reached front and fade somewhere.

Then reached Pamban bridge. A long bridge over sea which connects the holy land - Rameswaram. So many people were there over the bridge. Selfies and shots. The bridge spans a 2 km strait between the Indian mainland and Pamban island. While my 10th class Hindi book, in the chapter 'Agni ki Udan', learned that the bridge was damaged during the 1964 Rameswaram cyclone and required repair work. And the same is a historical bridge as It is India's first sea bridge.

Photographer: Kiran Kumar

The time was about 7-8 night. The next mission was to find a hotel. Since we wished to get a hotel near the temple we didn't try to get help from online hotel booking. Reached a pink painted hotel. Kiran and his brother in law step down and received details.Then tried to get another hotel and reached closer to temple and found Devaki home stay. The spend the time there.Got into rooms. An average hotel with good ad friendly hosting. The day one is almost done. Got up at early morning. We all 7 went to temple. The great Rameswaram temple. Probably the first time, getting into premises of a temple without taking bath, Since we have to take 22 baths at holy water. White dressed team were giving us support for easy flow.

The temple is so superb. A golden pained largest building in the area. The construction and design is so superb.Like all ancient temples in South India, there is a high compound wall  on all four sides of the temple premises measuring about 865 feet furlong from east to west and one furlong of 657 feet from north to south with huge towers  to the east and the west and finished gate towers to the north and south. The temple has striking long corridors in its interior, running between huge colonnades on platforms above five feet high.

There are sixty-four holy water bodies in and around the island of Rameswaram.Bathing in these Tīrthas is a major aspect of the pilgrimage to Rameswaram and is considered equivalent to penance. Twenty-two of the Tīrthas are within the Temple.The number 22 indicates the 22 arrows in Rama's quiver. We took bath in these 22 holy water. Photography is completely restricted inside the compound. So we ddnt took camera / phone. All inside pictures from temple in this write up are from official website of the temple. 

So happy for the day. The best thing is there was my favorite family at one side and my favorite God at another side.  'Ramanathaswamy' literally means 'the Master of Rama' which refers to Lord Shiva, which the temple is all about.There are two 'lingam' inside the temple; 'Ramalingam' by Devi Sita built by sand and 'Viswalingam' brought by Lord Hanuman from Kailasha and installed by Lord Rama. Temple tanks, hall of 1000 pillars, and several other shrines in the temple attract millions of pilgrims every year, especially during Maha Shivratri. Basically 3 walls surround the core of temple. Outside wall carved with so super colorful structure. All inside wells are at this portion. The second one is completed on stone.  There is a slop cum step made up of wood that allow people to get into third wall, where there is almighty God lives. The culture is something different there. At one end there is a culture of touching truck of a cute elephant over the head. At another end the of brown bowl of bell. There is so many idol. really holy land. There are lot of cows surrounding freely. We went outside at about 8-9. I have collected some soil from the area. Reached back to hotel with bundle of memories.

Had a bath there. Felt some sad on washing out the holy waster from the body. But have to do. The dress up and get ready to go to Dhanushkodi. I wore my self designed new dress stitched by Nisha chechi. Kiran was also in his new dress. Amma and mother in law was in match. Hima chechi & family were colored in red. 

Then got into a truck. Went to Dhanushkodi, the land of history. Simon chettan lead us with good support and knowledge. He told history behind each and every points. 

The initial portion of route was normal as normal road. Both sides of road were providing shades of green trees. As proceed and at a point, he told that from this portion to Dhanushkodi end, no electricity or water connection. Might be due to the reason could not see any house.  i cant believe an area without electricity.  He told 

that the road is maintained for Navy and will leave to the end point of Dhanushkodi. There is a barrier line for private vehicles. Simon bro took a deviation through sand. He checked the air tightness of the truck and continued the journey. There was a way in that sand region too because of continuous driving of such trucks. The area smells the feeling of a destruction. So many destroyed buildings, boats were the on the region.

We could see a school. Probably a single school. Surrounded with a small wall. So many huts and tourists were there. Again the journey. He told that after 6 PM, water will get into the region through which our truck travels. Reached the banks of bay of Bengal.  Due to leg pain, Amma didn't get down at that part. Everybody else did. A blue shaded water. As i learned in lower classes, A clear cloudless day-time sea is blue because molecules in the air scatter blue light from the sun more than they scatter red light. Took lot of pictures. First time in life, touching the water in a bay. We have purchased some items made up of shells. So so so so much clear sky and sea. No scarcity of vitamin D in the  region :P I felt like reached somewhere very special. The bay is calm. Simon chettan told that it was more calmer and lost some factor of identity due to the construction of navy road. Still it is a pleasant place so that attracts so many pilgrimages. 

Then back to truck. Visited church area. The representative of  1964 Rameswaram cyclone. Simon chettan told the effects of the cyclone were felt mostly in Pamban Island, which lies between the Indian mainland and Ceylon. More than 3000 people, many of them tourists and pilgrims, were stranded on the island. The total damage to property was estimated at $150 million.

There were a group of shallow less radius wells containing pure water. Could see so many people who are pouring water from the area. 





The most interesting thing is there was a net container so that collect plastic bottle and saving environment from pollution.  Then continued the journey back. 

We reached the the banks of Indian ocean. The third largest of the world's oceanic divisions. Its really blessing to touch my legs in the ocean water.It is bounded by Asia on the north, on the west by Africa, on the east by Australia, and on the south by the Southern Ocean or, depending on definition, by Antarctica. Then back to truck reached a temple on mid way. Kiran & me only step up to there and saw a priest who was sharing holy Ganga water. Then back to hotel and had lunch from Saravana Bhavan. Tasty and delicious vegetable lunch. The pack up from Devaki. Took pictures at Pamban bridge. It was shivering while heavy vehicles move on. Train was also there over the bridge.

Tried to stay at Madhura and visit Menakshi temple. But unfortunately , since the crowd was uncontrollable , we could not park find any good hotel there. Decided to abandon the temple visit. Instead we have move forward. Had Vegetable fried rice as dinner from Annapoorna. Second day was ending with Andakshari, the usual play of a travel. Stayed at  Dindigul an awesome Rockfort Hotel. 

 Even we wished to get up early and start third day journey early, we could not. Slept up to 7 and got ready at 9. Started the travel again. It was almost inside the car. In between had guava , water melon and breakfast too. Return was via Odanchatram - Ambilikkai - Dharma puram - Palakkad - Thrissur  . Team could find shortest route within this way. Had an hour of block. How ever via the village roads entered into NH and continued.

Finally, at about 5.45, we reached the heaven on earth - our home. We had an economical as well as enjoyable trip, which is going to keep a warm memories inside the heart. Nothing in this world is more precious to me than the innocent smile of my family. 3 days passed like 3 hours. Waiting for the next moment maker. Till then bye bye :) :)