During my schooling, I never missed an excursion except the one
which was to the holy town Rameshwaram. Since then, it was lingering in my mind
that I must not miss to set foot on this mysterious island. The day finally
dawned, and here I am at the land known for Teertham, pristine beaches,
unabating fishermen dispute and a significant landmark in the Hindu mythology
of Ramayana.
Connecting the mainland from the island is the majestic Pamban
Bridge and the railway track, which are built across the sea stretching two kilometers.
The joy is ineffable when travelling on the train through the bridge with the
breathtaking view of the blue ocean.
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| View of the Pamban Bridge at dusk |
Pilgrims mostly from Northern India converge to this
historical site mainly to perform religious rituals, believing to be cleansed
of past sins and mistakes, as Rama did after battling the mighty Ravana. The
town reverberates with the chants of ‘Hare Ram’ throughout the year. But over enthusiastic
involvement in religion paves ways for manipulation and exploitation, which are
evident around the temple. Exorbitant prices in basic commodities, rise of
overpriced accommodations and the irking brokers are the main things to be
vigilant and cautious about the trip.
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| Devotees queuing in the early morning at the Teertham well |
The temple compound holds twenty two small wells that have
springs of good water believed to be Teertham or Holy Water. After buying a ticket
of twenty five rupees, the devotees stand in a long queue to drench themselves
from the water of twenty two wells. Reckoning to be the shortcut to cleanse the
sins, the zealous pilgrims are over excited to get maximum amount of water. The
staffs who administer them operate through brokers and earn a hefty sum
through commissions, and their profit is quite staggering during festivals and
holidays.
Besides all these chaos, one cannot fail to admire the
intricate carvings on the rock pillars and the architecture of the temple.
Unparalleled precision in placement of pillars is spellbinding and to reproduce
a similar structure with the use of modern technology is unthinkable.
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| Pillars in Ramanathaswamy Temple |
Ghost Town,
Dhanushkodi
Marred by cyclones, sea disasters and proclaimed uninhabitable
in 1967 by the Madras Presidency, this peninsula never fails to fascinate the
tourists with its clean beaches and remnants of ruined town. Once a glorious
and bustling city in Rameshwaram is now occupied by few fisher folk whose lives depend on fishing and tourism.
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| Beach in Dhanushkodi |
A jostling van ride along the seashore to the tip of the
island is sure to rattle your nerves and bones. Painted in blue by the ocean as
far as the eyes could see and caressed by the gentle salty breeze, a feeling of melancholy
emerges on seeing the ruins of once a thriving town. A church, post office,
railway station, small temple and a few dilapidated houses still bear the marks
of gory sea calamities.
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| Ghost Town-Dhanushkodi |
According to the legend Ramayana, Rama set stones afloat to
build a bridge across the sea towards Sri Lanka in his quest to rescue wife
Sita. Such stones even now can be found in the vicinity.
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| Floating stone placed in front of a temple in Dhanushkodi |
Memorable
experiences to take home
The inimitable art work with rocks, frescos and murals
inside Ramanathaswamy Temple mattered to me more than the Theertham pilgrims
crave for.
The sand in
Dhanushkodi is as white as sugar and striding along the shore with the view of
azure blue sea entrenches in a romantic affair.
Charming Locals: the hospitality and warmth of the people
left me spellbound. Exploring every tourist attraction by the city bus is the
best way to experience the local life and an eye-opener to break the
stereotypes of solo travelling.
Breathtaking moments at the Pamban Bridge: On the train
inching across the bridge with a view of the mighty ocean and engulfed by the
torrent wind gave me Goosebumps.
Cradle of Religious Harmony: It was heartwarming to see
people of different religions co-exist in this island peacefully with a mutual
respect, which is the major beauty of this beautiful island.
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