A trip to Rameshwaram and Dhanushkodi had been on the top of my list ever since I came to Trichy, thanks to the umpteen photos of the brilliant beaches. Rameshawaram, considered one of the holiest places in Hinduism, is also famous for the Pamban bridge which connects the island to the Indian mainland. Dhanushkodi, at the very edge of Rameshwaram, is just 40 kilometers away from Sri Lanka. It is also where the Bay of Bengal meets the Indian Ocean which makes a spectacular scene.

We started our journey around 1 a.m from Trichy hoping to catch the sunrise at Dhanushkodi. The 250km drive is mostly through smooth roads except for a bad stretch of about 30kms. The road was so smooth we arrived too early for the sunrise, which turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Nearly halfway between Rameshwaram and Dhanushkodi we realised the road will be open only after 7am and the frantic search for another beach began. We decided on Agnee Theertham beach which was some 15kms away and drove back to Rameshwaram.

Nature had just started showing off her artistic skills and the sun was yet to peep out when we reached Agnee Theertham. I began setting up my camera to capture a time lapse and my friends decided to explore the place. Just as the sun started to come up, some random clouds showed up at the horizon and I almost gave up. But then, this….

To see the timelapse click here: https://youtu.be/0LgSN5JXN7w

By the time I was done it was past 7 a.m and we decided to go back to Dhanushkodi. The new road to Dhanushkodi, built in 2016, is spectacular with the sea on both sides. I was too caught up in the moment to stop and take photos. The beach at Dhanushkodi is beyond words. The sandbar where the seas meet is visible for what seems like miles, you’ll feel like walking till the world’s end.

After spending some time at Dhanushkodi we decided to get breakfast. For a busy city Rameshwaram had very few places to eat and we ended up at a place close to the Ramanathaswamy temple and had disappointing dosas.

The next stop, Ramanathaswamy temple, famous for its 22 theerthas(holy water bodies) is one of the pilgrimage hotspots in South India. Legend has it that Lord Rama built the Siva Linga here out of sand before his journey to Lanka. The temple, expanded upon by various rulers also has the longest corridor for a hindu temple. Unfortunately cameras and phones are not allowed inside the temple and i could not take any photos.

On our way back we stopped by the Pamban Bridge which is a must  for anyone visiting Rameshwaram.

Our final stop for the day was Ariyaman Beach (Kushi Beach), a few kilometers out of Rameshwaram. The beach was so beautiful I decided to enjoy the moment and kept the camera away. After all one of my favourite movie characters, Sean O’Connell, did say “Sometimes I don’t. If I like a moment, for me, personally, I don’t like to have the distraction of the camera. I just want to stay in it.”