Do visit Rameswaram ATLEAST in your life time. Review on Rameshwaram

I booked tickets to Rameswaram on 26th Jan. I reached there on 26th night at 12:30. At 11:30 the train reached the Pamban bridge, I can see the lush blue waters, the train might be at a speed of 10Kmph. No grills on the bridge. Just imagine .OMG!

=Sri Ramanathaswamy Temple, Rameshwaram. One of the 12 Jyotirlingas in India.=

I have heard a lot about the procedure of pooja and place before coming here. I have been advised to enter in the temple through "EAST CAR STREET"

1. First thing to do in the morning is "Sigara Darshan or Mani Darshanam" [I suggest you to do this by 4:30] -East Car Street. [This you'll do with out having bath].

   
   




2. Now you proceed toAgni Teertham - a lane opposite to temple - Here you have "Sea bath".You will be surprised to see the sea is very peaceful and shallow here without any tides at all. It is because the ocean surrendered to lord RAMA here

   
   




3. Then you buy tickets for"Teertha Snanam" inside temple. Tickets cost 25 per head. [They are 22 wells inside the temple premises and each well water tastes differently and  has it own spiritual prominence] It is better to meet aAttendants who approach us withwhite dress and a bucket.

   
   

They would charge 500/- per person but if you go in group they would charge 75/- per person[Including the temple ticket charge] [I myself mixed up with a group].

They will make sure that each one is drenched with a bucket of water each from those 22 wells. At the end you'll feel that 75/- is very less that you pay for them. I should really appreciate their task.=[Note: Due to rush he makes you run behind him from one well to another and the floor inside the temple premises is slippery ]=

1. Now we've rooms to change dress inside temple premises.

   
   




2. You may choose to go in general queue for darshan and if there is heavy rush you've 50/- special darshan queue.

   
   




3. Prasadam is offered near inner door of Lord Shiva temple.

   
   

=Rameswaram Tour=

Auto's charge huge.

Almost all spots are near by. You can coverSaktchi Hanuman temple and Pancha Mukha Hanuman templein same premises [Here you can see the=floating stones=]  +Lakshman teertham on way to bus station.

On Ramar Padam Road you can seeSugreeva Teertham+ Sugreeva Temple+ Doordarshan Tower probably the biggest in India+ Ramar Padam [You can see lord Rama steps here, also best view of Rameswaram Town], If you choose auto they will charge 200/-. If you go in group that is okay, else if you are alone best walk to all these destinations, except Ramar padam.

=Pambam Bridge=

Reach to bus station which is towards West Car Street. They will charge 12/- from here to reach Glass Boat location and Pambam Bridge. Don't Miss this!. Especially the rail bridge - the onlyCOLLAPSIBLE bridge in India [See ATTACHED picture].

=Danushkoti=

Get the bus number 3 or 1 [East Car Street again] which would take till mini truck station they would charge 10/-. From here board mini trucks 100 per person[To and fro].You will stunned to see the vehicle go on waters almost 50 steps distance from shore. They will stop the vehicles and from here need to walk 2-3 Km to reach to tip of island. Here you see the Ghost city, rail stations, post office, Church which are washed away in 1964 Tsunami. Here you also see the Bay of Bengal mix with Indian Ocean. The bay of bengal is calm and Indian ocean opposite to this andExcellent SUN SET view.

Pros: Experience, dont miss.  Take cameras for sure the memory card would be full when you are here. You'll be excited to come home and share your trip.

Cons:

1.  I booked Hotel reservation via online via hotelpushpak.com. They re-directed to another hotel Hare Rama Hare Krishna on Ramar Padam Road. The services both by the Hotel and the online services are worst.

1. Dont expect anyone to speak either english or hindi. Tamil.tamil everywhere, even if they know other languages they pretend as if they dont.=if you find anyone then you're lucky=.

   
   




2. You'll feel as if you are in different country as all the hoardings including the bus directions are in Tamil. Let them respect their language but not in way which treats other language people as aliens.

   
   




3. No one in the Rameswaram would cooperative and are manner less people.

   
   

6.You'll smell dried fish all over the Island.

Yet you'll delete all these CON's and bring home the blessing of lord shiva and the amazing experience of Rameswaram.

Enjoy your trip.