Rameswaram Trip, 22 Kund Snan Ram Setu at Dhanushkodi, Pamban train bridge Rameshwaram South India

The place we went to is the pilgrimage center of south India. With one of the 12 Jyotirling Temples, It is believed to have the same importance as that of the Kashi in north India.
Rameswaram is the place I am talking about. It is a beautiful conch-shaped or I would say a Shankh Shaped Island surrounded by the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal.
As every traveler suggested, we also went there early in the morning.
While entering the city, we saw India’s oldest sea bridge built in 1914 and experience a beautiful sunrise.
After we checked in at the hotel and before we entered the main temple, we were suggested to take a bath in the chilled water of the Hind Mahasagar at the "Agni Teertham". It is believed that taking bath here vanishes half of your sins and makes you pure again.
This ocean bath was followed by Kund snans at 22 sacred Teerthams inside the temple.
Water in this kund is believed to be from 22 holy sources of water in India. The number 22 also represents the no’s of arrows in Lord Ram's Dhanush.
Taking a holy bath in this theerthams is considered very sacred as it vanishes all your evils and cleanses your heart.
After these snans, we all were pure, curious, excited, and ready to pray at the main temple.
Lord Ram was the 7th Avatar of God Vishnu. It is said that the Shivalings in the main Ramanathaswamy temple were installed by Lord Ram himself about millions of years ago during Ramayan Kaal. When Lord Ram was returning from Lanka after defeating Lanka Pati Ravan; he stopped at Rameswaram and expressed his desire of praying to Lord Shiva. To have a ritual, He requested Mahavir Hanuman, to bring a Shivaling from the Kailash Parvat of Himalaya. Hanuman left immediately to bring it but it took him a little longer to return whereas the muhurt for Pooja was fixed by rishi moonies. Lord Ram's wife Devi Sita saw the situation and built a Shivaling out of sand available at the seashore. Lord Ram performed Pooja on it and that Shivaling is now known as Ramalingam. When Mahavir Hanuman returned from Kailash with a Shivaling, He was upset as he was late and ritual was already done. But Lord Ram consoled him and performed Pooja on his Shivaling as well and installed it nearby the Ramalingam and named it Vishwalingam. Rama instructed that the Vishwalingam should be worshipped before the Ramalingam every day and since then- the tradition is being followed by all priests of the temple.
So, this was the saga behind the significance of this place. But the temple that we see today was not the same earlier. Major development started after the 12th sanctuary and since then the temple was renovated a bit in every sanctuary. Temple now has architecturally beautiful entry gates and spectacular corridors all around it. These extremely eye-pleasing corridors were built in the 18th Sanctuary with 1212 no’s of symmetrical pillars of 30 feet height and also hold a record of the longest corridor.
It took us around 3 hours for Darshan on that day. On the next day morning, we woke up at 4AM and went there again to have a sacred Spatika Shivaling Darshan.
Now, let me tell you about the other famous place of the Rameshwaram which is Dhanushkodi. According to India’s history, the army of Lord Ram led by Neel and Nal constructed a bridge called Ram Setu to cross the Indian Ocean to attack the Lankanagari. After winning the war, Lord Ram made his friend Lord Vibhishan a new king of Lanka and returned back to India. Lord Vibhishan came to Lord Ram and requested him to destroy the Ram Setu to keep the Lanka Nagari safe & separate from other kings. At his request, Lord Ram broke this sacred Ram Setu with a single Arrow.
The place where Lord Ram’s arrow hit the Ram Setu and destroyed the bridge is now called Dhanushkodi. You can still see and feel this Ramsetu in the Indian Ocean. It is clearly visible in Google Maps also. We felt all these when we went to the southernmost point of the Dhanushkodi. We were literally in the middle of India and Sri Lanka. We were mesmerized by the view of stunning blue water. From here, Sri Lanka is hardly about 15 KMs only.
These Dhanushkodi and Ramanathaswamy temples were the most beautiful places we found in Rameswaram. But there are many other famous places which we visited like the birthplace and museum of India’s most loved former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and other religious places like Rama Teertham, Lakshmana Teertham, Vibhishan Temple, Gandhamadana Parvat with direct connection to Ramayan and the 5 faces Hanuman Statue, where you can find a sample of floating stones used in making the Ram Setu.
Overall, in my experience, this place is a must-visit for all Indians as it has a very strong history and importance in Indian Culture. Now, this island is developed well and has good road connectivity. If you plan well, you can visit this historically great Rameswaram city in just 1 day.
Thank you all and hope you get a chance to visit this wonderful place with your family.

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jay shree ram