24. Rameswaram to Kanyakumari — A Day of Dreams Fulfilled (19th Dec 2025).

#roadtrip #pamban_bridge #rameshwaram #rameswaramtemple #kanyakumari 19th Dec 2025, Friday…Day (24) Rameswaram-Ramanathapuram-Tirunelveli-Kanyakumari (311 km). Road Trip, Amritsar-Kanyakumari, (Day 24) The day began with a memorable train ride over the iconic Pamban Bridge. We had struggled to find decent accommodation the previous day due to heavy rush, high prices, and full occupancy everywhere. Luckily, while searching for TTDC Unit-I, we accidentally reached TTDC Unit-II, where a room was available for a day — good enough for us. The room was average, but with ample parking and helpful staff, it felt worth the money. The hotel manager suggested a passenger train to Mandapam that crosses the legendary Pamban Bridge daily at 11:40 a.m. We left our car at the hotel, checked out and walked to the railway station which was closeby. Bought two tickets to Mandapam for just Rs.10 each. The train ride turned out to be magical. We hadn’t travelled by train in a long time, and crossing the majestic Pamban Bridge with the roaring turquoise sea on both sides felt surreal — a dream come true. We returned by bus from Mandapam to Rameswaram for Rs.15 each. In total, the entire experience cost us just Rs.50, making it one of the cheapest yet most thrilling experiences of our journey. After lunch, we entered the famous Rameswaram Temple through the western gate. One of the four sacred Char Dham pilgrimage sites and among the 12 holy Jyotirlingas. While we walked through the grand corridors, lined with over 1,200 beautifully carved granite pillars, echoed with devotional hymns and spiritual energy. Standing amidst the thousand-year-old Dravidian architectural marvel felt deeply soulful. While I had already completed all four Char Dham pilgrimages by driving my own car from Amritsar to Badrinath in the north, Jagannath Puri in the east, Dwarkadhish in the west, and now Rameswaram in the south, this pilgrimage was still pending for my wife — fulfilled beautifully this time. We left Rameswaram late in the afternoon and enjoyed a wonderful drive especially the night drive. We reached Kanyakumari past midnight and headed straight to the parking, which was at the southern tip of India. Parked the car, slipped into it, we both husband and wife, and fell asleep peacefully, overlooking the ocean, the roar of the waves, where waters of threes meet, another dream come true. For more travel stories, pls check joyclubsunil.wordpress.com