VARANASI 

 1.Ganga Aarti

            Each evening the boats on the River Ganga converge at the Dashashwamedha Ghat for the magical Aarti. Five-seven young priests follow a practiced routine with flaming lamps, incense sticks, conches and other holy paraphernalia to a live bhajan sung on the microphone – the synchrony is mesmerizing. The Aarti for the first time was performed when Lord Shiva visited the city, it was repeated when various Maharajas explored these Ghats to take a holy dip in River Ganga.  

2.Boat ride along River Ganga

                      Boating down the Ganga River during sunrise is one of the main attractions in Varanasi. One can observe here the Hindu way of life along the banks of the Ganga (Ghats) River. Start your day with a boat ride at dawn and witness the heavenly beauty of the pious Ghats and the delightful ambience of Varanasi.  

3.Ghat Sandhya

             Daily evening a dedicated team of “culture enthusiasts”, quietly descend upon the Gangamahal-Reewa Ghat from different corners of city and bring the venue to life at around 6:00 pm that is ornamented with soulful gala of music & dance. The cultural legacy of the city is showcased on this very location. Visitor can see and become a part of the mesmerizing musical journey.

4.Shopping of Silk Sarees

            Varanasi is famous for its Silk Sarees and the brocades hand-woven in Gold or Silver thread. These masterpieces of elegance and artwork have always fascinated the to-be brides and Saree aficionados. Weaving communities thrive across the town, especially in Godowlia, Lallapura and Madanpura.

5.Shopping of Stone-Carved Toys

             The city also offers stone-carved toys. Varanasi is also a good place to shop for musical instruments like sitar and tabla. The cost of the instrument depends primarily on the type of wood used. Mango is cheapest, while black shisham or mahogany are of the highest quality.  

6.Subah-e-Banaras

             The Varanasi is known for its hours of dawn, when the city is in its most serene state. The morning glory of Banaras is the most auspicious tour to witness and discover life sprawling on the banks of the holy Ganga. It is a mystical blend of nature’s grandeur and human existence. 

RAMESHWARAM

1.Ramanathaswamy Temple

           One of the Twelve Jyorthirlanga Temples  dedicated to Lord Shiva, the temple of Ramanathaswamy is an architectural excellence built in the 17th century. A must visit pilgrimage for both the Vaishnavite as well as the Shaiva sect of Hinduism, the temple constitutes a major part of the popular spiritual tourism destinations in India. Today’s Ramanathaswamy Temple houses the longest temple corridor in the world, which is 197 meters long and 133 meters broad and stands with 1200 massive granite columns.

2.Jada Tirtham

        Around 3.5km from Ramanathaswamy Temple, on the way to Dhanushkodi Village, Jada Tirtham is known among the Hindu devotees for the sacred pond. It is believed that when Rama was about to worship Shiva Lingam in Rameshwaram after killing Ravana, he washed his Jata (matted hair) in Jada Tirtham. There is a temple next to the pond of Jada Tirtham. Jada Tirtham is believed to be the only place in India where Lord Kapardisvara is worshipped.

3.Dhanushkodi Temple

          Dhanushkodi or ‘end of the bow’ is a small town at the south-eastern tip of Pamban Island in Tamil Nadu. Lined with shallow beaches, historical remnants and vast horizons of azure sea, this South India Tourist Spot is a must-see in Rameshwaram. Today’s Dhanushkodi Temple is nothing but a ruin of the temple described in different versions of the Ramayana. In case you are curious enough to discover the plot of Ram Sethu, do not forget to  explore Dhanushkodi. 

4. Gandhamadhana Parvatham

               Remember the mountain mentioned in the Ramayana from where Hanuman was about to fetch the medicinal herbs to save Laxman. Yes! It is Gandhamadhana Parvatham which was carried by Lord Hanuman on his shoulders. This utterly pious and quaint religious spot is 3 km away from the centre of the town. A double storied temple of Lord Rama houses the imprints of his feet on a chakra. It is also considered to be the highest point in Rameshwaram, so you can have a birds’ eye view of the whole island from the peak.

5.Five Faced Hanuman Temple

               Highly revered by the Hindus, the temple of Five Faced Hanuman is only 2 km from the Ramanathaswamy Temple. It is believed that Hanumana revealed his five-faced form for the first time in this place. The statue of Lord Hanuman is smeared with sindoor and worshipped with utmost devotion. The temple here enshrines the statues of Rama, Laxman and Sita. There is a floating stone in the temple which is believed to have been used during Sethu Bandhanam as mentioned in the Ramayana.

6.Adam’s Bridge

          Adam’s Bridge or Rama Setu is a debatable historic bridge that connects Rameshwaram island of India to the north-western coast of Sri Lanka. It is a chain of limestone shoals starts from Dhanushkodi tip of India’s Pamban Island. Pamban Island is connected to mainland India by a 2 km long bridge.

7.Nambu Nayagiamman Temple

             A small South Indian shrine associated with many deep rooted beliefs, Nambu Nayaki Amman Temple is only 8km from Ramanathaswamy Temple. Goddess Dakshina Kali is worshipped here for good health and getting kids. It is believed that the deity appeared in front of the two sages namely Dakshina Duruvan and Pachima Duruvan in the form of Dakshina Kali. After they were blessed with the sightings of Mother Goddess, they started living at the same place to cure the local people. That is why people of the neighbouring villages visit this temple to get solution to all their problems.

8.Water Bird Sanctuary

        The best thing is you can see a lot of native as well as migratory water birds in this sanctuary. It is during the months of October to January when flocks of migratory birds fly to this land for breeding and feeding their off springs. The bird sanctuary is located in Ramanathapuram District and indeed one of the most popular tourist places in Rameshwaram.

9.Ariyaman Beach

           An ideal place to spend a relaxing evening with your friends or family, Ariyaman Beach is located in Ramanathapuram District. It is a 150 m wide beach stretching to a length of 2 km. Tourists can enjoy boating in this beach or get involved in different water based sports like wind surfing or water scooter ride. The beach has a children’s park, an aquarium and a museum as well. Parasailing is an exciting activity one can enjoy here. If you have a free weekend, plan a picnic party along the beach side where arrays of Casuarina trees work for perfect shading.

 10.Kothandaramaswamy Temple

An approximately 500 year old temple located at the southernmost tip of this island, Kothandaramaswamy Temple is yet another pilgrimage destination in Rameswaram. The temple is very close to the sea and appears as an ideal place to trace the footprints of Rama. The temple here has the idols of Rama, Sita and Laxman along with Vibhishan. It is believed that Rama did the last rites of Pattabhishekam of Vibhishan in this place. The temple walls are scribled with the paintings depicting the same story.

11.Annai Indira Gandhi Road Bridge

            Claimed to be the first sea bridge in India, Annai Indira Gandhi Road Bridge or Pamban Bridge is a cantilever bridge on Palk Strait that connects Rameshwaram Island with the mainland India. Initially, the name used to refer the rail route only which has a double leaf bascule section midway. This double leaf bascule functions well till date and it can be raised to let ships go. The bi-lane road passing next to this bridge is another attraction in Pamban and obviously allows you to have a glimpse of the railway bridge if you are driving over the bridge. This 100 years old bridge contains 143 pillars, each of which is 220 feet in length and 100 tones in weight.