Journey Across the Bay of Bengal - Chennai to Rameswaram via Madurai

Highlights from a journey compilation from Chennai to Rameshwaram. We depart late in the night from Chennai Egmore on the Chennai Madurai Express and find ourselves at Trichy the next morning. After a brief parallel exit out of Trichy with the Trichy-Rameshwaram Passenger, we head towards Dindigul and Kodaikanal. The Tondiarpet WDM3A negotiates the rocky terrain on an overcast day as we curve past the Sirumalai Hills towards Madurai.

At Madurai, we have a 3 hour break where we are entertained by Golden Rock Alcos, including a Golden Rock WDP3A with the Tiruchendur Passenger. Our Madurai Rameswaram Passenger is hauled by a Golden Rock WDG3A which cuts through the Tamil Nadu hinterland. The sun bursts out at Ramanathapuram and soon, the soil turns sandy as we approach the coast after Mandapam where we cross the 2.1 km Pamban Bridge linking the Indian sub-continent mainland with the island of Pamban. The bridge is across the choppy waters of the Palk Strait and there is a 15 kmph restriction aboard the bridge, resulting in an prolonged view of the sea.

Upon reaching Rameshwaram, I checked into my hotel and took a bus to Pamban and explored the Pamban bridge on foot. It is an exhilarating walk on the road bridge which is much higher than the rail bridge (which is quite low) as the wind really blows you away. And then, the evening passenger to Madurai with an evergreen Golden Rock WDP3A sallied forth to match the brilliant sunset on the western horizon.

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