Visiting Rameshwaram? Don't Miss the Chance to Try these Adventure Sports!

The road trip to Rameshwaram

Come Friday and we were ready to begin our weekend trip to Rameshwaram. I returned home early in the evening after a tiring day at work. I had some hot tea along with snacks, took a bath, and then packed my bags for Rameshwaram. Suddenly, I felt a surge of excitement in anticipation of the road trip that lay ahead of us. I called my friends and asked them to meet me in about an hour as I booked a cab to the Zoomcar parking lot in Trivandrum.

I checked out the Mahindra Scorpio and did a test drive. Thankfully, there were no issues with the car. I drove through the town of Trivandrum as I picked up my friends from various locations.

Finally, we were on the way to Rameshwaram! We started for Rameshwaram at night because we wanted to reach the town early the next morning before sunrise. On the way, we stopped over at one of the wayside restaurants for dinner. Then, we continued our journey, driving through a mix of forested areas, highways, and remote villages – the landscape changing by the hour!

It started raining around midnight and we slowed down our vehicle as we had to be cautious on slippery roads. We took turns driving to ensure everyone got equal rest, played some music and chatted along the way to make it a lively road journey.

After a few hours of driving, the first rays of the sun lit up the sky, and the landscape around us became more visible. With just half an hour to reach our destination, we stopped over at a roadside tea shop as we stretched our bodies and had some snacks after a long night's drive.

Soon, we were traversing through the village of Pirapanvalasai where Quest Adventure Sports Academy is located. Pirapanvalasai is a remote idyllic village located along the coastline, with only a few local houses. This was going to be our home for the next few days.

Our stay at Pirapanvalasai

A few caretakers/instructors greeted us as we entered the academy. We checked into our cottages in Kathadi North, a boutique homestay that is part of the academy. The cottages here are built in a rustic style, with thatched roofs and open-air bathrooms. All furniture and furnishings here are eco-friendly.

Outside our accommodation, there was an open area surrounded by palm trees, complete with a rather inviting hammock. The beach was only five minutes away from our accommodation. Even though the weather was hot and humid, our place was breezy as it was located next to the beach. Overall, it's a perfect choice for a stay if you're looking for a peaceful getaway by the beach.

Stand-up paddling and kayaking, anyone?

We enquired about the water sports activities offered at the academy. The instructors helped explain all the water activities, what each activity involves, and the level of expertise required. Some of the popular water sports that you can try here are kitesurfing, windsurfing, sailing, stand-up paddle (SUP), and surfing. They offer a beginner program which is ideal for people who want to try out a water sports activity and gain basic experience. They also provide professional training programs which are suitable for people who want to become certified instructors to teach a particular water sport.

We decided to sign up for the beginner program to learn stand-up paddling and kayaking as these activities seemed relatively easy compared to the other sports. Thereafter, we had a scrumptious brunch at the academy. While breakfast is complimentary for people staying at Kathadi North, you'll have to order lunch and dinner in advance due to the remote location of the academy.

Our brunch consisted of rice, roti, lentils, vegetables, and fish. The meal was fresh, wholesome and certainly one that we needed after our tiring overnight drive. Later, we took an afternoon nap to make sure we are fresh for our first lesson. In the evening, we headed out to the white sandy beach nearby, ready to learn all about kayaking and SUP from our instructors.

Learning the sport

The instructors were patient and friendly as they taught us various techniques for kayaking and SUP. We wore our helmets and strapped on our life jackets and took our kayaks and paddle to the sea for kayaking. As the tides were low, we paddled our kayaks comfortably under the guidance of our instructors.

After a fun kayaking session, we were ready for SUP. In SUP, you balance yourself while standing on a surfboard and paddling the sea. It took us time to adjust on the board, we fell multiple times, but the instructors kept encouraging us. Eventually, we got the hang of it as we paddled near the seashore. Both activities set our endorphins soaring. The pleasant weather and the beach's peaceful ambience added to the experience.

Afterwards, we spent time on the beach, relaxing our nerves to the sound of the waves lapping at the shores and the view of the sun setting on the distant horizon. Later, we had a delicious dinner at the academy. This time, we met fellow travellers staying here and pursuing certifications for kitesurfing and windsurfing. Our hosts also joined us for dinner as we listened to their stories, their journey to becoming instructors, and the academy's history. It was inspiring to know that most of them quit a 9 to 5 job to pursue a dream career in water sports.

Exploring Rameshwaram and Dhanushkodi

The next day, we set out to explore Rameshwaram and Dhanushkodi. After eating breakfast, we drove towards Rameshwaram, located around 32 km from the academy. We drove through the famous Pamban Bridge, which was India's longest sea bridge until the Bandra-Worli Sea Link opened in Mumbai.

Ramanathaswamy Temple and the House of Kalam are the two most important attractions in Rameshwaram. Be sure to stop over at each of these places while planning a trip to Rameshwaram. We had a traditional South-Indian thali for lunch at one of the hotels in Rameshwaram. You'll find plenty of them here, serving tasty wholesome lunches at a pocket-friendly price.

We then travelled to Dhanushkodi, which was another 20 km from Rameshwaram. This drive was the best in the journey so far. We could see still waters on either side of the road until we reached its endpoint, which is called Arichal Munai. It is the southernmost point on Pamban Island and the closest to Sri Lanka. Here, we visited the atmospheric ruins of a church, post office, and railway station. We also spent some time, unwinding on the white beach, taking in the spectacular water views.

Heading back home

We drove back to the academy in the late afternoon. I wanted to get into the waters again and try other adventure sports, but it was time to return home. We bid farewell to our wonderful hosts at Quest Adventure Sports Academy. Thereafter, we started our journey back to Trivandrum. Even as we drove back to the city, we discussed plans to go back to Rameshwaram to master kitesurfing and windsurfing the next time. I can hardly wait to go back and dig my heels into the soft white sand all over again!