First, let me apologize for the inordinate delay in writing this post. Went on a family trip in November 2011 to Shirdi and from there, made Aurangabad our base and covered places like Ajanta, Ellora, Grishneshwar, Daulatabad along with Panchakki and Bibi-ka-Maqbara (Mini Taj Mahal) in Aurangabad. Shirdi: Reached Shirdi by Ajanta Express from Hyderabad on 15th November 2011. Got down at Nagarsol and took an MSRTC bus to Shirdi. Booked room at the Sai Sansthan Choultry online and also booked for an Aarti. After Aarti Darshan, we did some brisk shopping and had lunch at one of the numerous Andhra hotels. For people from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, going to Shirdi is like going to one of the cities in our own states. Most of the boards on the hotels are in Telugu despite Shirdi being deep inside Maharashtra and no where near the border. It is same like people from Tamilnadu or Karnataka when they visit Tirupati. Majority of the visitors to Shirdi are from Andhra Pradesh. Shiv
Rameswaram is located near the Gulf of Mannar which separates Rameswaram Island with Mannar in Srilanka. Rameswaram island is in the shape of a Conch (Shanku) and is connected with Indian mainland via the Pamban Bridge. According to the Hindu Puranas, upon the advice of Rishis (sages), Rama along with Sita and Lakshmana, installed and worshiped the Sivalinga here to expiate the sin of Brahmahatya (killing of a Brahmin).(Ravana, the son of Vishrava and the great grandson of Brahma). Rama fixed an auspicious time for the installation and sent Anjaneya to Mount Kailas to bring a lingam. As Anjaneya could not return in time, Sita herself made a linga of sand. When Anjaneya returned with a linga from Mount Kailas the rituals had been over. To comfort the disappointed Anjaneya, Rama had Anjaneya’s lingam (Visvalingam) also installed by the side of Ramalinga, and ordained that rituals be performed first to the Visvalingam. More information on Rameswaram can be found on the Wikipedia Link