A day in Dhanushkodi

Dhanushkodi, located in the state of Tamil Nadu, is one of officially declared ghost towns of India. The place lies at the south-eastern tip of Pamban Island. The town was destroyed during the 1964 Rameswaram cyclone and remains uninhabited in the aftermath. An estimated 1,800 people died in the cyclonic storm on 22 December including 115 passengers on board the Pamban-Dhanushkodi passenger train. The entire town was marooned and the Government of Madras declared Dhanushkodi as Ghost town, unfit for living.

Pamban Island

As of today this ghost town has emerged as a popular tourist spot due to its connection with the great Indian epic Ramayana. Dhanushkodi marks the starting point of Adam's Bridge or Rama setu. The name Rama's Bridge or Rama Setu  refers to the bridge built by the Vanara sena of Rama which he used to reach Lanka and rescue his wife Sita from the Rakshasa king, Ravana. Rama setu may be just a mythical story but the presence of shallow land suggests the existence of a land connection between India and Sri Lanka.

The nearest habitable town to Dhanushkodi is Rameswaram about 20 Kms away. Local buses operate at regular intervals to Dhanushkodi. Taxi on hire can also be easily found in the city to take a ride to Dhanushkodi. Since the road was destroyed in the fateful cyclone, vehicles are allowed to ply only till a police checkpoint  From here the Dhanushkodi  main town is 5 Kms and another 5 Kms to that is the last tip of the Pamban Island.

From the checkpoint Mahindra Maxi cabs are available on share to cover the rest of the journey and this is where the dirt track of Dhanuskkodi is. This part of the island is extremely narrow and during high tides cover parts of the road. The track passes through the wet sand of Dhanushkodi. The Mahindra Maxi cabs are modified as 4 X 4 vehicles to cut through the wet sand. As per the vehicle owners the cabs can serve only for 6 months in this conditions.

The ride of Dhanushkodi

A smaller one

Covering the 5 Km distance can take upto 30 minutes. At Dhanushkodi one can see the remains of the old railway station, school, water tank and a few other buildings. A church on the shore may be the most recognisable structure in the erstwhile town. Due to the increased flow of tourist small stalls selling snacks, sea shells ets have set up by the locals.

Dhanushkodi church

As of January 2017, the National Highway 87 that connects the town was under restoration. It is expected to be completed by mid 2017. When completed one can take a wonderful ride till the tip of the island with blue sea on both side of the road.

NH 87