Our visit to Dhanushkodi is totally unexpected and a memorable one. We decide to go to Dhanushkodi as a part of our visit to Rameshwaram and expecting a crowded place, are taken aback by the exceptionally bumpy ride by a jeep to this island, which enchants you with its beautiful views of the two oceans namely the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean, but at the same time leaves an eerie feeling with its emptiness and a view of the ruins that give you the impression that this has been a different place before.
This deserted island is occupied by hutments of fisherfolk who seem to live in isolation and with no connection other than jeeps to the mainland and their main means of survival seems to depend on the fish they catch from the sea. With no basic facilities to depend on, we come across an interesting way in which women from these communities get their drinking water and wonder if this is the place where reality coexists/mingles with myths, mysteries and miracles turning it into a seemingly unique location.
On that night (December 22) at 23.55 hours while entering Dhanushkodi railway station, the train No.653, Pamban-Dhanushkodi Passenger, a daily regular service which left Pamban with 110 passengers and 5 railway staff, was only few hundred yards before Dhanushkodi Railway station when it was hit by a massive tidal wave. The entire train was washed away killing all 115 on board. A few metres ahead of Dhanushkodi, the signal failed. With pitch darkness around and no indication of the signal being restored, the driver blew a long whistle and decided to take the risk. Minutes later, a huge tidal wave submerged all the six coaches in deep water. The tragedy that left no survivors also destroyed the Pamban bridge, which connected the mainland of India to Rameshwaram island
Dhanushkodi is a beautiful and serene shoreline to the south of Rameshwaram. The place attracts a traveler with its enchanting view and mysterious atmosphere. A small town flourished here once during the British times. There was a railway station, a church, and a temple, among other buildings – the ruins of which can be seen till date. This town was washed away by a huge tidal wave in 1964. The Tamil Nadu government has declared this place inhabitable, and the former quaint town has become a ‘ghost town.’
You can drive down to Dhanushkodi from Rameshwaram. It is advisable to take a four-wheel drive vehicle, as a part of the path is sandy on which two-wheel drive vehicles cannot ply. The first part of the drive is down a straight paved road with water bodies on both sides. On the right hand side, water is rough; on the left hand side, water is calm. As you approach Dhanushkodi, the road becomes sandy, and the ghost town is the last point of habitation where a thirsty traveler can get a drink. The town looks eerie with its remnants and takes one back to those days when it was a thriving port town. One shivers at the thought of how the end must have come to this small place.
The tip of Dhanushkodi, which got its name from the fact that Lord Rama broke this end of the bridge with his bow, is a breathtakingly beautiful place where the Bay of Bengal and Indian Ocean meet. With pristine golden sands, foamy waves and white-headed eagles, it offers the weary traveler rest and relief from the maddening crowd and nerve-wracking tensions of daily life. You can sit in the lap of soft sand and gaze far-off into the horizon to become one with nature.
Dhanushkodi has multiple attractions for tourists. It is a paradise for bird watchers, sea lovers, and shell collectors. You get to see exotic migratory birds, which fly up from Australia; rare shells that will make you wonder at the craftsmanship of the sea; unique colors of the merging waters, and above all, profound peace. Dhanushkodi is a must-see destination of India and one’s lifetime
