Dhanushkodi is an abandoned town. A mega cyclone demolished it on the night of 23 December 1964. The storm brought a massive 25 ft tidal wave. Afterwards Dhanushkodi has remained a ghost town but for a few fishermen. At the south-east tip of Dhanushkodi you see the waters of Indian Ocean and Bay of Bengal side-by-side.
Ram Setu Bridge of Dhanushkodi
Lord Rama had ordered Lord Hanuman to build a bridge connecting Dhanushkodi and Sri Lanka. Hanuman was a divine vanara companion of Rama. and a Hindu god. As one would expect, Hanuman and his Vanara Sena constructed the bridge. Hanuman, Vali and Sugreeva piloted the sena. This is the Ram Setu that we read about in Valmiki Ramayana. Lord Rama crossed over with his army on Ram Setu. He then liberated his beloved wife Sitadevi from the demon king Ravana. Afterwards Lord Rama broke the bridge with his mighty bow and arrow.
NASA had released satellite images which show remains of what could be Ram Setu. The bridge was 48 km long and linked Dhanushkodi and Mannar in Sri Lanka. Mannar town is located on Mannar Island overlooking the Gulf of Mannar
Recently a show called ‘What on Earth’ by Discovery Communications’ Science Channel aired an episode called ‘Ancient Land Bridge’. It said that the bridge is man-made and that the rocks are resting on a sandbar to form the bridge. While the sandbar is natural, the stones on top cannot be natural. The rocks are 7,000 years old and the sand bar is only 4,000 years old.
Destructive Cyclone of 1964
On the night of 23 December 1964, a mega cyclone struck Dhanushkodi and Rameswaram. The wind velocity was 280 km/hour and tidal waves rose to a height of 25 ft. All the 115 passengers on board the Pamban -Dhanushkodi train on the metre gauge line perished. The entire town was isolated and about 1,800 people lost their lives. Later the government declared Dhanushkodi an abandoned town.
Abandoned Town of Dhanushkodi
At the tip of Dhanushkodi is Beach Point. When you look out from there, you will find Indian Ocean on the right and Bay of Bengal on the left. Indian Ocean is turbulent and Bay of Bengal placid. Both have different colours.
The sea in Palk Strait and around Rameswaram island turns a remarkable dark shade of green due to the presence of marine algae. The algae spreads in the sea from July to September. During this period the colour turns green.
Beach Point is 24 km to the west of Talaimannar in Sri Lanka. I could get the mobile network of Airtel Sri Lanka on my phone while we were at Dhanushkodi.
A focal point at Beach Point is the Ashoka Chakra on a pillar. Several Ayyappas had gathered around it to take photos. There are no washrooms for visitors and no electricity either. At lunch time, the locals sell fried fish in stalls by the roadside. The area gets completely dark after sunset.
Architectural Ruins of Dhanushkodi
The main architectural remnants of the Dhanushkodi are the church, hospital and railway station. The church has lost its roof. But the walls are still standing and have bricks of coral on them. Behind the church are thatched huts where you can buy sea shells and memorabilia.
Pillars of the water tower in the railway station are standing now. But rest of the edifice has disintegrated.
The Rameswaram-Dhanushkodi railway line was washed away in the destructive cyclone of 1964. Since the night of December 24 that year, the celebrated Boat Mail discontinued its services. Also known as the Indo-Ceylon Express, this was a train and ferry service that connected Madras and Colombo.
The new Pamban Bridge is India’s first vertical-lift railway sea bridge and was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in April 2025.
Reaching Dhanuskodi
The best time to visit the place is early morning or evening. When the sun is high above your head, the heat beats down relentlessly. Rameswaram to Dhanshkodi is 19 km and takes 22 minutes by car. Cars can travel up to the Beach Point. At times of bad weather or turbulence in the sea, the police will not allow entry. The road is in good condition. It has the sea on both sides.
Getting There
The nearest airport is Madurai (IXM). It is a drive of 198 km via NH 87 (3 hr 22 min). Rameswaram (RMM) is the closest railway station. It is linked to major cities in Tamil Nadu and elsewhere. The station is 18 km away from Dhanushkodi.
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