Dhanuskodi: Where life comes to a halt!

From an affluent, wealthy town with its rich historical significance to an abandoned spooky village – Dhanuskodi derailed from its prosperous track overnight.

 

Cushioned with the Indian Ocean on one side and Bay of Bengal on the other, this small village in the south eastern tip of the Pamban island(famously known as Rameshwaram) was once in the list of the smallest and one of the most developed town in the country. But today the same country had denied any form of legal settlements in this once thriving prosperous town. This blog is an excursion to one of the hidden gems of our country to perceive its journey from a once affluent historically signified wealthy town to an abandoned spooky village with its baleful atmosphere.

 

Whereabouts!!

Located in the South Eastern tip of the Pamban Island in the state of Tamil Nadu, Dhanuskodi is around 15km from the Rameshwaram town and is separated from the mainland by the Palk Strait. Also,Dhanuskodi is very close to its Sri Lankan Counterpart Talaimannar (around 29 kms).

The last few kms of the route from Rameshwaram to Dhanuskodi is exquisite with the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal on the either side; and the narrow stretch of throughway sandwiched in the middle.

The Add-on Ride:

Since 2017, Dhanuskodi is fully connected by roadways, but before that cabs could go till 1 km ahead of the main beach. From the bus stand, you have to take a local Maxi Cab at Rs. 150-200 INR per head to reach the southeastern tip of the country. This bumpy, adventurous bus trip on the ocean with blue shades all around will be an extra add on to your trip.

 

Once a town!!

During the British regime Dhanuskodi was a very famous town in the sub-continent with its own school, hospital, post office, ports, railway stations, customs, temple, church, etc. Although smallest in the list, it was considered as one of the most developed town in the country. Circumscribed with the Indian Ocean and Bay of Bengal on either side, this place owned the title of the Country’s Richest Fishing Zone. This tiny town was once a home of more than thousands of people with its hustles and bustles. Since this place was very close to Sri Lanka, and at one time it was the only border with the Sri Lankan Sub continent, this place literally was a business hub for the sub-continent.  Regular ferry services were also available for tourists to and from Sri Lanka. Being edged to the oceans this place was once a famous tourist destination with many tourist rest houses.     

At the Climax!!

Haunted places are always enthralling with their stories from the past the past that they are left with. Once you are in Dhanuskodi, the devastated structures of this once famous town will be there to share their story – the climax which changed their genre overnight. 

The journey from a prosperous wealthy town to an abandoned spooky village was very quick or rather overnight to be specific.  On 17^th December 1964, a depression formed in the South Andaman Sea rallied all its vigour and turned up into a menacing cyclone and hit the coast of Dhanuskodi at a speed of about 170mph causing a deadly devastation in the entire town. Waves of at least 7m height washed the town. At least 1800 people lost their lives overnight. Also, the Pamban Dhanuskodi Passenger train was flushed away with its 100 passengers and 15 railway staffs. Overnight the prosperous town turned into a pile of dead bodies. The church and temple was still there, but there were no devotees, the school was still there, but without children, the offices were still there but without its employees. Since then Dhanuskodi is left with few fishermen who lives in thatched huts. And as per the order from Government of India, this place is restricted for tourists after sunset.

Mythology or Real-life??

Apart from being a business hub during the British regime, Dhanuskodi is also closely linked with Indian Epic Ramayana. There is firm believe among many that this farthest corner of the sub-continent has a bridge connecting Sri Lanka. The famous Sri-Lankan ruler,Ravana kidnapped Goddess Sita and kept her as a prisoner in his kingdom. Since Dhanuskodi was the closest link between India and Lanka,Lord Hanumana on request of Lord Rama, created the bridge with floating stones to extricate the Goddess from the clutches of Ravana. However, this theory was once considered vague, until the confirmation from NASA’s satellite image on the presence of this bridge made of wooden blocks and boulders.  This bridge is named as Adam’s Bridge or Ram Setu. This theory of NASA was further catalyzed by the presence of the similar Pumice stone in the Hanumana temple in Dhanuskodi.

The End of the Bow:

On request for Vibhishana, the New Lanka King, Lord Rama destroyed the bridge with this arrow while returning from Lanka. From then this place was named Dhanus-kodi, meaning “End of Bow”.

 

Closure:

More than 50 years after the dreadful incident, Dhanuskodi, together with its elegance and agony is attracting intrepid travelers from across globe the who are in search of offbeat destinations. This place with its calmness, devastated buildings, the white sands flanked with blue hues must be in your radar if you are an undaunted traveler looking for a less touched virgin tourist destination.

 

Your Blogger:

Anirban Chakraborty

acanirban90@gmail.com