Dhanushkodi

Dhanushkodi is a coastal town in the Ramanathapuram district of Tamil Nadu, India. It lies at the southeastern tip of Rameswaram Island, near the end of the Pamban Island chain, where the Pamban Bridge connects to the mainland. The area is known for its remote beaches, windswept coast, and the ruins that remain along the shoreline.

The name Dhanushkodi means “end of the bow” in Tamil, a reference commonly linked to the Ramayana legend of Lord Rama’s bridge to Lanka. The town developed in the early 20th century as a port and railway junction serving pilgrims traveling to Rameswaram. It included a railway station, a harbor, and a small community that supported trade and religious activity.

Dhanushkodi was devastated by a cyclone and storm surge on December 22–23, 1964. The disaster destroyed most of the town, submerged parts of the railway line to the mainland, and caused a large loss of life. In the aftermath, the settlement was abandoned and largely left in ruins, with only a few structures and remnants visible along the coast. The disaster prompted the relocation of some residents and altered the town’s trajectory.

Today, Dhanushkodi is often described as a ghost town and a site of ruins, attracting visitors for its eerie landscape and pristine beaches. Access is typically via road from Rameswaram, with the area partially open to tourists in certain seasons, though safety concerns persist due to unstable ruins and strong coastal currents. The site remains a poignant reminder of the 1964 cyclone and the region’s vulnerability to extreme weather.