Last Land of India! "End of Bow"

After a cyclone in December 1964, the Tamil Nadu Government declared Dhanushkodi unfit for human habitation. RANU JOARDAR shares how the remnants of houses, school, water tank, post office and church in the town’s ruined structures take us back to the times when the music of the hustle and bustle of people could be heard

lao Tzu, a Chinese scholar had once said, “life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don’t resist them; that only creates sorrow. let reality be reality. let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like.” These changes can take a period of time, like civilisations becoming history or they can sometimes even take just a few hours like the earthquake in Bhuj, Gujarat, and the cyclone in Dhanushkodi.

A town that is full of life one day may face the wrath of God and within a short span of time turn into rubble. Dhanushkodi is one such example. located at the south-eastern tip of Pamban Island of Tamil Nadu, it is now a town of just a few fishermen and remnants of its history. Though Dhanushkodi has been officially named a ghost town or city of the dead, it doesn’t give goosebumps. Instead, the charm of this ‘city of the dead’ will indeed make one’s heart long to come here again and again.

The Sacred Last Land of India

Dhanushkodi which is also known as the last land of India is a beach town located in Tamilnadu. This is a small isolated town that experienced the worst cyclone in India ever in the year 1964. Since then this time got detached from the rest of the world. Unlike other states of India, which are moving fast with time, this town seems to be frozen in history and reflects its beauty and grandeur.

Though this town got washed away, the Kothandarama Swamy Temple is standing intact. This abandoned town is located in the proximity of 18 km from Rameshwaram and 110 reach this town by road. As per the mythology it is also believed to be the exact place where Vibhishan, a brother of Ravana surrendered before Lord Rama. Adventure lovers can also enjoy sea surfing at this place as it is having various fine beaches.

Dhanushkodi is one of the smallest towns in the world which is located in an area of 50 yards. This town of India shares its border with Sri Lanka and India, the actual distance of this place from Sri Lanka is just 24 km. While moving towards this town you will find the Bay of Bengal on one side and the Indian ocean on its other side which gives this place a very Majestic view.

The Cyclone

On 22nd December 1964, the holy town of Dhanushkodi got hit by a cyclone at a wind velocity of 270 km/hr. A passenger train with 110 passengers and 5 railway staff also got destroyed by this cyclone at 11:55 P.M., when it was running on the railway line from Pamban Bridge to Dhanushkodi and all the people on this train got killed. More than 1800 people who are residing in this town also lost their lives in the cyclone.

The entire town of Dhanushkodi got washed away in some time and just a few ruins were left behind. This cyclone was having high tidal waves up to 20 feet, also destroyed the Pamban town and after this incident the Madras government declared this town to be unfit for the residence of people and since then this town was declared to be a ghost town. In the current time, you will only find a few fishermen and their families staying in this small town. After this destructive cyclone, the only thing that was left affected was the Kodandarama Kovil temple.

Visitors can find a lot of remains from the past and other than that one can also see a water tank located near the railway station and a church Temple. This place is visited by a lot of historians and tourists as it is having its mention in the sacred texts. The intact structure of the temple is also the prime attraction that attracts a lot of tourists to this place. The devotees seek Lord's blessing by touching this land which is having the story of a great Legend left Behind at this place.

Ghost Town

Dhanushkodi was completely destroyed on the night of 22nd December 1964 by a cyclone and took the lives of almost 3,000 people at once and since then the Madras government has declared this place unfit for residence. After this declaration the place got its name as “The Ghost Town”, even today the tourists are not allowed to be near beaches during the nighttime as some paranormal activities are experienced at this place and this is how this happy town turned into a ghost town in just one night.

Dhanushkodi Beach Point

Dhanushkodi beach point offers the view of a ghost town which was once a bustling city but got destroyed in the cyclone of 1964. Here you will be witnessing some small series of rocks that is also known as Adam's Bridge which connects India to Sri Lanka.

Beach point you will also be witnessing an old destroyed Catholic Church which narrates the story of the horrifying night it off 22nd December 1964. At the beachside, there are various stalls selling the products and souvenirs made out of shells. This beach point is also the confluence point of the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean.

1. Dhanushkodi Beach

Dhanushkodi beach is one of the prime attractions of this isolated town. The deserted land wealth white sand on the beachside is perfect where one can enjoy the silent walk on the beach. This place is generally less crowded and can be a perfect spot for beach Goa. You can also find various eatable stalls near the beach.

2. Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park

The Marine National Park is a combination of 21 small Islands that are located adjusting to the coral reef where one can witness the shallow water habitat. This Marine National Park is located in the Gulf of Mannar in the Indian ocean. This Marine National Park is one of the wealthiest areas and is having three aquatic systems, such as seagrass, mangroves, and coral reefs other than this one can also find salt marshes and specific algae communities in this Pak. This National Park is spread in the area of 6.23 square kilometers and was established in the year 1980.

3. Ram Setu or Adam's Bridge

Adam's Bridge which is also known as Ram Setu connects India to Sri Lanka and is one of the most gorgeous settings of nature can be seen here. It's a 50 km long and 3 km wide Bridge that connects Dhanushkodi to Sri Lanka Mannar Island. This Bridge is an age-old structure that is believed to be 1.7 million years old.

4. Pamban Island

The Pamban Island is located in the proximity of 20 km from Dhanushkodi. The sight is considered to be the most beautiful island having the Deep Blue Sea and magnification sight. One can reach this place by crossing the Pamban Bridge. This island witness the Confluence of the Indian Ocean and Bay of Bengal and is also known as Rameswaram Island which is a famous pilgrimage site of India as the Rameshwaram temple is one of the four Holy Dhams of India.

5. Church and Station Ruins

At Dhanushkodi one can also witness the church and railway station that are located close to the Shore. Currently, you can see the ruins of the church as they got destroyed in the cyclone that occurred in the year 1964. The remain of the Church and railway offers a fascinating sight with the story of revenant survival.

The village has its own story to tell. The remnants of houses, school, water tank, post office and church through its ruined structures take us back to the times when the music of the hustle and bustle of people could be heard. Even amongst the wreck, the uniqueness of the broken church stands out. The church is unique as it is made of corals. While one is gaping at the church, the noise of Indian Ocean makes people walk towards it.

The view of two rivers merging to give way to a new river is surreal. However, the confluence of calm Mahodadhi (Bay of Bengal) and ruthless Ratnakar (Indian Ocean) is breathtaking. The best description of this confluence is ferocious, wild but languid at the same time. With just a single look, a person can be seized with admiration for the tremendous view