dhanushkodi road trip

The Complete Guide to Dhanushkodi in Tamil Nadu

Photo by James Adaickalasamy/Getty Images

Dhanushkodi

Visit Dhanushkodi, one of the top tourist destinations in Tamil Nadu , and you'll have reached the end of India. However, it's likely you'll feel that you've reached the end of the earth as well. Once a flourishing trade hub, Dhanushkodi is now an eerie ghost town. All that exists of it are the fragmented and windswept remains of a few buildings, stark and seemingly out of place in the severe yet serene landscape. This complete guide to Dhanushkodi will help you plan your trip there.

On the night of Dec. 22, 1964, a ferocious cyclone hit Dhanushkodi at an estimated 280 kilometers (170 miles) per hour and forever changed the town's fate. Most of the town, a passenger train, and nearly 2,000 people were wiped out. The rest of was submerged under sea water. Such was the magnitude of the damage that the government declared Dhanushkodi to be a ghost town, unfit for habitation.

Prior to this disastrous event, the British had developed Dhanushkodi into an important port of trade between India and Sri Lanka (then named Ceylon). As it was the closest point between the two countries, it provided a vital connection for boats transporting both goods and people. Passengers were able to take a train all the way from Chennai (then named Madras) to Dhanushkodi, board one of the regular ferries to Talaimannar in Sri Lanka, and then get another train all the way to Colombo.

In addition to its own railway station, Dhanushkodi had a customs office, post office, schools, hospital, church, hotels, and shops. It was a thriving community that had grown rapidly.

However, Dhanushodi's history can be traced much further back than the British era, to the time of Hindu mythology. A submerged chain of limestone shoals, known as Adam's Bridge, extends all the way from the furthermost tip of Dhanushkodi to Talaimannar. According the great Hindu epic "The Ramayana", this is where Lord Ram and Lord Hanuman's army of monkeys built a rock bridge to Sri Lanka, to rescue Ram's wife Sita from the evil clutches of demon king Ravan.

The bridge, Ram Setu, is said by some to have stood above the ocean until a cyclone destroyed it in the 15th century. Others say that Lord Ram destroyed the bridge himself, with the end of his bow, after victoriously returning to India to prevent anyone else from using it. He also marked the spot where the bridge was to be built with an end of his bow. This gave rise to the town's name, Dhanushkodi (meaning bow's end). Regardless, Hindus believe that the shoals are the remnants of Ram Setu.

In 2004, the Indian Ocean Tsunami caused the sea off the coast of Dhanushkodi to briefly recede more than 1,000 feet, exposing the submerged part of the town. Some of the rocks from Adam's Bridge were also found washed ashore.

Encouraging tourism to Dhanushkodi has been a government focus in recent years. This is being facilitated by a new road that runs all the way through Dhanushkodi to the land's end at Arichal Munai (Erosion Point) near Adam's Bridge. The road opened in 2017.

Dhanushkodi is situated just off the coast of Tamil Nadu in South India, on Pamban Island's elongated southeastern sand spit. It's about 20 kilometers (12.5 miles) from Rameshwaram, on Pamban Island and about 30 kilometers (18.5 miles) from Talaimannar in Sri Lanka. The choppy Indian Ocean is on one side and the calmer Bay of Bengal on the other.

How to Get There

The new road has made Dhanushkodi much more accessible. Before it was constructed, the only way to reach the town was to take a private mini bus or jeep across the sand, or walk along the seashore. It was totally cut off from civilization. Now, you can drive there directly in your own vehicle.

The road is an extension of National Highway 87, which runs from the mainland to Pamban Island and Rameshwaram. Previously, it ended at Mukuntharayar Chathiram but now continues 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) from Mukuntharayar Chathiram to Dhanushkodi, and a further 4.5 kilometers (2.8 miles) from Dhanuskhodi to Arichal Munai (Erosion Point). The final stretch is strictly controlled by India's Border Security Force. Entry is only permitted from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. (although it's possible to remain there until 6 p.m.).

Travel time from Rameshwaram to Dhanushkodi is about 30-45 minutes. If you don't have your own car or motorcycle, there are various options available depending on your budget.

The cheapest option is to take the state government bus (Route 3) from the bus stop near Agni Theetham in Rameshwaram. The frequency of buses is approximately every 30 minutes and tickets cost 30 rupees per person, one way. The last bus returns just before 6 p.m. However, the drawback is that you won't be able to stop at other tourist spots, such as temples, along the way. Taking an auto rickshaw is an alternative option. Expect to pay about 800 rupees for a round trip. If you hire a taxi or car and driver, the cost will be about 1,500 rupees.

Rameshwaram is well-connected to other cities on the mainland by bus and train. Crossing Pamban Bridge is a highlight. It's recommended that you experience it by train, in at least one direction, as the railway line lies spectacularly close to the sea.

What to Do There

While the stone remnants of Dhanushkodi are the main attraction, the best thing to do is simply soak up the soul-stirring and sometimes haunting atmosphere. As you wander around what's left of the town, you'll come across structures in various conditions. The best-preserved ones are the church, post office, and railway station. Railway tracks are also buried under the sand.

The only inhabitants are local fisherfolk. They live harsh lives in makeshift thatched huts with no electricity or running water.

After you've finished exploring Dhanushkodi, continue all the way along the road to Arichal Munai (Erosion Point). It's a magical scene, with the straight strip of tarmac enclosed by the sea on both sides. A solitary pillar of Ashoka, the national emblem of India, stands at endpoint where you can look out across Adam's Bridge. Don't be surprised if your cell phone automatically connects to Sri Lanka's network if your settings allow roaming!

Plan to spend a couple of hours there at least. It's really worth getting up early to beat the crowds and catch the bewitching sunrise.

Facilities are limited but there are a few restaurants serving up fresh seafood, and stalls selling products made from shells.

Kothandaramaswamy temple, located off the highway about 10 minutes before Dhanushkodi, is of interest too. It's dedicated to Lord Ram, and notably is the only building in the area to have survived the cyclone that destroyed the town.

Depending on the time of year, you may also be able to see flocks of migratory flamingos standing together in the shallow sea water looking for food. It's an amazing sight! The birds are usually there between January and March.

Check out these things to do in Rameshwaram as well.

Accommodations

You'll need to stay in Rameshwaram, or elsewhere on Pamban Island, as there are no accommodations in Dhanushkodi.

If cost isn't a concern, the Hyatt Place Rameswaram is the most luxurious hotel, with double rooms from about 5,500 rupees per night. Daiwik Hotel and Hotel Ashoka are popular mid-range choices. Rates start from about 3,000 rupees per night for a double room. Alternatively, Blue Coral Cottage is perfect for budget travelers. Double rooms cost about 1,400 rupees per night upwards.

Those who prefer relaxed boutique beach accommodations can select from Cabana Coral Reef or one of the two Quest Expeditions properties, Kathadi South and Kathadi North . Kathadi South is rustic, with beach huts and tents. Kathadi North is upmarket, with cottages that have open-air bathrooms and gardens. Both offer kite surfing lessons in season.

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Dhanushkodi Rameshwaram 3-Day Itinerary – Visit to an engineering marvel

Rameshwaram (also called as Rameswaram), is one of India’s southernmost cities. A city known for its beautiful ancient temples and mythology, this is slowly becoming an offbeat destination for many travellers. Rameshwaram is a city revered by Hindus, being the birthplace of the famous Ramayana epic. Every temple in this city and its surrounding areas have an interesting story behind it and the various mythological events that took place . It’s incidentally one of the two places in  India where you let go of your sins and desires, the other being Kashi.Hence a post on Dhanushkodi Rameshwaram 3-Day Itinerary 🙂

If you’re wondering that Rameshwaram is just a city of just temples, you are so wrong. In fact, Rameshwaram is famous  for several other things:

• The amazing Architectures and sculptures inside temples,
• 1000+ pillars inside RamanathaSwamy Temple
• The mighty Pamban Bridge
• Surfing(Yes you heard that right) in Ariyaman Beach
• Danushkodi(the tip of the Indian Peninsula) & Adam’s Bridge

So if you have a planned visit to South India, this is a must visit place you should definitely try. Here’s a short 3-day itinerary that should work out perfectly for your trip.

Travel to Rameshwaram

Rameshwaram is connected from the Indian Mainland by the Pamban Bridge. The Pamban Bridge is definitely an engineering marvel that one should never miss and definitely a crown jewel in India’s architectural and engineering talents. In order to witness in different ways, take any train that goes from Madurai to Rameshwaram. This train goes through the bridge that’s built on top of the sea between mainland and Rameshwaram. The stunning views from the window can blow your breath away and something you can never witness anywhere else. On your way back, hire a cab to drop you back to Madurai. This allows you to stop in the middle of the bridge and click yourself some beautiful pictures with the sea and the train bridge as background.

There are two passenger trains from depart Madurai to Rameshwaram at  6.50 AM and 12.40PM, and this should be ideal for your onward trip(Roughly 4 hours journey). Requires no seat reservation and costs just 35 Rs (0.5$) for a 1-way ticket, available directly at the station.

Dhanushkodi Rameshwaram 3-Day Itinerary

Day 1 – ramanathaswamy temple & surroundings.

Towards afternoon, head to the famous RamanathaSwamy temple. The temple has 1212 pillars and innumerable sculptures, ancient architectures and paintings adorned in walls. These paintings describe the events that took place in the Ramayana era and the significance of this city. (Min time required is 2-3 hours) though some spend even an entire day to revel in this beauty and study about it.

Spend your evenings walking around this beautiful city, purchase some souvenirs and even visit a nearby beach.

Day 2 – Dhanushkodi & Adam’s Bridge

A trip to Rameshwaram doesn’t end without a trip to this once beautiful village called Dhanushkodi. Being at the tip of India, this village was completely swept by a Tsunami several decades back and all’s left is the remains of an ancient city. Nevertheless, it’s a must visit place, to travel to the tip of Southern India, literally a few nautical miles away from the country of Sri Lanka. A short 20 min bus ride from Rameshwaram to the starting point of Dhanushkodi.

From here, just get it in one of those mini vans and they’d drop you right in the epicenter of the town. You can witness a beautiful island, where once stood an ancient village. A few broken walls, ruins and a temple is all is left. Just meters away is Adam’s bridge(Ramar Sethu Palam), a bridge that once connected Pamban island to Sri Lanka. Mythologists believe that this was built by Lord Rama himself during the times of Ramayana, while some scientists strive to dispel this as myth (I still prefer to believe the former). You can spend roughly half a day here.

Day 3: For the Temple Seekers

For those religious people, go for the 1 day Rameshwaram Ramayana tour from a nearby travel agency. A tour that covers several temples in surrounding villages. This includes:

Devipattnam, Uttrakosai, Thirupullani, Thiruvadanai, Kilakarai,Sethukarai, Uthirakosamangai,Villuvandi Theertham, Vivekandakendram and Ekanthiramar Temple.

Or for the adventure seekers, head to Ariyaman beach and try your hand at Wind surfing and other water sports available there

Head to Madurai directly from here and catch your return train/flight.

Hope you liked this Dhanushkodi Rameshwaram 3-Day itinerary. Feel free to drop in your suggestions or any questions on the same.

Share this:

I’ve heard a lot about Dhanushkodi and Rameshwaram, but I’ve never seen any pictures of it, nor have I read about any travel experiences there. It seems different from the way I imagined it, and definitely more beautiful too. Really enjoyed your post. Have a great day!

Thanks for stopping by and your wonderful comment 🙂 Do read my other posts as well and subscribe for more upcoming posts on different destinations Regards Karthik

Thanks for sharing your itinerary for the trip,it is very beautiful place many. I really appreciate this post, all images are so beautiful, Thanks for sharing this post.

Good post! Helped me to plan with ease.. keep it going bro!!

Thanks a lot

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Orange Wayfarer

Culturally Immersive & Responsible Travel

Dhanushkodi Travel guide: The Haunting of a Forgotten Town by the Indian Ocean

About the blog: Traveling to Dhanushkodi, often touted as India’s ghost town, located by the south of Pamban island, Tamil Nadu (also known as Rameswaram) is an intriguing experience. Highly regarded as a holy site among the Hindu pilgrims visiting Rameswaram temple, Dhanushkodi is also a place where the Indian Ocean and Bay of Bengal merge together. Ram Setu from the Hindu epic Ramayana is proven to exit where the lands end at Dhanushkodi.

The scenic stretch of motorable highway connecting Dhanushkodi with Rameswaram makes for one of the best road trips in India.  

Dhanushkodi Travel Guide: at a glance

It is incredibly easy to do a day trip from Rameswaram to Dhanushkodi!

From Rameswaram town to the tip of Dhanushkodi, a government bus runs every 30 minutes.

Bus fare to Dhanushkodi is INR 30.

Shared van visits Dhanushkodi, as well as you can hire an auto.

Noone lives in Dhanushkodi, barring a few fishermen folks.

Visitors are allowed at Dhanushkodi from 8am to 5pm. It is impossible to shoot sunset pictures from Dhanushkodi.

A few shacks and fruit vendors sells snacks and local meal, fried fish for visitors.

The best time to travel to Dhanushkodi is from October to March, though the weather is tropical. Midday suns scores high.

If you walk at the backwaters and offbeat places, be careful of tidal waves. You may be stranded in the middle of the sea, with not a soul to help. Dhanushkodi has extreme nature conditions.

Traveling to Dhanushkodi opened up a new world for me! I recall this day with fondness and joy!

Also read: things to do in Rameswaram, the most beautiful temple town of South India!

Also read: Amid the ruins of Hampi, a UNESCO world heritage site!

Dhanushkodi, Where Life Stood Still

In an alternate world, Dhanushkodi lives and thrives as a picturesque town, set amidst the gentle green and blue hues of a bay and an ocean! In this southernmost island of India, men wake up at the wee hours and venture into the deep of the sea to find day’s catch.

Womenfolk conduct household chores and ready the shacks that sell the seashells by the seashore. Children walk the way to nearby primary school, their reflection shining pretty of the backwaters. Seagulls sneak in with waves of Bay of Bengal.

A church made of corals (yes, you read that right) stands tall. The tip of India’s eastern coast, the Pamban island also houses a rail line, bringing in the world.

Also read: 20+ Offbeat and fun things to do in Goa!

Also read: 5 days travel itinerary for Leh with offbeat day trips suggestions

But man proposes, nature disposes…

Reality is scary, if you take a lingering look, you know the rail tracks are nothing but the mirage play of a cruel nature, that engulfed the little town of Dhanushkodi. During the horrendous 1966 Rameswaram cyclone , the sea soared like never before, brought in the scourge of 7 meters high waves, and washed away the very last trace of life.

The Last Train to Dhanuskodi

… an eventful night that wiped away life from the town of Dhanushkodi, forming India’s abandoned ghost town from the South.

Train no 653, the Pamban to Dhanushkodi passenger train was crawling towards the destination amid horrid weather, the dark of night and almost no signal. The driver hesitated before igniting the engine, not having any idea what was looming in front. At this point, a huge tidal wave washed away the train along with 150 passengers that night. Not a single one was found alive.

The rail station at Dhanushkodi stood erect in the face of gutsy cyclonic wind and housed the few survivors of the island for that night.

It was hardly a decade after independence. Where was the rest of the world? Far away and difficult to get connected.

Mainland India came to know about the tragedy only after a couple of days. Later, only the nose of the rail engine was spotted from aerial surveys.

The government of India rehabilitated the survivors and declared the area abandoned.

Also read: Best Scenic Train routes in Europe!

Also read: 33+ beautiful beaches from Goa

“Look, I got Mobile signal from Sri Lanka!”

The remains of Dhanushkodi sits close to the international border between India and Sri Lanka. In fact, at just 45 metres in length on a shoal in Palk Strait, Dhanushkodi is also one of the smallest land borders in the world. In friendlier times, there was a ferry service between India and Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) which stopped for politics. And, the Rameswaram cyclone of 1966.

I tried to look for Dhanushkodi later while my two weeks journey across the island nation of Sri Lanka.

On a clear day, you may see Sri Lankan Coastline in bare eyes. Witness also suggests a beautiful show of dim lights as night falls.

Where is Ram Setu at Dhanushkodi? Or you call it Adam’s Bridge?

The Indian epic Ramayana indicates an existing bridge at Dhanushkodi, also called Ram Setu, over the sea using which Ram’s army went to conquer Lanka and bring Sita home.

It is hard to believe that an army of monkeys can actually help build a bridge, that too over a sea! However, the epic Ram Setu appears to be a reality by the end of Dhanushkodi island.

Also read: How to spend a prolonged weekend in Goa?

Temple documents of Rameswaram suggests the existence of a bridge, fit to be crossed by feet and existing above sea level connecting India with Sri Lanka, then Bharat and Lanka.  For the uninitiated, Rameswaram’s temple is one of the most prominent and oldest pilgrimage sites in India. Hints are pitted against another catastrophic cyclone from 14 hundred century which caused the bridge to go down under the sea.

However, nature is whimsical. Rameswaram cyclone gobbled up a substantial landmass but caused the Ram Setu to reappear. It is basically a series of limestone shoals, coral reefs and sandbanks. GSI has researched to find that the Ram Setu, also known as Adam’s bridge in the medieval western world is close to 125,000 years old!

I must disclose before you get your hopes very high, Ram Setu is hardly visible through bare eyes. Sattelite images so far have been able to capture many photos and confirmed its existence.

Besides, no matter how romantic it sounds, you cannot walk up to the tip of the sandy stretch, the area believed to be the starting point of Ram Setu. The sea is rough and may swell without prior notice. The area is heavily guarded by men in uniform.

Arichamunai: Is not it a Beautiful Name?

Despite Ram Setu being an almost mythical legacy, there was never any dearth of pilgrimage to Arichamunai, the easternmost point, where lands end.

Faithfuls visit this place to take a dip at the Bay of Bengal, considered a sacred ritual.  Before the construction of the national highway, a part of the Ramayana Circuit, many minivans would ply. There is a thrilling youtube video where the minivan seems to be sailing over the sea! Otherwise, a lot of them would earlier walk the miles as well.

The newly constructed road to Dhanushkodi has used the latest technology ensuring a robust stand against tidal waves.  You can easily bike around with your own vehicle until sunset.

Dhanushkodi, as I saw it…

As the bus moved towards the salient land of Dhanushkodi leaving behind the bustle of Rameswaram temple town, I could not but gape at the beauty of abundant nature. School of flamingoes by the shore, mangroves standing still by the rugged terrain, lifeless arid land and not a soul to spot, what is not there to like?

Arichamunai is considerably busy with the plight of pilgrims, tourist vehicles and guards. Indian ocean looked rather dirty with plenty of roots and hyacinth floating around. The Bay of Bengal was crowded, like any other beach in India is. The hues of water are visibly different. While the Indian ocean retains its royal blue tone, Bay of Bengal is greenish blue and calmer.

Soon after, I left for the coral church …

Also read: Offbeat day trips from Leh when you are spending 5 days in Leh!

Whispers of the Lifeless Village

The church and surrounding area stand witness to the gruelling night of the cyclone, even after half a century. It is empty, devastated, broken into pieces and destroyed beyond any repair. Not just the church but a few buildings, apparently school, the office by the railway station are scattered lifeless. Three pillars stand like a skeleton as the remnant of the Dhanushkodi railway station.

Tourist vehicles make a quick stop here. A few stalls serve fresh fish on banana leaves. Seashells make for perfect souvenirs.  Men and women buy, rest, drink tender coconut.

A few meters ahead of the stop, I had spotted a backwater area dotted with beautiful birds. I wanted to get close by and click a few pictures. Upon asking locals if I can go, I learnt that is where the Ghosts stay! “Bhoot”, said the Tamilzhan Da!

The Ghost of Dhanushkodi

I am a brave girl until the Sun sets. I had to walk towards the forelorn livelihood of ghosts.

Behind the pillars of railway remains at Dhanushkodi, I found a backwater where a father and son were searching for fishes. A school of cranes were giving them company. I walked past the backwater, met a herd of goats, clicked a few abandoned ships until I found I am walking on a dicey, very dicey land.

There were tiny conch shells lurking behind muddy earth. One absent-minded step may result in a bloodied toe. A stretch of white sands was lying at a distance with an alluring view of Bay of Bengal. Soaking my feet in the Indian ocean was out of the question. The roar reminded me of thunder! “I have to make it to the Bay of Bengal at least!”  I thought in my mind.

On the other hand, the clock reminded the backwater will welcome the tide in a while. I do not know swimming. There is no other way to make it back either!

It also stuck in my mind, I was walking on the land that buried an entire town! Suddenly the wind fell heavy. I felt tiny, minuscule and nervous in front of a profound presence of nature.

Far away, a man in a white mundu was walking with a fishnet in his hand. I followed his trail and finally made it to the shore.

Lifeless? I have my doubt. The land was filled with small glass bottles of alcohol. Cheap thrills, I laughed. Fishnets were left to dry, still bearing numerous conch shells inside.

Will I recommend this to you? For sudden adrenaline rush? May be . But check on weather and time. Upon my return, the Tamizhan Da again said “Ghost Ghost” with big eyes!

According to local fishermen’s testimony, the 2004 tsunami of the Indian Ocean, the sea receded about 500 meters and had uncovered the ruins of the forgotten habitat of Dhanushkodi.

The Tandav Nritya of Ratnakar and Mahadhadhi wiped away every trace of Dhanushkodi, leaving behind a barren stretch of salient land, one side stepping down to the deep of the ocean, the other side harbouring backwaters where migratory birds alight without a fear.

How to reach Dhanushkodi?

You can either hire an auto or rent a jeep to reach Dhanushkodi, the tip of India’s far off land. Private jeep or auto will take anywhere between 600 to 2000 INR.

Public transport runs from as early as 7 am. the Tamilnadu state bus services run those massive yellow buses that ply the tourists and local fishermen with day’s stock to and fro. You will get a bus at every 30 min interval.

The bus also smells a lot like a moving fish bazar. My Bengali nose is well conditioned with all types of fish “perfume” and I did not have any issue. However, this may be a put off to some.

Everything you should remember before visiting Dhanushkodi

• Reports suggest that the place being an abandoned one becomes a breeding ground of anti-social activities, especially during the dark of night. Do not think of camping at Dhanishkodi beach. Not just the smugglers, a potential hightide can also take no mercy for your life!
• The best time to visit Dhanushkodi is anywhere between the relatively (and that’s the key word here) colder months of November to February. midday sun at Dhanushkodi is extremely punishing and may cause serious damage like sunstroke, migrane etc. Take necessary precautions like an umbrella, a cover/dupatta for your face, ample water in a recyclable bottle and sunscreen.
• I suggest visiting Dhanushkodi after 2 PM since the heat gets bearable ..
• If you are off to explore the backwaters of your own, be responsible. There are quicksands. There is not a soul anywhere around. If you lose the way back (unlikely) or get stranded at a sandy shore behind backwaters fueled by hightide (very likely), you will not be in a position to access immediate help.

• Dhanushkodi is accessible to visitors from 7 am till 6 pm. Sunrise or sunset is wishful thinking however can only be a profound experience if at all you can manage to stretch your time limit a bit. Dial the sun to set a bit early for one day? Just maybe?

• Also not fit for habitat, as declared by the government of India, Dhanushkodi houses a few fishermen’s huts. They ideally leave early morning with their fishing vessel. the huts are makeshift as most of them have a home back in Pamban island.

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Quite an interesting place…thanks for this tips

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Dhanushkodi – Uncover The Secrets Of A Deserted Old Town

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The land is nestled between the calm sea waters of the Bay of Bengal and the rough waves of the Indian Ocean, carrying the sorrows of the dead, a treasured town that remains deserted on the sands, in constant wonder for lost souls is a place called Dhanushkodi.

Located about 20 Km from Rameshwaram, an island of Tamil Nadu, it served as the shortest route to the borders of Talaimannar in Sri Lanka. Once a thriving city, it is now a desolate landmass. Read more to find out what happened to this once glamorous city that today even pales in comparison with a village. Continue reading to know how you can reach and why you need to visit this historical place.

Dhanushkodi Trip Guide

Table of contents.

• History Of Dhanushkodi

What Happened In Dhanushkodi?

Dhanushkodi today.

• The Mystery Bridge That connects India & Sri Lanka

Why The Name Ram Setu Or Adam’s Bridge?

Reaching sri lanka via dhanushkodi, rameshwaram, best time to visit, shopping in dhanushkodi, where to eat, where to stay, network availability, atm availability, languages spoken, kodanda rama swamy temple, the city ruins, dhanushkodi temple, dhanushkodi lighthouse, arichal munai, related posts, history of dhanushkodi .

The story has it that if sandalwood was made to float from Myanmar (Burma), it reached Dhanushkodi easily and naturally, thus an idea of a trade route was formed to cater to international borders.

During British rule in the late 1900s, they introduced a new transport route from Chennai to Dhanushkodi, a ferry ride to Talaimannar, and then again a train journey from Talaimannar to Colombo. The Pamban railway bridge, which connects Rameshwaram and Tamil Nadu mainland, was constructed as a part of this plan. On Feb 24, 1914, the first successful journey along this route took place. 

The single ticket journey of Indo – Ceylon Express or Boat Mail Express (Train no: 16701 – now runs from Chennai to Rameswaram), part of the South Indian Railways (now known as Southern Railways) starts from Chennai Egmore and ends at Colombo in Sri Lanka. The train route from Rameshwaram to Dhanushkodi was challenging, especially the unpredictable stops that were necessary to remove the sand on railway tracks enabling the train to pass. Apart from passenger trains, goods and livestock also traversed along this route.

As the route grew in popularity, so did the civilization. Schools, railway stations, hospitals, post offices, harbors, police stations, and holy shrines were constructed in Dhanushkodi. This harbor town has never looked more beautiful and lively than with its residents. It was such a joyous place that people would call it “heaven” and “mini Singapore” during its hay days.

Because of these structural developments and revenue growth, people flocked to Dhanushkodi and Talaimannar as they served as the prime trading city with a growing business scene. Tourism also bloomed in this region.

On December 17th, 1964 a “sea depression” was formed in the South Andaman Sea. As the days passed, the winds became stronger and the sea became rough, consequentially, intensifying into a severe cyclonic storm. On the night of December 22nd & 23rd, the hurricane winds with a speed of 280 Km/Hr, and tides as high as 23 Feet hit the shores of Dhanushkodi. Heavy rains with gigantic winds drowned the entire town in water. 

A train with 150 people collapsed, houses were demolished, electric poles fell, their belongings were afloat in the waters and more than 1800 people in the region lost their lives. The place was submerged underwater in the darkness. The sea swallowed a booming city leaving only the sands, water, and floating bodies. Only a very few people were able to escape. It was a heart-wrenching time for the people who witnessed what the Sea-mother (as often referred to by the populace) had left for them.

From a thriving coastal town to a ghost town, this mourning day flipped everything. The central government announced this tragic incident as a “national disaster” and the United Nations as “Asia’s disaster”.

Although the relief works and rescue were done by the Indian army, the Government later announced the place as “not fit to live” and has been left isolated by mankind since then. But to this day there is no relief for the generations of fishermen who lost their families in the cyclone and continue to live there due to circumstances.

This horrific event was not the end of the tragedies that these residents had to brace for. After the calamity, the place was recognized as “not fit to live,” and as a consequence, these people were not provided access to the fundamental infrastructure support that they were entitled to from the government. Links to news articles published during the 1964 incident – The Age , Reading Eagle

According to Hindu Puranas, before one’s death to attain Mukti, people have to visit Rameshwaram and take a dip in the holy waters of Dhanushkodi before visiting Kasi to end their journey of “Kasi Yatra.” This pilgrim-esque journey is quite similar in principle to the Hajj. People used to take horses and hire jeeps and vans to reach Dhanushkodi. After 50+ years, the Government recognized this place and built roads in 2015 until the land’s very end called “Arichal Munai”.

Dhanushkodi is less than a village now. As a part of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Foundation, solar panels were installed in all the huts in the region. To this day, people are dependent on solar for electricity. Drinking water (spring water) is preserved and is fetched from small wells.

There is an elementary school for the villagers’ children now and a post office also runs in the region. 20 Families out of 300 have registered homes in Dhanushkodi.

After the roads were laid, the villagers could take heart in their rising economy. Tourism and fishing are their primary trade. Today, it is thriving as a tourist attraction and a pilgrimage site for Hindus and Muslims.

In 2008, the Sethusamudram Canal project was proposed to create a navigable shipping route between India and Srilanka along the Palk Strait and Palk Bay without damaging the Ram Setu but years later the project was dropped due to multiple political reasons.

The Mystery Bridge That Connects India & Sri Lanka

From the last land of Arichal Munai, 5 Km from Dhanushkodi, the Thalai Mannar or Gulf of Mannar of Sri Lanka is just 29 Km away approximately. When you are near Arichal Munai, you will get a cellular message welcoming you to Sri Lanka. It is that close. But, Sri Lanka is not visible to human eyes from here.

NASA has also confirmed the satellite image of the stone bridge connecting Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka.

Few people say that this bridge was naturally made. But some people believed it to be built by mankind. But this place remains a scientific mystery on why the stones float and there is no proof of its construction yet.

According To Hinduism:

In the Hindu Epic myth of Ramayana, Ravana, the king of demons, abducts Sita to Sri Lanka. Rama, her husband, searched for a number of ways to reach Sri Lanka with his famous magical arrow. The front part of the special arrow is called “Dhanush” while the end is known as  “Kodi”. The found place was named “Dhanush Kodi”.

With the help of Hanuman, a loyal follower of Rama, and his fellow tribe, they lay stones to cross the water bodies to reach Lanka. Since the stones in the area have the touch of the holy God Rama, the stones are said to remain afloat in water. This stone bridge is called “Ram Setu” or “Ramar Palam”.

According To Islam:

After the first human beings, Adam and Eve came into existence in this world, Adam landed on the “Adam’s peak” in Sri Lanka situated in the “East of the world” and Eve in the “West of the World”. Adam while searching for Eve traversed to Mecca via India through this bridge, thereby also known as “Adam’s bridge”.

Note: The beauty of India is that it is a secular state. So any number of places can have different reasons for their existence based on their faith. As a tourist, it is incumbent on you to ensure that you act in a manner that is tolerant of all faiths of the land. This sentiment is much more pertinent in places that have religious significance.

You cannot reach Talaimannar, Sri Lanka from Dhanushkodi, Rameshwaram even with an official permit. The ferry service between Rameswaram and Talaimannar was discontinued in 1984 due to political issues. The boat mail express is now operated until Rameswaram only. There is no way to reach the two islands by land.

Many fishermen face border issues and are unfairly imprisoned for the unintentional border crossing to this day. But due to the Srilankan 2022 economic collapse, few people have escaped and reached Dhanushkodi through sheer will by swimming in the sea. Fortunately, considering the circumstances, they were granted asylum and permitted to stay as refugees in Tamil Nadu.

You can visit Dhanushkodi throughout the year. However, make sure to check the weather before visiting. If it is too windy, it will be very difficult for motorcycles to pass through as the sand splashes with brutish force.

It is better to avoid visiting during weekends and public holidays as Dhanushkodi tends to get crowded.

How To Reach

Madurai Airport (Airport Code: IXM, 197 Km) is the nearest airport to Dhanushkodi. From there you can board buses or train to Rameshwaram.

The Rameshwaram Railway Station (Station Code: RMM, 19 Km) is the nearest railway station to Dhanushkodi. The station is well connected to cities including Chennai, Bangalore, Madurai, Bhubaneshwar, Tiruchirapalli, and Coimbatore. From here you can hire tuk-tuks or vans to reach Dhanushkodi.

Dhanushkodi is only reachable by roadways. The cheapest option is to hop on a public bus at different spots across Rameshwaram. The first bus to Dhanushkodi starts at 8 AM and the last bus departs from Arichal Munai at around 4 PM. Buses are not frequent, available only once an hour or sometimes even past 3 hours depending on the crowd.

Using shared transport, tuk-tuk and vans will run you a charge anywhere between Rs. 500 and Rs. 2500. The bill is based on the demand for sightseeing the touristy spots in Rameshwaram including Dhanushkodi. This would be a great place for you to put your bargaining skills to the test.

The best way to reach Dhanushkodi is by using your personal transport. Note: Ola and Uber’s services are not available.

Ornaments and home decor items are beautifully carved out of sea shells. You can buy them as souvenirs and use them as decor items.

There are numerous seafood restaurants available in Dhanushkodi. Cool drinks, water, snacks, and hot snacks are also readily available and served.

Please make sure to take your waste back home. Do not litter. Note: Online food delivery services like Swiggy and Zomato are not available in this region.

No hotels or accommodations are available in the Dhanushkodi village. Rameshwaram, 20 Km away is the better option, if you are looking to stay in a decent AC and non-AC lodge.

Please note that there aren’t many hotels listed online. However, the offline lodges are fully booked throughout the weekends and public holidays. It is better to call and confirm your booking before your arrival. Here are a few recommendations.

• Amman Residency ($)
• Hotel Panchavarnaa ($$)
• Hotel NNP Grand Rameshwaram ($$)
• The Residency Towers, Rameshwaram ($$$)
• Hotel Star Palace Rameshwaram – Tamil Nadu ($$$)

Airtel provides poor to intermittent cellular reception and Jio networks are feebly available at Arichal Munai and Dhanushkodi.

There are no ATMs available in the region. You can find ATMs in Rameshwaram which is 20 Km away. Given the lack of network infrastructure, the majority of the shops do not entertain digital alternatives to cash. It is better to have cash with you. 

The official and regional language of Tamil is the only spoken language by the people of Dhanushkodi.

Places To Visit In Dhanushkodi

Dhanushkodi can be visited only during daylight from 6 AM to 6 PM. The check post will be closed and you will not be able to access the roads beyond the mentioned timings.

You can find Kodhanda Rama Swamy temple midway to Dhanushkodi. Also known as Vibhishan temple, this popular temple is believed to be where Rama crowned Ravana’s brother, Vibhishana as the king of Lanka after returning from Sri Lanka.

Memorial for the people who lost their lives in the cyclone invites you to the city. You can find the ruins of a railway station & track, a Church, a Hindu temple, a Post Office, a School, and remnants of the old harbor and the old city.

There is a Kaliamman and Shiva temple known as Dhanushkodi Temple near the railway station notice board. Here’s where you can find the floating stone just in front of the temple which is believed to be used by Rama for building the stone bridge to Sri Lanka as per the Hindu epic Ramayana.

Next to the ruins, on your way to Arichal Munai, you will be crossing the Dhanushkodi Lighthouse. Although the lighthouse has been renovated in recent times, the public is not allowed to take an aerial look from above.

The journey to Arichal Munai from Dhanushkodi is just 4.5 Km. The ride is scenic with the Indian Ocean and Bay of Bengal on either side. Arichal Munai, the southern-eastern tip of Pamban Island is considered to be the last landmass towards the south-east side.

The public has refrained from entering the Dhanushkodi beach due to strong currents in the region. They have also tied ropes prohibiting entry for the safety of the public. Please note that it is very difficult and challenging for the local fishermen or police to rescue unfortunate souls due to strong waves and wind.

Final Thoughts:

Although the ride to the last road was joyous, it was heartbreaking for me to hear and imagine the stories of the people who lost their lives and those who live in solar-powered huts to this day. To see the ruins, and the remains of the lively town is devastating and will forever remain in my memories. It makes me appreciate and feel grateful for the things that we own and are privileged to have access to every single day.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is dhanushkodi really a ghost town.

Dhanushkodi is not haunted by ghosts. Since only the ruins of the 1964 cyclone remain in the village and not many people live here today, it is called a ghost town.

How much duration will it take to visit Dhanushkodi from Rameshwaram?

Although it pretty much depends on the individual’s choice, ideally you can spend 3 hours in the region. Also, Dhanushkodi is open only during the day hours from 6 AM to 6 PM.

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Sad to imagine the fate of so many people who lost their lives here 🙁

yes @Cynthia, it is very devastating when we hear about it even today. Can’t imagine how people would have suffered during those times.

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Dhanushkodi Beach Point

Top ways to experience Dhanushkodi Beach Point and nearby attractions

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Dhanushkodi Beach Point - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

• (5.91 mi) Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Memorial
• (8.82 mi) Ruined Temple/Church of Dhanushkodi
• (2.82 mi) Arichal Munai
• (8.82 mi) Rama Tirtham (Gandamadana)
• (5.69 mi) Water Bird Sanctuary

Dhanushkodi Travel guide – How to explore the Ghost Town

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Here is everything you need to know about things to do in Rameshwaram

My Dhanushkodi travel experience

Legend is that when monkeys wrote the name of Lord Ram on rocks and thrown then in the sea, they floated in water as they miraculously turned lightweight. The guy asked us to offer some money to the temple. I don’t like these kinds of demands for money on the name of religion but my father gave him some money. The guy started telling strange stories. There was no logic or concept in those stories and we left that place.

I got the answer to my question when a person stopped us. He told us that he has something interesting to show us. After visiting the floating stone, I was a bit skeptical. Anyways we decided to see what he has in store.

After visiting the ruins, we went to the land’s end named the Arichal Munai . There was no road connectivity to this place and it was difficult to travel here. In 2017 it is connected with a road with Rameshwaram.

There is a viewpoint and a beach at the Arichal Munai. The beach is also popularly known as Dhanushkodi beach. Most of the people on religious trips take a dip in the sea here because it is considered auspicious. The view is spectacular here. Everywhere we saw the blue turquoise hues of the vast expanse of sea and nothing else.

Where is Danushkodi?

Dhanushkodi is 19 Km from the Rameshwaram on the southern tip of the Pamban island in Palk strait. Dhanushkodi is the place where the Bay of Bengal and the Indian ocean meet.

How to reach Dhanushkodi

First, you need to travel to the nearest town of Rameshwaram which is 19 Km away.

The nearest airport in Madurai is 170 Km from Rameshwaram.

There are direct buses for Rameshwaram from Madurai and Chennai.

Rameshwaram has direct trains from Madurai, Kanyakumari, and Chennai.

Rameshwaram to Dhanushkodi

From Rameshwaram, you take a 4×4 wheel drive Jeep or State government operated TNSTC buses.

You can also take autorickshaw but they don’t go to the ruins in the village.

A jeep cost around 1500-1600 INR for a round trip. It’s 35-40 minutes journey from Rameshwaram to Dhanushkodi village by jeep. It is convenient and comfortable. On the way, you can stop at the Kothandaramar temple.

The TNSTC bus is very economical and costs only 30 INR. There is a bus every 45 from the bus stop near Shri Rameshwaram Temple. It takes around 45-50 minutes to reach Dhanushkodi. If you take the bus then get down near the ruins which are much before the last stop of the bus. Explore the ruins and then take the next bus for the last point. The first bus is around 8.00 AM from Rameshwaram and the last bus from Dhanushkodi is at 6.00 PM.

Also, read the best places to visit in Kanyakumari and Madurai .

Best time to visit Dhanushkodi

It is best to visit between December to March when the weather is mild and you can roam around comfortably.

Don’t visit Dhanushkodi in monsoon from July to September because not only it rains heavily. The weather is unpredictable and there can be stormes without any warning. Fishing is not done in monsoon and fisherman also leaves Dhanushkodi for towns.

Dhanushkodi Tsunami and history

As per Hindu mythology, Dhanushkodi was the place where Lord Rama and his army of monkeys built Ram Setu to connect India with Lanka to rescue his wife Sita from the Ravana. The Ram Setu is otherwise known as Adam’s Bridge, it is connecting Pumban Island to Sri Lanka.

After rescuing his wife Sita, Lord Ram destroyed the bridge with arrows from his bow. Hence the name of the town became Dhanushkodi meaning ‘end of bow’.

The bridge is not visible with naked eyes because it is submerged in water. Thinking for walking on it? You can’t do it. Don’t even think of this because the sea is very volatile and currents are strong.

Due to its association with Lord Ram, Dhanushkodi is a place of religious importance.

Before the tsunami of 1964, Dhanushkodi was a small bustling town. In those days it had a railway station, a post office, a secondary school, few hotels, and the usual settlement. It was the main port of transportation between India and Sri Lanka.

On the fateful day of 22nd December 1964, the 6 couch train with 100 passengers and 5 crew members was on its way to Dhanushkodi around 10.00 PM. When this train was one km from the Dhanushkodi station, the driver noticed the signal was not working. He blew the horn a few times and moved towards the station but unfortunately within a couple of minutes the train submerged in the water and washed away in strong tsunami waves. No one survivors from that train.

High tidal waves moved deep in Dhanushkodi island and ruined the entire town, approximately 1800 people died during the cyclone. All houses, religious places, and other government buildings of Dhanushkodi were marooned in the tsunami.

The railway line also destroyed during the cyclone. Due to this tragedy, the government of Tamil Nadu declared Dhanushkodi unsafe for living and rehabilitated the remaining population to other parts of the state.

After this tragedy, Dhanushkodi is also known as the “city of the dead”.

Later on, after a few years, some fishermen returned to Dhanushkodi because the sea here is rich in fishes. They made small huts and lived here except for the monsoon months when they go back to their permanent homes.

Ghost stories of Dhanushkodi

There are stories and local people believe that they saw the ghost in Dhanushkodi. It is not wise to say there are ghosts because there is no scientific proof. But certainly, a small town where 1800 people died in tragic circumstances, everything turned into ruins and remained abandoned for years can have some ghost stories.

Even after half a century, only a few people are living in makeshift huts. There is no electricity and when night falls everything goes into the dark. The wind blows so strongly that small objects fly with it and walls of huts shakes. Everything looks mysterious at night.

Tourists are not allowed to stay in Dhanushkodi and it is virtually abandoned at night. Due to these anti-social elements like smugglers get active at night. It is unofficially a breeding ground for anti-social activities. They tend to spread the ghost stories so that most of the people of the island remain inside their huts. This will give them free passage.

Travel tips for visiting Dhanushkodi

* Travel to Dhanushkodi in the morning or late afternoon because it gets hot during the day.

** There are two areas to see in Dhanushkodi. One is the village where most of the ruins and the other is the land’s end called Arichal Munai.

* First, visit the Dhanushkodi village and explore the ruins then go to the land’s end of Pamban island.

** Carry food, water, and umbrellas. Also, carry a scarf or cap to cover your head because the sun is quite harsh and you can get the sunburn.

* Wear footwear suitable for walking on the beach and sand.

** Avoid walking barefoot in the sand because there are broken bottles that are hidden under sand in some places.

* It is a great place for a picnic. If you plan to do so then carry all essential like food, water, etc with you.

** There are few fisherman huts in Dhanushkodi and no place to stay. Tourists are not allowed to stay after sunset.

* Don’t pitch a tent on the beach to stay in Dhanushkodi overnight. It is not safe because in case of any illegal activities you will be in trouble. Secondly, the weather is harsh and unpredictable here.

** There is no mobile tower and no mobile signal in Dhanushkodi village. So be careful and don’t venture into the unknown.

* There are patches of quicksand near the bushes. Don’t try to be too adventurous if alone.

** Last bus leave from the land’s end of Dhanushkodi before 6.00 PM.

* You can’t watch the sunset in Dhanushkodi because of policemen stationed at the tip of the landmark. They make sure that every vehicle return before it gets dark.

** Be mindful and don’t leave any empty bottle or wrapper or any other waste in Dhanushkodi.

* Don’t enter the sea if there is board stating this.

Also read Travel tips for India , What to wear in India and Solo travel destinations for females .

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1 thought on “dhanushkodi travel guide – how to explore the ghost town”.

What an interesting sounding place. I’ve never heard of it!

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Dhanushkodi Road Trip by Own Car - Dhanushkodi Beach Point

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Dhanushkodi Road Trip by Own Car

It is one of my long dreams to drive through Pampan Bridge up to Dhanushkodi which is the extreme end of the Indian Subcontinent. Dhanushkodi is an abandoned town 23 Km away from Rameswaram . The road connecting to Rameswaram to Dhanushkodi is opened in 2016 and now you can straight away drive to Dnaushkodi, The travelling is really wonderful through the road .Bboth sides full of greenery for some distance and thereafter you will be in the middle of two oceans.. Really wonderfull and memorable journey. You can see ruins of the 1964 cyclone still stand high to show its splendour. The riuns of a Church, Old railway stations, Post office and naval base is visible. Tourists can drive Dhanushkodi to Arichamunai (4.5 KM) in their own vehicle and end up with Pillars of Ashoka.. and park your vehicles here. It is bit congested area. Then you can walk through the pristine beaches, One side is Bay of Bangal and other side Indian Ocean. Really wonderfull beach.I was awestruck at the sight of crystal clear water. If you visit rameshwaram please do not miss Dhanushkodi. it is really a wonderfulll place where past meet present. TIps. It is very hot and humid place. So keep your cap, sunglass, Sunscreen, water bottles ready. small shops sells water, snacks and sea shell ornaments. Food especially seafood are available on small huts along the side of the road. But no idea about the quality. Morning and evenings are best visit this place. But it is not advisable to stay there after sunset. It is virtually a noman island after sunset.

Dhanushkodi Beach is closed due to short cyclone in May 2018 . We couldn’t go all the way to the end as roads were broken and police barricades. We had to stop at old Dhanushkodi village. But even after that the road to Dhanushkodi is majestic and beautiful with sea on both sides.

Nice place to be.....so close to Sri Lanka with sea around you (three sides sea) and awesome breeze blowing all the time.

Took my RX-135 on a long night trip to Dhanuskodi, had a flat tyre couple of times on the way and back and engine starts creating uncomfortable metal clanking sound. Had to do max 40kmh for a 600km journey. Regretted a couple of times but ahhh when i reach Dhanuskodi it was worth it. Clean beaches and a clear blue sea a rare sight especially in the southern part of India. It was midnight on the way when i reached Pamban bridge so I didn't even notice, on my way back i had to stop on the bridge and it was a sight and the view from the bridge was breathtaking. And those fish stalls in Dhanuskodi sells the freshest fish i ever had, had a few for breakfast as i went to beach at 8am.

You can plan to visit place in the early evening or in the morning but it is must visit place if you have time. It takes around 30 minutes from rameswaram to Danushkodi beach But trust me you will enjoy with the sea shore and the breeze over here where the two oceans meets

Outstanding Beach. Just a stone's throw from Rameshwaram Temple (less than 12 km). Sun rise / Sun Set - extremely good view. Very clean and neat beach, with less crowd. It is a MUST Visit place. Sometimes, the waves are a bit rough with heavy current. Take care before you get deep into this beach.

Road trip to Dhanushkodi: The ghost town of Rameshwaram

[](https://static2.tripoto.com/media/filter/tst/img/246775/tripdocument/1453889314_dsc_0003.jpg)port of rameshwaram[](https://static2.tripoto.com/media/filter/tst/img/246775/tripdocument/1453889317_dsc_0005.jpg)the ramanathaswamy temple[](https://static2.tripoto.com/media/filter/tst/img/246775/tripdocument/1453889318_dsc_0024.jpg)a local lady cooks in her shack.[](https://static2.tripoto.com/media/filter/tst/img/246775/tripdocument/1453889320_dsc_0032.jpg)a makeshift shack[](https://static2.tripoto.com/media/filter/tst/img/246775/tripdocument/1453889322_dsc_0034.jpg)the ruins of dhanushkodi railway station[](https://static2.tripoto.com/media/filter/tst/img/246775/tripdocument/1453889324_dsc_0125.jpg)sunset at dhanushkodi beach[](https://static2.tripoto.com/media/filter/tst/img/246775/tripdocument/1453889326_dsc_0156_2.jpg)silhouettes during sunset at dhanushkodi [](https://static2.tripoto.com/media/filter/tst/img/246775/tripdocument/1453889327_dsc_0160.jpg)sunset on indian ocean[](https://static2.tripoto.com/media/filter/tst/img/246775/tripdocument/1453889329_dsc_0164.jpg)sands of time[](https://static2.tripoto.com/media/filter/tst/img/246775/tripdocument/1453889330_dsc_0172.jpg)sun setting on boat[](https://static2.tripoto.com/media/filter/tst/img/246775/tripdocument/1453889332_dsc_0176.jpg)the orange hue[](https://static2.tripoto.com/media/filter/tst/img/246775/tripdocument/1453889334_dsc_0204.jpg)chaos in the night skyone can only imagine rameshwaram as a religious place, with its significance in the hindu pilgrimage of "char-dham yatra". but, this place has a lot more to offer apart from pilgrimage. one of the worlds' shallowest coastline bordering bay of bengal on one side and the indian ocean on other. it has some of the most amazing beaches where one can just enjoy solitude and be on their own. what could be a greater inspiration for a road-trip so, we blocked our calendars and let loose the throttle of our bikes ;-) **day one** ----------- we six friends started from bangalore around 3:30 am, as we find it the most useful hour for all the trips. the roads connecting rameshwaram to bangalore is pretty decent, a well maintained ah 43 which goes through hosur, salem, namakkal, karur till all the way to madurai. we were going at a good pace when one of our bikes broke down just 20 kms away from madurai. we had to tow it to the city of maduari to get it fixed, before we could start for rameshwaram. it was late in the night, when we were crossing the historic pamban bridge built over the pamban channel of the bay of bengal. it was pitch dark both side of the bridge, except the sea breeze day two ------- woke up early before sunrise, just to get awestruck with the spectacular view of the rameshwaram port - [](https://static2.tripoto.com/media/filter/m/img/15546/tripdocument/1455012933_dsc_0003.jpg)  *the port of rameshwaram* we took a maxi van to visit dhanushkodi, as we need to drive off road on the coastline to reach the end of the land. the van started for dhanushkodi which is around 20 kms from the center of rameshwaram. one can drive their own vehicle till the checkpost of dhanushkodi as a new road has been laid all the way to till there. we had breakfast in a local fisherman's shack before we started for the off-road drive to end of the land. [](https://static2.tripoto.com/media/filter/m/img/15546/tripdocument/1455017153_dsc_0024.jpg) *a local lady cooking in her shack, the idly and dosa made by her was so delicious :-)* once we reached the checkpost, our van took off the road and started driving parallel to the coastline. one can see the calm and shallow bay of bengal on their left and the deep blue indian ocean on their right. it was a hell of a ride as the van was almost going 5-8 meters inside the sea while we were shouting profusely in excitement. on reaching end of the land, we could spot the ruins of the majestic town which is mostly under the cover of sand now. the city was completely destroyed in the 1964 cyclone and many structures were devoured by the mighty indian ocean. [](https://static2.tripoto.com/media/filter/m/img/15546/tripdocument/1455017722_dsc_0034.jpg) *the ruins of dhanushkodi railway station* *[](https://static2.tripoto.com/media/filter/m/img/15546/tripdocument/1455017775_dsc_0039_2.jpg)* *the ruin of a church* day two: break -------------- we had limited time to explore as the van driver was insisting continuously to return. so we decided to retire and return back during the dusk, as the temperature started to sore due to the scorching sun. and this time we planned to ride our bikes all the way.. ;-) day two - dusk: ride to dhanushkodi ----------------------------------- we started in the afternoon to reach dhanushkodi before dusk. on the way, we went to visit kodana rama temple and were beguiled by the view of the road leading to this temple. the road was intersecting the bay of bengal and the riding experience was just of the world.   finally we reached the checkpost of dhanushkodi and started walking along the coastline of the indian ocean. we saw on of the best sunset there, the spectacular view of the sun setting on the mighty blue indian ocean will definitely leave you spellbound for moments.  [](https://static2.tripoto.com/media/filter/m/img/15546/tripdocument/1455020480_dsc_0125.jpg) *a glimpse of sunset at dhanushkodi* *[](https://static2.tripoto.com/media/filter/m/img/15546/tripdocument/1455020583_dsc_0156_2.jpg)* *sunset at dhanushkodi* these beautiful views of sunset will go a long way in everyone's remembrance we did not move until the sun was completely gone out of sight and it started getting dark. [](https://static2.tripoto.com/media/filter/m/img/15546/tripdocument/1455020768_dsc_0172.jpg) *sun setting on a boat at dhanushkodi :-)* we returned to rameshwaram after the sunset with all the beautiful and mesmerizing memories of dhanushkodi. one should visit this place once in a lifetime, before the ocean eats up this shallow land. also there are a lot of religious importance to this place, but keeping it aside one can visit this place just to explore these beautiful places :-) cheers started from bangalore around 4 am in the morning. had breakfast here. took our lunch break here. one can visit the "meenakshi amman temple" in madurai..

What could be a greater inspiration for a road-trip! So, we blocked our calendars and let loose the throttle of our bikes ;-)

We six friends started from Bangalore around 3:30 AM, as we find it the most useful hour for all the trips. The roads connecting Rameshwaram to Bangalore is pretty decent, a well maintained AH 43 which goes through Hosur, Salem, Namakkal, Karur till all the way to Madurai. We were going at a good pace when one of our bikes broke down just 20 KMs away from Madurai. We had to tow it to the city of Maduari to get it fixed, before we could start for Rameshwaram.

It was late in the night, when we were crossing the historic Pamban bridge built over the Pamban channel of the Bay of Bengal. It was pitch dark both side of the bridge, except the sea breeze!

Woke up early before sunrise, just to get awestruck with the spectacular view of the Rameshwaram port -

The port of Rameshwaram

We took a maxi van to visit Dhanushkodi, as we need to drive off road on the coastline to reach the end of the land. The van started for Dhanushkodi which is around 20 kms from the center of Rameshwaram. One can drive their own vehicle till the checkpost of Dhanushkodi as a new road has been laid all the way to till there. We had breakfast in a local fisherman's shack before we started for the off-road drive to end of the land.

A local lady cooking in her shack, the idly and dosa made by her was so delicious :-)

Once we reached the checkpost, our van took off the road and started driving parallel to the coastline. One can see the calm and shallow Bay of Bengal on their left and the deep blue Indian Ocean on their right. It was a hell of a ride as the van was almost going 5-8 meters inside the sea while we were shouting profusely in excitement. On reaching end of the land, we could spot the ruins of the majestic town which is mostly under the cover of sand now. The city was completely destroyed in the 1964 cyclone and many structures were devoured by the mighty Indian Ocean.

The ruins of Dhanushkodi railway station

The ruin of a church

Day two: break

We had limited time to explore as the van driver was insisting continuously to return. So we decided to retire and return back during the dusk, as the temperature started to sore due to the scorching Sun. And this time we planned to ride our bikes all the way.. ;-)

Day two - dusk: ride to Dhanushkodi

We started in the afternoon to reach Dhanushkodi before dusk. On the way, we went to visit Kodana Rama temple and were beguiled by the view of the road leading to this temple. The road was intersecting the Bay of Bengal and the riding experience was just of the world.

Finally we reached the checkpost of Dhanushkodi and started walking along the coastline of the Indian Ocean. We saw on of the best sunset there, the spectacular view of the Sun setting on the mighty blue Indian Ocean will definitely leave you spellbound for moments. 

A glimpse of Sunset at Dhanushkodi

Sunset at Dhanushkodi

These beautiful views of sunset will go a long way in everyone's remembrance! We did not move until the Sun was completely gone out of sight and it started getting dark.

Sun setting on a boat at Dhanushkodi :-)

We returned to Rameshwaram after the sunset with all the beautiful and mesmerizing memories of Dhanushkodi. One should visit this place once in a lifetime, before the ocean eats up this shallow land. Also there are a lot of religious importance to this place, but keeping it aside one can visit this place just to explore these beautiful places :-)

Started from Bangalore around 4 AM in the morning.

Had breakfast here.

Took our lunch break here. One can visit the "Meenakshi Amman Temple" in Madurai.

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Road trip to Rameshwaram & Dhanushkodi with my EcoSport

Gujarat to Kerala and then to Rameswaram and Dhanushkodi. Easier said than done.

BHPian R-Six recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Somewhere along with the Madurai-Rameswaram stretch. Take a pause to enjoy the roads, the machine and the company!

A glimpse of the historic Pamban Bridge. The colour of the water is unbelievably green for someone coming from the northwest

View of the other side of the Pamban Bridge! Boats neatly docked at the end of the day! Waiting for their next trip into the sea looking for their master's lively hood

Roads are drawn like a straight line as far as your eyes can see.

Perks of doing cross-country road trips. You can make impromptu plans and detours to explore interesting places

After completing the trip up north last year, I had been joking around with my friends and family that my next trip is going to be to the Southernmost part of India.

While Kashmir to Kanyakumari in a single drive is still a distant dream for mere mortals like me who are stuck to the 9-5 drill, why not do these in instalments? And why not, most of our lives revolve around instalments one way or the other anyway. So that’s how my itch to drive down to the Land’s End, aka Dhanushkodi started.

Since my parents still live in Kerala, decided to club it along with one of my visits to the hometown.

The place I call home!

The only catch was, convincing the better half to agree again for yet another cross-country drive. From Gujarat to Kerala and then to Rameswaram and Dhanushkodi. Easier said than done.

While I want this blog to focus on the Dhanushkodi trip, I will still go ahead and break my journey up to my hometown as well just for the reader’s benefit. If someone is looking at driving down from this part of the county, this can be a handy reference.

I generally split my drive to Kerala into 3 parts.

• Day 1: Ahmedabad – Pune
• Day 2: Pune – Bangalore
• Day 3: Bangalore – Chavakkad (Thrissur)

My drive to Rameswaram and Dhanushkodi happened a couple of weeks after my arrival at my native.

Day 1 was BAU: Ahmedabad-Pune

An early start ensured that we were in Pune before sunset. We could have easily pushed till Satara or Karad considering that we were in Pune by 6.

Since we had retired early the previous day, we were up and on the road by 6:15 am.

Since we had not done any bookings, decided to drive to Hosur before calling it a day. But after wrapping up dinner at Attibele A2B, we couldn’t find a suitable place for a night halt until Krishnagiri. Either the rates were exorbitant, or the rooms were not satisfactory.

What took me and my partner by surprise was the distance we covered that day. We had ended up clocking around 950 km, making our last leg of the journey on Day 3 quite relaxed.

Continue reading BHPian R-Six's Rameshwaram travelogue for more insights and information.

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Dhanushkodi – the Ghost Town becomes a dream destination

As we drove through the road with the sea on both sides, light showers in a hot sunny day added a spark to the surreal beauty of nature around.

This was our trip to the ghost town of Dhanushkodi – one that made a permanent space in our minds for times to come. Here in this post, I will tell you the inspirational story of Dhanushkodi, the southern tip of the Rameshwaram Island.

The post contains affiliate links for tours, hotels etc. This means if you make any purchase through the links in the post, I may get a commission without any additional cost to you.

Where History meets Mythology

Have you heard of the mystical and elusive Rama Setu, aka, Adam’s bridge? The series of limestone rocks under the sea has been a topic of debate for long. It is widely believed to be connected to the Hindu epic Ramayana.

It’s said that the “vaanar sena” (monkey army) formed the bridge for Sri Ram and his army to reach Lanka to bring back his abducted wife. Geologists however challenged the statements and claimed it to be a natural formation. Well, whatever you believe in, this is a sight that anyone would cherish.

Alas, thanks to the rising sea levels you can’t see it anymore. So, I just have the satellite images sourced from Wikipedia to show you. 

My brain believes in the geologist’s version while my heart seeks comfort in the story I have been reading since childhood. The monkey army laying one boulder after the other to pave way for Ram to reach Lanka to rescue his wife.

And here’s a self-promotion ad-break.

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Why is Dhanushkodi the Ghost Town of India 

Let me go back in time for a bit. Once upon a time Dhanushkodi was a flourishing town at the tip of India. Regular ferries used to ply between Mannar in Sri Lanka and Dhanushkodi in India during friendlier times.

Back then Sri Lanka was called Ceylon, a Portuguese name given by the colonists. It was a busy trade route. Trade as well as religious pilgrimage was at its peak as both Hindus and Christians considered it sacred. Then came that ominous night of 22nd December 1964 .

The massive cyclone, probably the worst that India has seen in the last century ravaged both Rameshwaram and Mannar (in Sri Lanka). Dhanushkodi was the worst affected. Everything was marooned – the houses, structures, a Ganesh temple – all gone in hours. The death and destruction was unimaginable.

Following this tragedy, the government of Tamil Nadu declared it uninhabitable. Dhanushkodi thus earned the tag “ghost town”. 

Revival of Dhanushkodi as a dream destination

A handful of fishermen families still stayed back, even after Dhanushkodi was declared ghost town. For them, it was home.

They would have to travel several kilometers on foot to sell their fish and obtain grocery for their survival. With no trade or tourism, the life here came to a standstill. But the lack of any human activities restored the serenity of the beaches . 

It was many decades later that the government took initiative to revive tourism here. Till 2017, there was no proper road connecting Dhanushkodi to the main town of Rameshwaram.

But despite difficulty offbeat travelers would off-road and to bask in the untouched beauty of Dhanushkodi.

Awestruck by the beauty of my nature and the taste of local fish, they went back spreading the word of mouth. Suddenly the ruins of lost town gained popularity and Dhanushkodi became one of the best offbeat destinations in India .

Many families took this opportunity to set up stalls for selling hand-made sea-shell artifacts. In 2018, they constructed a road connecting the main town to Dhanushkodi. Tourism flourished like never before.

Dhanushkodi at present

You can now visit Dhanushkodi only between 6 am to 6 pm. Four-wheelers are restricted from entering after 11 am. So if you reach late, you will have to walk 2 km to the beach. There are guards the Dhanushkodi beach to oversee the tourist activities.

They don’t allow too many people to bathe in the beach at the same time. All this has been done to reserve the sanctity of the beaches. If you drive here, you will find the azure sea on both sides.

You can park your car somewhere and step into the velvety soft sand to experience the beauty of the Indian ocean here. You can also stop at the forests which are adjacent to the beaches.

It’s funny how everyone gathers at the tip making it overcrowded, while long stretches of my beaches remain absolutely desolate.

The confluence of Indian Ocean and Bay of Bengal is stuff of dreams. It’s called “Arichal Munai” in Tamil. Do you know hundreds of flamingos flock into Arichal Munal  during the winter months?

But even as recently as 2017, some officials from municipality came and started demolishing shops here without official orders. The locals fought and stopped it.

When their home was declared uninhabitable, they stayed back, they believed, they struggled and came out victorious in their battle of survival.

So, on your next trip, make sure you stop at the local shacks, eat fried masala Pomfret and crab, buy exquisite sea-shell artifacts and chat with the locals.

Now the last thing can be difficult as they are poor villagers who are not conversant in Hindi or English. But they are very friendly and accommodating.

What can you do in Dhanushkodi?

If you liked the story of this ghost town, and want to visit it, here’s a quick recap of what you can and should do.

• Arrive here at 6 am for watching the sunrise
• Drive through the amazing road that runs between the Indian Ocean and Bay of Bengal
• Stand and stare at the untouched natural beauty of my shores and the colorful fishermen boats floating in the clear azure waters
• Walk in my shore-forests
• Reach the tip of the land and bathe in the shallow waters
• Watch the changing colors of water in Arichal Munai
• Buy amazing souvenirs from the local shops
• Eat fried fish and crabs in the shacks

Tamil Nadu is a traveler’s treasure trove. Take a quick glance at the Top Tourist Places of Tamil Nadu .

How to reach and where to stay in Dhanushkodi?

The only way to reach Dhanushkodi is from the nearest town Rameshwaram. Rameshwaram is an island connected to mainland India by a hundred-year old railway-bridge as well as a modern flyover.

The best way to reach Rameswaram is by train from Chennai to Rameswaram. Chennai located 600 km from Rameswaram, is the nearest big international airport. It is followed by Bangalore which is 606 km from Rameswaram.

We drove from Bangalore to Rameshwaram. Though it’s a 600km odd journey , we experienced the smoothest drive through the best roads of the country.

You can get all you need to know in our blog post about Rameshwaram trip . We stayed at Hyatt Place Rameshwaram – a reasonably priced 4-star hotel. You can browse large number of other options of accommodation in Rameswaram here . 

Before you go, check out my post to know about the best travel destinations in South India .

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I can only hope to do justice to this breathtakingly beautiful place with my post. If you liked it, please pin this post to save for later. Share it with your family, friends and young children. Plan a trip when it’s safe to travel again.

Subscribe to the blog to get weekly update of posts from this series, besides other awesome things. All photos (unless otherwise specified) are copyrighted by Backpack & Explore. The post may contain affiliate links.

Sinjana Ghosh is a full-time business professional with a penchant for writing and travel planning. Backpack & Explore is a journal of her travel stories and tips she collected from her experience. She is the author of the travel book “Postcards from India” which is available on Amazon, Flipkart and Notionpress.com

28 Comments

Dhanushkodi is my favourite spot, it has something magical or mystic to it that I would love to go there again, the path that takes us there, the name when we say its the last land of India the curiosity creeps in automatically. The church certainly is a place to watch for. Lovely post and great clicks. thanks for sharing and helping me go back in my Dhanush Kodi memories.

Thanks Pragun. Glad you liked it.

I loved reading about a place so unfamiliar to me and yet I feel through your writing that I understand so much more about it now. Thanks for sharing.

What a great post! I loved how you wrote it from the town’s perspective. I love the story, especially when you pointed out that the lack of human activity made the beaches cleaner; and I’m glad visits are restricted now – make sit special. Maybe we can all learn from this story – I feel it relates to the situation we are in. I hope when we can travel again, we’ll see restrictions, to keep the most beautiful places clean and unpolluted. Thanks for a great read 🙂

Thank you so much Emese. Yes, it’s a story of a long struggle. If they could, we can too.

This looks like a place I will want to visit!!

You’ve made the place enticing.

Thanks Matheikal!

I have never been to Dhanushkodi but my granny used to tell me tales of how it got destroyed in 1964. I have been to Rameshwaram quite often though. It is indeed news to me that efforts are on to revive the township again and make it a tourist destination. That is indeed good news.

Yes , it’s a breathtaking beauty and not at all a ghost town any more. Please visit with your family.

Beautiful place and such lovely pictures. Definitely a must-visit place.

Thanks Jyoti. I will head here again the day we are allowed to travel for leisure.

We had planned to visit Dhanushkodi a couple of times but the local rumors of it being a haunted place made most of us chicken out. Glad you visited and gave us a vivid description of this beautiful place.

It’s not haunted, and quite crowded during the day. But it’s a must-visit. My favorite place in India so far.

Such an interesting post. I loved it ! I visited this place about 2 years ago and it was so beautiful. There was something really magical about it .

Thanks a lot. Yes, the place is something different.

Wow, how interesting place! The title was so intriguing that made me dragged towards it. Loved the read and really I appreciate the representation style of it. Lovely.

Thank you so much. I’m glad that you liked it. The place inspires the creative spirit in you.

Amazing bit of history, you have so well narrated. By the way, the first-person style of narration makes it all the more engaging.

Thanks a lot! Glad that this experimental style worked.

Lovely post Sinjana. I didn’t know about Dhanushkodi’s tragic history but I’m glad one can access it now easily.

Thanks Noor! Yes now it is a breeze to access.

Added to my list But what if I cannot bring a car? Is public transport available? Also how about stays nearby? Is it okay to go on a solo trip? Can I have more information for a budget trip?

Hi Ranjini. It is in Rameshwaram and there are a lot of hotels in the town. You can get auto-richaws and buses to the Dhanushkodi checkpoint. From there, you can get shared autos and tt once again to take you to the tip. You can find all the details on our Rameshwaram post- https://www.backpacknxplore.com/rameshwaram-itinerary-travel-guide

நமது தமிழ் நாட்டில் கோவில்களுக்கும் பஞ்சமில்லை அன்பு நிறைந்த நெஞ்சங்களுக்கும் குறைவில்லை. எழுதி சிறந்து விளங்கிட வாழ்த்துக்கள்.

Wow, incredible blog layout! How long have you been blogging for? you make blogging look easy. The overall look of your site is wonderful, as well as the content!

This was super fascinating and unique!

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Dhanushkodi Beach: A Hidden Gem on the Southernmost Tip of India

Dhanushkodi Beach is a stunning beach located on the southernmost tip of India, in the state of Tamil Nadu. It is also a popular pilgrimage site, as it is believed to be the place where Lord Rama built the Ram Setu (Rama’s Bridge) to rescue his wife Sita from the demon king Ravana.

Dhanushkodi beach

Dhanushkodi was once a thriving port town, but it was devastated by a cyclone in 1964. The cyclone killed thousands of people and destroyed most of the town’s infrastructure.

Things to do at Dhanushkodi Beach

Despite its tragic history, Beach is a popular tourist destination. Visitors can enjoy a variety of activities at the beach, including:

• Swimming: Beach is a great place to swim, as the waters are calm and clear. However, it is important to be aware of the tides, as they can be strong.
• Sunbathing: Beach has pristine white sand, which makes it a perfect place to relax and soak up the sun.
• Visiting the ruins of the old town: The ruins of the old town of Dhanushkodi are a reminder of the town’s tragic history. Visitors can explore the ruins of the railway station, the church, and other buildings.
• Visiting the Ram Setu: The Ram Setu is a chain of limestone shoals that connects India to Sri Lanka. . Visitors can take a boat trip to the Ram Setu and view it from a distance.

How to reach:

There are two ways to reach Dhanushkodi Beach:

By road: Dhanushkodi Beach is located about 20 kilometers from the town of Rameswaram. Visitors can take a taxi or auto rickshaw from Rameswaram to Dhanushkodi Beach. The journey takes about 30 minutes.

By train: There is no direct train to Dhanushkodi Beach. The nearest railway station is Rameswaram Railway Station. Visitors can take a train to Rameswaram Railway Station and then take a taxi or auto rickshaw to Dhanushkodi Beach.

Once you reach Dhanushkodi Beach, you will need to take a jeep or van to reach the beach itself. The beach is located about 5 kilometers from the main road.

Place to explore nearby:

Here are some places to explore :

• Rameswaram: Rameswaram is a holy town located about 20 kilometers from Dhanushkodi Beach. It is known for its Ramanathaswamy Temple, which is one of the twelve Jyotirlinga temples in India. Rameswaram is also a popular pilgrimage site for Hindus, as it is believed to be the place where Lord Rama built the Ram Setu (Rama’s Bridge) to rescue his wife Sita from the demon king Ravana.
• Adam’s Bridge: Adam’s Bridge, also known as Ram Setu, is a chain of limestone shoals that connects India to Sri Lanka. It is about 48 kilometers long and 1.8 kilometers wide. It is believed to be the bridge that Lord Rama built to rescue his wife Sita from the demon king Ravana. Visitors can take a boat trip to Adam’s Bridge and view it from a distance.
• Pamban Island: Pamban Island is a small island located between Rameswaram and mainland India. It is connected to Rameswaram by the Pamban Bridge, which is a cantilever bridge that is over 2 kilometers long. Pamban Island is a popular tourist destination for its beautiful beaches and its proximity to Rameswaram and Dhanushkodi Beach
• Ariyaman Beach: Ariyaman Beach is a beautiful beach located about 10 kilometers from Dhanushkodi Beach. Ariyaman Beach is a popular spot for swimming, sunbathing, and dolphin watching.
• Kunthu Kal Beach: Kunthu Kal Beach is a secluded beach located about 15 kilometers. Kunthu Kal Beach is a perfect place to relax and escape the crowds.

Ashwini Timbadia

Greetings, fellow travelers! I am Ashwini Timbadia, an avid explorer and founder of Timbadiainsights.com, a haven for wanderlust enthusiasts seeking inspiration and guidance. My passion for traversing the globe has led me on countless adventures, uncovering hidden gems and forging unforgettable memories. Through the pages of my blog, I aim to ignite your wanderlust and provide you with the tools to embark on your own journeys of discovery. Whether you're seeking recommendations for off-the-beaten-path destinations or tips for navigating the world with ease, I'm here to be your travel companion.

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Rameswaram 2 days itinerary – places to visit in Rameswaram

Today, we bring you a perfect Rameswaram 2 days itinerary!! Year end 2021, we made a plan to visit Rameswaram along with exploring the temples of Madurai , the Chettinad Tourist places including the Karaikudi houses and the Thanjavur Big Temple . It was a compact 5 days trip from Bangalore . So, we only spent a day in Rameswaram. And could only visit the Ramalingeshwara Temple there. But there were so many other places to visit in Rameswaram that we couldn’t, including a trip to Dhanushkodi.

Luckily, just over a year after that, we got a chance to make another trip to Rameswaram. So, this time, we decided to make it a Rameswaram 2 days itinerary. Thus exploring most of the places to visit in Rameswaram over these two days. So, here’s our Rameswaram 2 days itinerary, with the places to visit in the order mentioned. Assuming you will be visiting Rameswaram from Madurai like we did.

Table of Contents

Day 1 of Rameswaram 2 days Itinerary

Madurai to rameswaram trip.

We took a road trip from Bangalore to Madurai the day before. Upon reaching Madurai, we visited the Meenakshi Amman Temple . And stayed overnight at Kfour Apartments and Hotel which was very near to the highway. The next day we took a road trip from Madurai to Rameswaram which is throughout on NH 87.

The road condition is good. Half of the NH 87 from Madurai to Rameswaram is 4 lane while the other half is 2 lane. Overall , it takes around 3 hours to reach Rameswaram from Madurai. Around 15 kilometers before the bridge to Rameswaram, we stopped at this hotel for lunch.

Post lunch, we drove to the bridge. And stopped on the bridge for some beautiful snaps of the Pamban Island from here.

There after we crossed the bridge to enter the Pamban Island and continued on NH 87. The town of Rameswaram is around 8km inside the Pamban Island. And our hotel, S S Grand hotel , is located on the NH 87 itself. So, we first checked in into the hotel. By around 3:30 pm, we had settled in our room, freshened up and ready to start our trip of Rameswaram.

Exploring Dhanushkodi

We decided to explore Dhanushkodi for the rest of the day today. The ghost town of Dhanushkodi is located on the extension of NH 87, also called Rameswaram – Dhanushkodi road. A cyclone in the year 1964 destroyed this town and submerged major parts of it. The ruins of the old town buildings can be seen here. Moreover, driving through that last stretch of road with the Indian ocean flocking on one side and the Bay of Bengal on the other is an experience of it’s own. Further, 5km from the town of Dhanushkodi you reach the end of land in India – the Dhanushkodi beach.

There are several things to do on a trip to Dhanushkodi. Including excellent photography, enjoying seafood, spending quality time on the Dhanushkodi beach, exploring the ruins of the ghost town of Dhanushkodi, and much more. Here’s our complete blog post on our trip to Dhanushkodi.

After a wonderful trip to Dhanushkodi from Rameswaram, we returned back to our hotel by evening. Thereafter we had an early dinner and called it a day. As we planned to start our day early to explore rest of the places to visit in Rameswaram.

Day 2 of Rameswaram 2 days Itinerary

Day 2 of our Rameswaram 2 days itinerary was the day when we decided to explore most of the places to visit in Rameswaram. And this is how we planned our day.

Ramanathaswamy Temple Rameswaram

The first and foremost place to visit in Rameswaram is definitely Ramanasthawamy Temple in Rameswaram. Ramanathaswamy Temple is one of the most important temples of the Hindus. As it is considered one of the 4 most important pilgrimage destinations, the “ Char Dham “. And it is believed that a Hindu who visits all 4 dhamas in his or her life attains to salvation. But apart from being one of the 4 dhams, the Ramanathaswamy temple is also one of the jyotirlingas of Shiva. So, that makes it all the more important.

As a result, the temple sees a lot of rush all through the year. Visiting in early morning hours gives one the benefit of less crowd. So, we visited here early in the morning. We started from our hotel at around 6:30am. And we were able to complete our temple visit and be back to our hotel by 8:30am. So, it really paid off to wake up early and visit this temple.

Ramalingeshwara Temple timing : 6:00am to 12:00pm , 4:00pm to 8:00pm

Agniteertham

Right besides Ramanathaswamy temple lies the Agniteertham, on the banks of the ocean. Taking a dip into the water here is believed to relieve one of their sins.

After visiting the temple and Agniteertham, we had breakfast at our hotel. Post breakfast, we visited rest of the places, except Villoondi Teertham on foot. As they were all at walking distance from the hotel.

Visiting Lakshmana Theertham

The first site that we visited from our hotel post breakfast was Lakshmana Teertham. In Rameswaram and around it, there are around 64 holy theerthas out of which 22 are located in the complex of Sri Ramanathaswamy temple. Lakshmana Theertham is one of the few which is located outside the main temple complex. This temple is located to Lord Lakshmana, the brother of Lord Rama.

The Lakshmana Theertham is built in Dravidian style of architecture. It has a beautiful, colorful corridor, which feels like a mini version of the largest corridor of Ramanathaswamy Temple. Inside, there are idols of Lord Rama, Lord Lakshmana, and Goddess Sita. Also, the temple has a pond besides it, with a mandapa in the center. Overall it is a beautiful and significant temple to include in the list of places to visit in Rameswaram on your Rameswaram 2 days itinerary.

Lakshmana Theertham Temple timing : 6:00am to 12:00pm , 4:00pm to 8:00pm

Panchmukhi Hanuman Temple

Barely 200 meters from Lakshmana Temple lies the temple of Panchmukhi Hanuman, which has a tall idol of Lord Hanuman. The word “Panchmukhi” literally means “five faced” and this idol of Lord Hanuman contains 5 faces, hence the Temple name. Overall, Rameswaram is all about Ramayana and it’s characters. So, no wonder there are temples dedicated to Lakshmana, Hanumana, Sita and other important Ramayana Gods and Goddess apart from Sri Rama.

House of A P J Abdul Kalam

A significant person whose homeland was Rameswaram was India’s famous scientist and president, Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam . There is a memorial on NH 87 built in the memory and honour of Dr A P J Abdul Kalam, right when you enter Rameswaram. Also, you can visit his house, which is hardly 500 meters from the Panchmukhi Hanuman Temple. And if time permits, you can also visit his burial ground.

Villoondi Teertham

A very special place to include in your Rameswaram 2 days itinerary is Villoondi Teertham – a sweet water lake that sprouts right in the middle of the ocean from nowhere like a mystery unresolved!! Legends say that Lord Rama created this lake for his army to drink water while they were working on building the Ram Setu. The Ram Setu being the bridge connecting the Pamban Island to Sri Lanka, where his wife Sita was kept captive by Ravana.

Villoondi Teertham is located around 6 km from the above attractions. And you can easily hire an autorickshaw which will take you to the spot.

Overall, we completed a visit to all these places in a couple of hours. And then came back to our hotel. The hotel checkout time was around 12pm. So, around this time, we checked out and started our trip back to Madurai. Because we wanted to halt for the night at Madurai. And continue our journey from Madurai to Bangalore the next day. In case you can spend one more night in Rameswaram, you can take a lot more time to explore all the above destinations all through the day. And also, visit some more places like the Seetha Theertham, The Olaikuda beach, Ariyaman beach and several other temples.

General information on visiting Rameswaram

Where to stay in Rameswaram

Rameswaram has several hotels, most of them are in the mid to small budget range. Then there are also Oyo rooms and hostels available at very cheap prices. We have stayed at Daiwik Hotel on our first trip to Rameswaram and in S S Grand hotel on our second trip to Rameswaram. Both these hotels are located right on NH 87 which makes getting into the town and moving out easy. Also, since we have travelled in our own vehicle both the times, these hotels had ample parking space, which was one of our requirements. Here’s a list of hotels in Rameswaram from our partner site that you can browse to book one.

How to reach Rameswaram

One can conveniently reach Rameswaram from Madurai via NH 87. One can also reach Rameswaram from Chettinad Region and Karaikudi , the roads are in excellent condition. Since Madurai is a major town of Tamil Nadu, it is well connected to the rest of India via road, rail and air network. So, one can conveniently reach Madurai. And then either drive to Rameswaram or take a train to Rameswaram via the famous Pamban Bridge. We drove from Bangalore to Madurai on NH 44 and then further drove from Madurai to Rameswaram on NH 87.

A trip to Rameswaram via the railways is also one of the most famous ways of reaching Rameswaram. Since it is an experience in itself to travel over the Pamban Bridge which is the only rail bridge in India built over an ocean – a marvel of the engineering excellence in India.

What is the best season to visit Rameswaram

The winter season is the best time to visit Rameswaram. As the temperature in Rameswaram remains moderately hot in this time, ranging from 25 degree to 30 degree celcius. In rainy season, when it rains heavily, you might be able to visit Dhanushkodi. Same is the case if there are predictions of cyclone, which often happen to arrive in this area around the year end time. So, check the weather predictions before visiting. The summer months of March onwards might see slight rise in the mercury, making it uncomfortable to explore around during the day.

With this, we conclude our Rameswaram 2 days itinerary details and the list of places to visit in Rameswaram. Hope it helps you plan your trip to Rameswaram. If you will like to explore the region further, here are some more articles about places to visit and things to see in this region of Tamil Nadu:

A day exploring Kanyakumari

The Thirumalai Nayakar Palace Madurai

Athangudi Palace Karaikudi

Things to do in Madurai in a day

Exploring Thanjavur

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Rameswaram, Dhanushkodi, Kanyakumari & Madurai in 2 days

Rameswaram-Dhanushkodi Road

First beach view ( clear water) before Pamban bridge

Road bridge next to train bridge

Rameswaram Temple

Rameswaram temple

Places to be seen in Rameshwaram

Places to be seen in Dhanushkodi

On the way to dhanushkodi

In left side beach of Dhanushkodi

Dhanushkodi

Clear water

Right side - High tides

Blue sky Blue water

Dhanushkodi Old City

Old Ruined Dhanukshodi

Bike ride in sand

View of Ramswaram from Dhanushkodi Vibishana temple

Kanyakumari Sunrise View

End of India

Church in kanyakumari

Tiruvalluvar Statue

Vivekananda Rock Memorial

Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple Road

Madurai Meenkashi Ammal Temple

Rameswaram:

Started at Egmore at 7PM

Reach at 8.35AM

Auto to temple area

Agni Theertham - One of the 64 sacred baths in India, bathing in this sea will rid one of his/her sins and make them pure

Go to 22 wells which are inside the temple and come out, get ready

Then go to temple

The Five Faced Hanuman Temple : 2km from above

Dhanuskodi Beach auto

Kothandaramaswamy Temple or Vibhishana temple

Beach of dhanushkodi (pamban iland connected to Indian main land through Pamban bridge)

Other temples

Train is at 8.50 from rameswaram to Kanyakumari(Capetwon)

Sunrise (trivenisangam) – 6.22 at Kanyakumari beach

Boat ride: Vivekananda Rock Memorial TIruvalluvar statue – 2 hours

Bhagavathy ammal temple: The Mythological Goddess Kanyakumari Amman temple ( The virgin goddess who is waiting to marry lord shiva).

Gandhi Memorial and kamaraj Manimandhabham both are adjacent to each other consuming 1 hour for both

Padmanabhapuram palace - The wooden palace in Kerala architecture

Vattakottai fort – 7km from sunrise point -8 am to 5 pm

Mathur Aqueduct – 60km from kanyakumar – so cancel

Suchindram Sthanumalayswamy Temple(Sthanumalayan kovil) - A 1000 years old temple also called as the Tridev temple – 1 hr – on the way to nagercoil (13km from kanyakumar and 5km to nagercoil station) - 4:30 AM to 11:30 AM and 5:00 PM to 8:30 PM

Kanyakumari to Madurai from 11AM to 5PM

Bus at 10PM

Reach Chennai at 6AM