Dhanushkodi, a hot tourist destination wrapped in history, spirituality and natural serene beauty. Dhanushkodi is one such place which is emotionally attached to me and I feel nostalgic wherever I think of this place. It was in our bucklist since long and finally we got the opportunity to visit Rameswaram and Dhanushkodi on 18th April 2026.
An evening drive from Rameswaram to Dhanushkodi was the highlight of our trip. It was truly an unforgettable journey through sacred legends, windswept shores, tragic ruins and aboveall the breathtaking sunset over the serene sea. Located at the southeastern tip of India, this small uninhabited place has turned into a dream destination of tourists and is gaining popularity.
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| Sunset View at Dhanushkodi |
Dhanushkodi is a place for Hindus due to it's connection with Ram Setu. Geographically it is located at the place where the Bay of Bengal and Indian Ocean (Gulf of Mannar) meet. Once upon a time, it was a thriving town of the fishermen in the Pamban Island of Tamil Nadu, now it stands as a haunting tragedy or so to say haunting beauty reminding nature's fury.
April 18th 2026: Day 2 of our South Trip
On Day 1 we visited Madurai Meenakshi Amman temple.
On Day 2 we had early morning darshan of Meenakshi Amman and started for a long drive from Madurai to Rameswaram via Pamban Road Bridge. After the 3.5 hours enjoyable journey we reached our hotel room and had a sound sleep.
Our Journey from Hotel Rameswaram Grand to Dhanushkodi
At around 4:00 pm we started for Dhanushkodi in a hired cab. A half-day / few hours road trip to Dhanushkodi from Rameswaram is more than enough to explore the places in and around. Being mid-April, the weather was hot and humid, a typical coastal climate but our excitement to explore Dhanushkodi overshadowed the discomfort.
As we drove along the scenic road with stretches of sand and sparkling blue waters on either side, we could immediately sense that this was going to be a memorable evening of our family trip.
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| On the way to Kodanda Ramaswamy Temple, Dhanushkodi |
Our First Stop: Sri Kodanda Rama Swamy Temple
The ancient and revered temple of Sri Kodanda Rama Swamy was our first destination. By the time we reached the temple, it was crowded with tourists. There is no entry fee and no parking fee. Visitors can park their vehicles anywhere around the temple. There are some local vendors in front of the temple selling tender coconuts and other local stuff. After darshan, we enjoyed tender coconut water at this place.
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| Kodanda Ramaswamy Temple, Dhanushkodi |
Sri Kodanda Ramaswamy Temple: Historical and Spiritual Significance
Standing in serene isolation near the sea, the temple is one of the most sacred sites connected with Sri Rama. The temple is dedicated Sri Kodanda Rama. The place is very sacred to Hindus as this place had given shelter to Sri Rama, Lakshmana and Hanuman before they marched to Lanka.
This is place where Sri Rama gives refuge to Vibhishana, Ravana's younger brother. And also crowns him as the King of Lanka defeating / killing Ravana.
As per sacred texts, this place signifies Sri Rama's departure point to Lanka. Sri Rama's bow Kodanda was marked the flagpost (known as kodi in Tamil) for the war. Hence the place got its name Dhanush (bow) kodi (flagpost).
There are black idols of Sri Rama, Lakshmana, Sita Devi, Hanuman and Vibhishana in the Kodanda Ramaswamy temple symbolizing the importance of the event and the place. The temple is modest with stone carving / paintings depicting Ramayana scenes specially Vibhishana scenes.
The temple is on the shores, yet the structure survived the 1964 massive cyclone that devastated the entire Dhanushkodi village. This is the only surviving structure from the 1964 devastating cyclone.
Though much of Dhanushkodi is in ruins, the temple is still functioning symbolizing the power of faith and endurance against nature’s aggressions.
Few Moments in Peaceful Ambience
The quiet surroundings with sandy shores, sparse vegetation and the confluence of the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean gives a serene and spiritual ambiance to this place. Added to the serenity the religious / historical significance makes the place deeply spiritual.
We spent few peaceful moments at this place with closed eyes and folded hands and prayed Sri Rama: few moments that were filled with reverence and calmness.
My Thoughts on this place
This is highly revered place for Hindus as Sri Rama and Hanuman stayed at this place for a while. Such a revered place has to be uplifted and well maintained with sanctity. But unfortunately, the entrance itself is full of disposables. The tourists should be aware of the importance of this place and maintain its sanctity.
Most of the tourists were shouting 'Jai Sri Ram' and then posing for selfies / clicks. I guess, they are from the north. I personally believe that true devotion lies in maintaining the sanctity of the place than showing off.
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| From Kodanda Ramaswamy temple to Arichal Munai, Dhanushkodi |
Arichal Munai: The Last Road of India's Mainland in the South
Our next destination was Arichal Munai often described as the last accessible point of India's mainland. We continued our drive to reach the last road of India's mainland in the south. The view on either side with sandy shores and sea water was giving some kind of mixed feelings.
As we were nearing the destination, the driver pointed out something white at very far away distance on the horizon and told that those structures are of Sri Lanka. Those structures are windmills and are clearly visible to the naked eyes.
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| Road to Arichal Munai, Dhanuskodi |
What Is Arichal Munai?
Arichal Munai are the Tamil words which literally mean “eroding point.” This narrow strip of land / road marks the end of the India's mainland beyond which there is only vast stretches of sea / ocean towards Sri Lanka. This is the closest point to Sri Lanka, which is approx. at a distance of 30 Km across the Palk Strait.
After the devastating cyclone of 1964, Dhanushkodi was not easily accessible to tourists. Arichal Munai: the last road was laid in 2017 making it easily accessible.
Palk Strait is a narrow strip of shallow waterway in the sea separating southeastern coast of Tamil Nadu in India from the northern coast of Sri Lanka. It connects the Bay of Bengal in the northeast with Palk Bay and the Gulf of Mannar in the southwest.
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| Bay of Bengal and Gulf of Mannar (Indian Ocean) Meeting Point |
Arichal Munai is the tip of Dhanushkodi and the closest point of India-Sri Lanka border. It is also the point of confluence of Bay of Bengal and Indian Ocean (Gulf of Mannar). When you face eastwards to Sri Lanka, to your right is Indian Ocean and to the left is Bay of Bengal.
As we stood watching the vastness of the sea and the ocean, we could clearly make out the difference in the waves of the sea and the ocean. The waves of Indian ocean to our right are flowing northwards, while the waves of Bay of Bengal flowing to west, dashing each other.
The Ram Setu Connection
Arichal Munai is near the starting point of Ram Setu, the chain of limestone shoals built by Sri Rama's Vanara sena to reach Sri Lanka. Ram Setu is presently not visible as it is fully submerged in the ocean. However NASA satellite pictures reveal the existence of the ancient submerged bridge. The bridge separates Gulf of Mannar from Palk Strait.
Arichal Munai and Ram Setu - Our Experience
It was a joyous ride with stretch of unexplored beaches on either side of the road which came closer as we were approaching the end point. There is no specified parking place for vehicles which are parked one either side of the road and in the mid of the road as well blocking the narrow road.
In a mid-April's hot and sultry weather, the narrow road was jam-packed with vehicles with no proper parking rules, and with a flood of unruly crowd mostly from other states other than South India. We hardly found south Indian tourists at this place.
Vehicles are not allowed to go beyond a certain point, approx 2 - 3 Km away, wherefrom tourists have to walk till the end point. The road leading to the end point, is occupied by local vendors on either side, selling all kinds of stuff, right from eatables like mango pieces to decor items made of sea shells.
We walked slowly towards the spot and our bad luck, the approach road and the road encircling the end point was under construction and there were stones scattered everywhere on the road.
Honestly speaking, I had high hopes of this place on watching various travelers' Insta reels, YouTube Videos and Shorts, but in reality everything looked very different and not so glossy as seen in the reels or shorts.
Tourists were not allowed to go neither to the beach and nor to the Ram Setu point. There is a circular platform with a pillar at the centre on which stood our National Emblem. The tourists are busy taking reels and selfies at this spot standing on the platform.
Despite all the discomfort in the scorching heat, with the vast stretch of blue sea all around was an awesome experience. We could faintly see the windmills of Sri Lanka at the distant horizon, a sight that made us realize just how close another country lay across the waters.
After taking few pics and videos we silently enjoyed the beauty of the majestic ocean. 'Arichal Munai' is the south-eastern tip of Dhanushkodi in Pamban Island, Tamil Nadu. The place is surrounded by bue sea water on the three sides with a narrow strip of road leading to Rameswaram.
We don't even know how much time we spent at this place glaring at the majestic spell-binding view of the shallow calm waters of Bay of Bengal silently merging with the rough waves of Indian Ocean (Gulf of Mannar). We could clearly make out the difference between the ocean waves and the sea water.
The weather was too hot and sultry, the winds were not so pleasant, even then the uniqueness of the place made us overlook the discomfort. Standing at the last road of India's mainland and thinking of its historical significance was a great experience - an experience beyond description.
The greatest disappointment at this place was that the tourists were neither allowed to enter the beach nor the Ram Setu point. Standing at the crowded place, standing on the stony under-construction road, we spent long time staring at the blue wavy seas with mixed feelings.
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| Ruins of Dhanushkodi Railway Station |
Dhanushkodi Railway Station Ruins: A Walk Through Time
After spending long hours at Arichal Munai, we started our return journey. On the way, we stopped at the haunting remains of the old Dhanushkodi Railway Station. As it was evening time very few visitors were seen at this place. The driver told that vehicles are not allowed to enter Dhanushkodi after 5 p.m. Visitors who enter the place before 5, move around and leave Dhanushkodi before it gets dark.
The 1964 Devastating Cyclone - Tragedy
On the night of 22nd December 1964, a catastrophic cyclone struck Dhanushkodi and the entire village was swept away with the sea waters and was completely destroyed. A passenger train that was about to reach Dhanushkodi Railway Station was engulfed by the giant tidal waves with no single survival. The intensity of damage caused was beyond repair by the govt. And the ruins presently stand as historical evidences. Later, the government had declared Dhanushkodi unfit for habitation.
Today, the skeletal remains of the railway station stand as a solemn memorial to that tragedy.
My Personal Connection with Dhanushkodi Railway Station
Dhanushkodi Railway station was very special and emotional for me. The reason, when my mother was around 8-10 years old, she visited this very Railway Staion at Dhanushkodi with her grandmother and traveled by train from Dhanushkodi to Madras (present Chennai). And this was long before the 1964 cyclone that changed everything forever.
I stood amidst the ruins of the railway station and imagined my mother as a little girl walking through this, once upon a time, bustling station, unaware of the tragedy that would one day reduce it to rubble. My mother is now in her heavenly abode and this visit was my silent tribute to her cherished childhood memory.
Dhanushkodi: The Ghost Town, a Tourists' Dream Destination
Dhanushkodi was a small port town during the British Rule in India mainly used for trade of goods from India and Sri Lanka. Tea from Sri Lanka and spices from India were transported to Europe. After the aftermath of 1964 super cyclone, it became a deserted town with ruins and was inaccessible.
It's just a decade or so, could be due to social media reels and shorts, Rameswaram and Dhanushkodi are being flooded mostly with north Indian tourists. There are also good number of tourists from West Bengal and Odisha. It has become a dream destination for a majority of north Indians.
Despite the heavy rush of tourists to this place, Dhanushkodi is not livable and there are no hotels or beach resorts to stay. Tourists are not allowed to stay at this place when it gets dark after sunset.
Watching Sunset at the Gulf of Mannar
Our final stop in Dhanushkodi was the sunset point overlooking the tranquil waters of the Gulf of Mannar. There is a rustic wooden bridge without railings, into the sea where we saw very few tourists waiting for the sunset. The place was much much better than 'Arichal Munai', less crowd, calm and serene except for the gushing sound of the waves. A tranquil experience cherished forever.
Watching the Sun Sink into the Sea
We were enjoying the cool tranquil breeze in the gushing sound of the waves when the Sun slowly began its descent. The sky transformed into different shades of crimson red, orange, gold and greyish and it was like an oil painting on canvas. We and the very few tourists present, were silently admiring the stunning beauty of Mother Nature. The reflection of the colors on the waves of Gulf of Mannar created a mesmerizing spectaclur view and a truly relishable visual feast.
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| Sunset at Dhanushkodi |
The cool sea breeze, the rhythmic sound of the waves, and the changing colors of the sky made the evening, one of the most peaceful moments of our trip. We took several photographs and videos, but some of the best moments of the evening are deeply preserved in our heart.
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| Sunset View at Dhanushkodi |
Returning to Rameswaram
We drove back to Rameswaram carrying with us bundles of unforgettable memories. Dhanushkodi had offered us much more than scenic beauty. It gave us:
- Spiritual enrichment at Sri Kodanda Rama Temple and by distant watching of Ram Setu point.
- Geographic wonder at Arichal Munai as we could watch sunset over sea in the eastern part of India.
- Emotional reflection at the railway station ruins as I remembered my dear mother who happened to visit this place during her childhood days.
- Pure natural beauty of the majestic ocean and sea water.
The next day we had an early morning Spatikalinga darshan, Agnitheertha Snanam at sunrise and 22 theertha snanams
My Final Thoughts
Our evening trip to Dhanushkodi was a journey through mythology, history, personal memories and nature’s splendor. It is a photographers' paradise, especially during the golden hour
The sacred temple, the last road of India, the pathetic ruins of Dhanushkodi town and the stunning sunset combined to create an experience that deeply touched our hearts. It is truly a place that will leave you with memories long after the journey ends.
A Final Note: Respect our environment, avoid littering, avoid use of plastic and help preserve the unique coastal ecosystem of our country.
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