Dhanushkodi

For a long time I have been interested in Dhanushkodi which used to be a small village, just off the eastern coast of India, a few km from the pilgrimage center of Rameswaram and about 20 km from the coast of Srilanka. In the year 1964, a huge cyclone wiped the village away. Now I understand there is nothing there except sand. Tourists travel to Dhanushkodi by jeep on a sandy road with sea on both sides. Seems lovely.

I was reading up on Dhanushkodi yesterday and came across some material and pictures. Here they are.

A newspaper article:

http://www.hindu.com/mp/2004/03/06/stories/2004030600010100.htm

Pictures from the Indian railways site: http://irfca.org/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.ShowItem&g2_itemId=48198

A travel website: http://www.oktatabyebye.com/destination-features/178-dhanushkodi-travel-guide-tamil-nadu.html

Picture From a Rail Site: http://danger-ahead.railfan.net/gallery/danushkodi.html

From a blog: http://www.ghumakkar.com/2009/07/31/dhanushkodi-%E2%80%93-no-land-only-sand/

Update (13-Jun-2011): A lovely video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22NDPHdsD54

Update (5-Oct-2012): http://in.lifestyle.yahoo.com/photos/dhanushkodi-at-land-s-end-slideshow/dhanushkodi-photo-1338448880.html

Update (8-Feb-2015): 
https://www.google.co.in/maps/place/Dhanushkodi+Rama+Sethu+Point/@9.152117,79.443169,2a,90y,90t/data=!3m5!1e2!3m3!1s-jNq7hzTlNzk%2FU4mMmnq4npI%2FAAAAAAAACIs%2FYDURnVhQE6c!2e4!3e12!4m2!3m1!1s0x0000000000000000:0x00dff0dd3e6789ae!6m1!1e1

To reach Dhanushkodi, buses (fare Rs 12 one way) from Rameshwaram bus stand take you to a place 18km away. One has to travel the last 7km by private vehicles that can be found when one alights from the bus - the vehicles charge Rs 150 (round trip, I guess).

Accommodation: 

1. http://www.rameswaram.com/accomodation.html
2. http://rameshwaramtours.blogspot.in/p/transport.html (probably the same info as in the previous link)
3. http://www.stayzilla.com/ps.php?kw=Rameswaram&tag=adwords_postpaid1&camp=Rameswaram_search&adgroup=hotels_Rameswaram_exact&keyword=rameshwaram%20accommodation&utm_source=adwords&utm_medium=search&utm_campaign=Rameswaram_search
4. http://www.sr.indianrailways.gov.in/view_section.jsp?lang=0&id=0,2,770: Rameswaram: Tel No: +914573 221226

Additional reading:

• http://www.timescrest.com/life/cruise-to-colombo-5700  
• More about Dhanushkodi: http://www.cntraveller.in/story/10-indian-beaches-stories-surprises