About
Dhanushkodi lies at the southeastern tip of Pamban Island, in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu. It is an abandoned town, and visitors come to see what remains of it and to walk along its shoreline. It is also known as the Ghost Town and as Land's End.
What you will see
The town was destroyed by a cyclone in 1964. Today its ruins stand scattered across the sand, and the empty streets and broken structures give the place a quiet, unsettled character. Much of the appeal lies in simply walking among the remains and reflecting on what the town once was.
- Ruins of the former town, left as they stand on the sand
- Beaches that are widely described as pristine, with open views across the water
- A landscape at the very end of the island, where the land seems to run out
Who it suits
Dhanushkodi is a place for slow, unhurried visits. It is a pilgrimage site as well as a heritage and beach destination, so many people come with a spiritual purpose in mind, while others come for the photographs, the atmosphere, or the chance to see an unusual landscape.
Because the site is remote and largely undeveloped, it rewards visitors who arrive prepared to take their time and to enjoy an open, uncrowded setting.
Around it
Dhanushkodi sits within Rameswaram, which is the island town that gives the wider area its character. A trip here can easily be combined with time in Rameswaram itself, so that the ruins, the beaches and the town's religious places can all be seen in one visit.