Dhanushkodi is an extraordinarily beautiful, deserted town located at the southeastern tip of Pamban Island, about 18 km from Rameshwaram town along a fully paved coastal road. Destroyed by the devastating cyclone of December 1964, which struck without today's warning systems and swept away a passenger train along with much of the settlement, the town remains an awe-inspiring ghost city featuring the roofless ruins of a Portuguese-era church, a former railway station, and a water tank set against turquoise ocean waters on both sides of the narrow spit. At Arichal Munai (Land's End), visitors stand at the exact point where the calmer Bay of Bengal (Penn Kadal) meets the rougher Indian Ocean (Aan Kadal), a spot also linked in local tradition to the mythological Ram Setu described in the Ramayana.
A scenic sandy tip surrounded by sea on three sides, with views toward the reef chain associated with Ram Setu, and the final stretch typically covered by 4x4 jeep transfer.
The roofless remains of the pre-1964 church, an old school building, a water tank, and the abandoned railway platform, all still standing along the coastal road.
A historic temple, believed to be around 500 years old, marking the site where Vibhishana is said to have surrendered to Lord Rama and been crowned King of Lanka — one of the few structures here to have survived the 1964 cyclone.
| Best Time to Visit | Morning hours (7:00-11:00 AM) or late afternoons (3:00-5:30 PM) offer milder wind conditions and the best light for photos; October to March brings the most comfortable overall weather for the exposed, shade-free coastal stretch. |
| How to Reach | Dhanushkodi is reached via an 18 km paved coastal highway from Rameshwaram town, with the final sandy stretch to Arichal Munai typically covered by a 4x4 jeep transfer rather than a regular sedan. Private AC cabs from Naveen Travels cover the paved section in around 30 minutes, with the jeep leg added at the site. |
1 Day · ₹999/person
A comprehensive 1-day Rameshwaram local sightseeing tour covering Ramanathaswamy Temple, Agni Theertham, Dhanushkodi ghost town, and the Kalam Memorial. Ride in a private AC taxi with expert guidance. Custom timings are permitted to suit your family's religious pace.
Half Day · ₹1,499/person
Enjoy a scenic half-day tour combining a glass-bottom boat ride in Pamban waters and a direct VIP temple darshan. Includes luxury AC vehicle transfers and local guides to navigate holy bathing gates. Fully customizable based on your arrival hours.
No, Dhanushkodi is a protected coastal zone and visitors must return to Rameshwaram town by around 6:00 PM; there's no overnight accommodation at the site itself.
Regular AC sedans can travel the paved road up to the old bus stand and church ruins comfortably; for the final sandy stretch to Arichal Munai, a 4x4 jeep transfer is needed and can be arranged alongside your cab booking.
Yes, with a guided cab — the church ruins and paved sections involve easy walking, and only the final jeep leg to the land's end point needs a bit more care given the open, windy terrain.