Dhanushkodi

Dhanushkodi - धनुषकोडी is the spot where the bridge is said to have been built to enable Ramchandra ji to approach the golden city of Lanka to rescue Sita. This bridge was built of floating stones, by Ram’s vanar sena – वानर सेना (the monkey brigade). There are two different tales here. The first goes that the mischievous monkeys Nal and Neel (the sons of Vishwakarma, the architect of the gods) frequently threw the idols of the sadhus into the sea; these idols sank. The sadhus, annoyed at this, cursed that items thrown by the two would henceforth float, enabling them to walk into the sea and collect the idols. In the second version, stones which had the words Ram written on them would float.

And so the bridge – Ram Setu - was built. On Ram’s return with Sita, he broke the bridge by touching it with the tip of his bow - धनुष - hence Dhanushkodi धनुषकोडी or end of the bow. While the bridge is no longer visible, the remains of it are said to be visible in satellite images. Floating stones are today on display at the Hanuman Mandir (more on this in a future post) - we too have a piece.

The calm Bay of Bengal at Arichal Munai, just beyond Dhanushkodi

Another view of the Bay of Bengal at Arichal Munai, just beyond Dhanushkodi

Not so calm - the Indian Ocean at Arichal Munai, just beyond Dhanushkodi

The extreme point at Arichal Munai, just beyond Dhanushkodi

Dhanushkodi, about 25 kms from Rameshwaram, is very close to Sri Lanka. The farthest rail point – the beach town was populated till recently but has suffered natural disasters. In 1964 it was destroyed by a cyclone and the area is now in ruins – declared to be a ghost town. 

The ghost town of Dhanushkodi

Ruins are all that remain of Dhanushkodi

The ruined church at Dhanushkodi

A few kms. beyond is the extreme point of Indian soil - the tip of land bordered by the Bay of Bengal on one side and the Indian Ocean on the other. A good motorable road has very recently been opened from Rameshwaram via Dhanushkodi and beyond upto Arichal Munai. 

Present day Dhanushkodi and the new motorable road

At the end of the road a rotary allows vehicles to turn at the centre of which the national emblem has been erected. it has the sea all around

The rotary with the national emblem at Arichal Munai, just beyond Dhanushkodi.