On Dec 22, 1964 a severe cyclone wiped out the bustling town of Dhanushkodi …. 1800 people died, the ill fated last train carried 115 passengers who also perished. The then Congress President, legendary K. Kamaraj declared Dhanushkodi to be a ghost town after his aerial survey.
On June 18, we went to Dhanushkodi.. Our first experience of a ghost town. To go over the sand dunes you need to take the jeep or a mini van. We chose to take the jeep, well it turned out to be quite an experience. The driver said the jeep was of 1988 make, but we thought he probably meant 1938 :). See the pictures and decide for yourself. But it’s safe to do the interesting ride all the way to the ghost town.
Found this picture online of the last train to Dhanushkodi on Dec 22nd, 1964
This was a handsome Jeep some 80 years back … closer to WW2 ?
Was glad for all the Gods that were present inside the Jeep … they were the safety belt đŸ™‚
The route to Dhanushkodi ghost town
There are places where the sand is deep !
Theview from the backseat
The railway station …
The old church
Krishnan standing on the remnants of the old train tracks
A panoramic shot including the ruins and the new temple
A new road is being built, but the jeep driver and many others we spoke to were sure it wouldnt stay … the sands keep shifting and already the road has sunk a few inches.
There are a couple of shops selling cold water and soft drinks besides some pearl and coral strings.
Nice collection of shells … I dont buy seashells at all since 1999 otherwise I probably would have bought them all. Beautiful.
in the far corner is Archal Munai … the point where Sri Rama and the Vanar Sena built the Rama Setu or Adam’s bridge as it is called by NASA. there is no way to go there because of quicksand.
A contemplative eagle …
The new road being attempted ..
There are just a few fisherfolk who stay in Dhanushkodi, others return before sundown. Time wrap in a tiny strip of land.
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