Nature, Mythology and a scenic wonder. This is the last stretch of India where Rameshwaram ends.
Visitors are filled with awe by the breathtaking scene of the seductive beach, raging tides, crystal-clear sea, and crumbled remains of the once-prominent city of Dhanushkodi. A town in Tamilnadu’s Ramanathapuram district close to Rameshwaram, is bounded by the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal on two sides. Arichal Munai, or the
point where the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean meet, is visible at the very tip of Dhanushkodi.
Amazingly, this is where India’s territory stops, yet Sri Lanka is only 15 kilometres away. The origins of Dhanushkodi can be found in Hindu mythology. In this location, you can see where Ram Sethu first appeared. According to Hindu mythology, Lord Hanuman’s monkey army built Ram Sethu here for Lord Rama.
A vast stretch of lonely beach, dotted with decaying buildings, and bordered on both sides by an infinite ocean of water. The seas of the Bay of Bengal are crystal clear and blue on the north, whereas the waters of the Gulf of Mannar are choppy on the south. In a sense, Arichal Munai marks the end of the Indian continent. The waters of the
Gulf of Mannar and the Bay of Bengal converge here. Talaimannar, a port city in Sri Lanka, is only 35 kilometres away over the choppy Palk Strait.
A pillar with an Ashokan Emblem on top marks the terminus. The pillar is situated on a spherical traffic island, which enables vehicles to turn around from the opposite end of the country. Tourists are everywhere, always trying to get the perfect selfie or group picture with the choppy sea in the background.
Tourist photography is a lucrative business for photographers working from their mobile studios equipped with cameras and portable printers. The street food sellers that offer coconut water, roasted maize, and various fresh fruits also make a profit.
About 5 kilometres west of Arichal Munai are the scattered remnants of Dhanuskodi. On the north side of the road is the abandoned rail station. Nothing much of the station, which originally had an international connection, is remained except from three tall arches.
The most popular attraction in Dhanuskodi is the abandoned church with no roof. On either side of the long-abandoned chapel are temporary stores selling seashell-related items. The only remaining parts of the church are the front door, a few arches, and a fragment of the altar.
You must visit this Place to feel the wind and the ravaging ocean, the beauty of this place will gently tap at your soul and will eventually grow over you.