What to expect
Dhanushkodi
A former port town at the southeastern tip of Rameswaram island, reduced to ruins by a devastating cyclone in 1964 and now a haunting ghost town of roofless buildings on a narrow sand spit.
Practical guide
Plan Dhanushkodi
Who's going?Tailor Dhanushkodi to your trip
Typeheritage
Nearest baseRameswaram
Best timeOctober to March is the cooler, drier season in the Cauvery delta
Time neededAbout an hour
EntryFree
Nearest town/baseRameswaram
DistrictRamanathapuram
Place typeheritage
Time neededAbout an hour.
A former port town at the southeastern tip of Rameswaram island, reduced to ruins by a devastating cyclone in 1964 and now a haunting ghost town of roofless buildings on a narrow sand spit.
Dhanushkodi is planned from Rameswaram, one of the travel bases in Ramanathapuram district. Use Rameswaram for stays, food and local transport, then plan this place as a focused stop.
Visiting
Dhanushkodi — at a glance
Timings6:00 AM - 6:00 PM (road access restricted after dark)
Best timeOct-Apr; avoid monsoon and rough-sea days
Entry: Free
Getting here
How to reach Dhanushkodi
~18 km from Rameswaram by shared van/jeep or own vehicle; no rail access
Beach road can flood at high tide; go with a local van tour for the sandy stretch
Getting around Dhanushkodi
We have not assessed physical access at this place yet. Across India, step-free routes, handrails and accessible toilets are the exception rather than the rule, and pavements are often interrupted — if step-free access matters to you, contact the site or a local operator before committing to the trip.
If you need help at Dhanushkodi
112All emergencies (police · fire · medical)The single number to call in any emergency (ERSS).100Police101Fire108Ambulance (emergency / EMS)1091Women’s helpline (distress)1098Child helpline1363Tourist helpline (India, 24×7, multilingual)
Emergency numbers are verified against official government and state tourism sources. 112 works anywhere in India.
Getting there
How to visit
- Base yourself in Rameswaram or nearby in Ramanathapuram, then confirm the last-mile route locally before travel.
- If access depends on temple, museum or seasonal rules, check on the day before you go.
Timing
Best time
October to March is the cooler, drier season in the Cauvery delta.
Weather in DhanushkodiSeasonal guide
Live forecast loads in your browser.
Today at Dhanushkodi
Sunrise6:04 am
Sunset6:33 pm
Golden hour best light5:33 pm–6:33 pm
Blue hour after sunset6:33 pm–6:58 pm
Sun sets toward compass bearingWNW · 287°
Moon tonight🌗 Last quarter · 45%
Sun and moon are calculated for this location and shown in IST. Photography windows are the hour around sunrise and sunset; the sunset bearing is degrees clockwise from true north. Moon phase is accurate to about half a day.
Visitor notes
Safety
Good to know
Photos
Dhanushkodi in pictures
Stay · eat · do · rent · see · shop
Stays, food & things to do near Dhanushkodi
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What’s near Dhanushkodi
On the map
Where Dhanushkodi is
Good to know
Dhanushkodi — frequently asked
When is the best time to visit Dhanushkodi?
October to March is the cooler, drier season in the Cauvery delta.
What are the entry fee and timings at Dhanushkodi?
Entry: Free. Timings: 6:00 AM - 6:00 PM (road access restricted after dark). Fees and timings are indicative — confirm on site before you travel.
How do I reach Dhanushkodi?
Base yourself in Rameswaram or nearby in Ramanathapuram, then confirm the last-mile route locally before travel. If access depends on temple, museum or seasonal rules, check on the day before you go.
How much time do I need for Dhanushkodi?
About an hour.
What else is near Dhanushkodi?
Nearby you can pair Arichal Munai (2.2 km), Kothandaramar Temple (4.6 km), Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park (7.6 km), Villoondi Theertham (8.3 km).
Read next
Stories, legends & history of Dhanushkodi
ItineraryRameswaram & Dhanushkodi in 2 Days: A Practical Itinerary7 min readStoryDhanushkodi: The Ghost Town at the End of India6 min read
More stories, legends & guides from Ramanathapuram
StoryRameswaram: The Island Where Rama Prayed to Shiva6 min readItinerarySouth Tamil Nadu in 5 Days: Madurai, Rameswaram and Kanyakumari9 min readGuideThe Dargahs & Islamic Heritage of Tamil Nadu8 min readGuideThe Ramayana Trail in Tamil Nadu8 min readStoryThe Pamban Bridge: India’s First Sea Bridge and the New Giant Beside It7 min readStoryUthirakosamangai: The Emerald Nataraja Shown Once a Year6 min readStoryAbdul Kalam’s Rameswaram: Two Memorials to the Missile Man6 min readStoryRamalinga Vilasam: The Painted Durbar Hall of the Sethupathi Kings6 min read
Image credits
- Dhanushkodi:Shubham Gupta · CC BY-SA 3.0