Monday, January 23, 2012

DanushKodi – Standing Symbol of Theistic wonder

Yes!!! A place that presents nature’s marvel in just 19 kilometers of length... Located at the easternmost tip of TamilNadu. DanushKodi is an isolated patch of land that contains sand dunes and coral rocks. Epically, this is where Lord Rama is said to have won a challenge of breaking a bow that makes it more synonymous to calling this spot DanushKodi; Danush - bow and Kodi – the end. 

The stretch of land commencing right from Pamban until Talaimannar of Sri Lanka is exceptionally rich in aquatic sediments. You can literally find dunes and islets whilst travelling from Pamban to Rameswaram in train on a bridge that stands high over the mighty Bay of Bengal. Rameswaram holds proud credit to have been located at the holy confluence of two massive water bodies, the Bay of Bengal & the Indian Ocean, in which taking bath completes the Pilgrimage to Kasi. Shallow waters on two sides at the end of Rameswaram Island unfold a stunningly delightful track of sand in the middle taking a way straight to the ever intimidating GHOST TOWN of TamilNadu, DanushKodi. A simple village that has no more than a few fishermen groups with families gravely staying in feeble huts. With no promising acknowledgement to living, this scary coastal village is prone to cyclones and tidal waves. You can get there by jeeps, autos or by foot thru the sand dunes. One of the most breathtaking sites that a nature lover can see is the gushing waters of Indian Ocean eagerly surging towards calm and shallow Bay of Bengal. 

DanushKodi, dating back to the early 1960s had a town kind of ambience comprising of ferry port offices, hotels, a school, railway station and a hospital. We could also see maps showing numerous ferry routes from DanushKodi to Talaimannar and an exclusive railway line from DanushKodi to Talaimannar which went a disastrous prey to the cyclone that swept over DanushKodi bringing it to mere remains. The tidal waves were estimated to be 10 kilometers high and ravaged the stretch of Pamban-Rameswaram – DanushKodi. Clearly, it was DanushKodi that was subject to a complete sweep by the devastating cyclone. Tourists usually spot remnants of fishing boats and railway stations soon after they enter the dangerous DanushKodi. 

A whole set of passengers in Train at the very night of Storm drowned in the mighty Indian Ocean showing absolutely no hint of their remains. The chain of rocks that begin from DanushKodi’s end map to the classic Ramayana, which is also, called RamaSetu or the Adam’s Bridge. This served as an overpass of land to Sri Lanka, which is scientifically believed to be destroyed by a cyclone in the 1400s. From classics, we get to understand that the bridge of sand was built by Vanaras or apes with rocks to form a passage to Sri Lanka such that Lord Rama would easily rescue Goddess Sita from the clutches of cruel Ravana

Nevertheless, the bridge is certainly a marvel of time; be it a theistic product or nature’s creation… Every day, there are more than a 100 tourists moving to DanushKodi to delightfully enjoy what has been gifted… 

Happy tripping!!!

 Coast of Danushkodi 





 Villagers at Danushkodi 

Land's end or Start of Adam's Bridge 

Ravaged train in the Cyclone of 1964 at Danushkodi

Remnants of a Ferry Port

Jeeps to Danushkodi 

Ferry Port at Rameswaram 

Rail Route From Pamban to Rameswaram