Dhanushkodi - A Beautiful Fort city
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| The Bird's eye view of Dhanushkodi |
The word Dhanushkoti can be split into dhanush (bow) and kodi (the end) It literally means "The end of the bow" in tamil language. Ramayana depicts that this is the place where lord Rama pointed the end of his bow (Godhandam) and ordered his troops to built a bridge (Ram-sethu) across the sea to reach the Sri-Lanka for the rescuing of his wife Sita.
Dhanushkodi is a Beautiful place lies as a land of sand in the center of roaring ocean (Indian Ocean) and a silent sea (Bay of Bengal). Dhanushkodi fills the visitors with the feel of awe by it's spectacular view of clear Blue sea , Roaring tides , Beach and the Lonely Devastated Ghost land !.
During the reign of Early Tamil Kingdoms (Pandya Kingdom, Chola Kingdom, Jaffna Kingdom, Sethupathi kings rule) Dhanushkodi plays the role as a Harbour city, From here the pearls (White, Black, and many more varieties), different types of Conchs, corals and lots of precious things taken from the sea were exported to Burma, China, Rome, Egypt, and lots other foreign countries.
Dhanushkodi city plays a vital role in import export activities during the various kingdoms and also in the British rule, even in the independent India too.
But , If you go there now, you may just view the remnants and shattered pieces of the prominent city.If you have the ears to listen the silence too.. you may heard the sounds of cries, the recitements of the prayers in the remnants of the catholic church, the noises from the broken pieces of busy railway station and the port office.
How the hell the pages of the beautiful city in the book of nature torn down into pieces ...
Lets travel back ...
During the reign of Early Tamil Kingdoms (Pandya Kingdom, Chola Kingdom, Jaffna Kingdom, Sethupathi kings rule) Dhanushkodi plays the role as a Harbour city, From here the pearls (White, Black, and many more varieties), different types of Conchs, corals and lots of precious things taken from the sea were exported to Burma, China, Rome, Egypt, and lots other foreign countries.
Dhanushkodi city plays a vital role in import export activities during the various kingdoms and also in the British rule, even in the independent India too.
But , If you go there now, you may just view the remnants and shattered pieces of the prominent city.If you have the ears to listen the silence too.. you may heard the sounds of cries, the recitements of the prayers in the remnants of the catholic church, the noises from the broken pieces of busy railway station and the port office.
How the hell the pages of the beautiful city in the book of nature torn down into pieces ...
Lets travel back ...
- An Important Harbor city of India
- A sacred palace of pilgrims and
- A tourist spot
For the British the Dhanushkoti was an important city , because it helps them in their economy, The British Government Ran cargo ships and tourist ships from the Dhanuskodi.
In those early times Dhanushkodi was busy with the travelers, passengers, tourists and pilgrims. there were hotels, restaurants, parks, shops, Dharmashalas (choultry) around the city . It had trains and ships to serve its guests and its natives.
Based on the records , Dhanushkodi town was populated with more than 20,000 people on the year of 1964.
Based on the records , Dhanushkodi town was populated with more than 20,000 people on the year of 1964.
Boat-Mail Train Service
During the British rule they perform trades across various countries through the ships on the floors of Dhanushkodi's harbor. British government built the Pamban bridge across the sea and started a train service from madras (chennai) to Dhanushkodi (They ran two trains daily ) in the year of 1914. The main reason behind the screen of starting a train service, Building a bridge were economy from the Harbor and the tourists. The British bridge continues its service of connecting Indian main land with the Rameswaram island even after they left us our country.
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| Boat Mail - 1914 |
The train from Madras (chennai) goes till Dhanushkodi , after that the two Steamer ships named Irvin and Goschen connects Dhanuskodi with the Thalai mannar of sri lanka then from the thalaimannar of srilanka there is a train to Coloumbo .(These Ships ( Irvin and Goschen) not only took passengers from train but also other passengers from Dhanuskodi to thalaimannar ).
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| Irvin and Goschen Steamer Ships |
As per its service the train got the name as "The Boat Mail Service" , it is also known popularly as "Indo- Ceylone Boat Mail ".
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| Boat Mail Service (Madras to Dhanuskodi ) |
If a passenger took a train ticket of Rs 80 INR from chennai , he/she can travel upto Coloumbo of SriLanka in the year of 1964. (That's awesome !! huh ).
The Starting of the End:
On the date of December 15 1964, There was a low pressure formed inside the Andaman sea , As it waved its hands in the Andaman sea with the thunderclap , nobody in the Srilanka or Dhanushkoti city took that waving and claps so serious, unfortunately the Dhanuskodi of 1964 don't have Internet or 24 X 7 Exclusive news channels (the only fastest news informers at that time in Dhanushkodi were Radios).
The low pressure in the Andaman sea joints its hands with the tropical waves and got intensified On December 18 1964. There was a heavy nonstop rainfall in the Dhanushkodi from December 18, 1964.
A low pressure area from the east was moving into south Andaman sea on 15th December. By the Next morning it had moved into the south Andaman Sea.All the Stations in the south Bay Islands reported rain on the morning of 16th By the evening of the same day, a low pressure area formed over the south Andaman Sea.By the morning of 17th , the low pressure area concentrated into a depression with center near Latitude 5 degree North, and Longtitude 93 degree East. Heavy clouding , rain and squally weather was noticed all along the belt ...
- Source: INDIAN WEATHER REVIEW 1964 Annual Summary , Part C
The Starting of the End:
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| From the Andaman Islands.. |
On the date of December 15 1964, There was a low pressure formed inside the Andaman sea , As it waved its hands in the Andaman sea with the thunderclap , nobody in the Srilanka or Dhanushkoti city took that waving and claps so serious, unfortunately the Dhanuskodi of 1964 don't have Internet or 24 X 7 Exclusive news channels (the only fastest news informers at that time in Dhanushkodi were Radios).
The low pressure in the Andaman sea joints its hands with the tropical waves and got intensified On December 18 1964. There was a heavy nonstop rainfall in the Dhanushkodi from December 18, 1964.
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| with the Tropical waves !! |
A low pressure area from the east was moving into south Andaman sea on 15th December. By the Next morning it had moved into the south Andaman Sea.All the Stations in the south Bay Islands reported rain on the morning of 16th By the evening of the same day, a low pressure area formed over the south Andaman Sea.By the morning of 17th , the low pressure area concentrated into a depression with center near Latitude 5 degree North, and Longtitude 93 degree East. Heavy clouding , rain and squally weather was noticed all along the belt ...
- Source: INDIAN WEATHER REVIEW 1964 Annual Summary , Part C
Excerpts from the weather reports from Indian weather review 1964
Due to the heavy rain Fishermen were warned by government not to fish.
It was raining heavily...
Nobody Knows the impact of the pressure and depression formed inside the sea.
It was raining heavily...
Dhanushkodi city was enjoying the bathe as it don't know what is going to happen within few days !!..
It was raining heavily...
(To be continued in the next post ..... )
For complete reference and details of Rameswaram island please visit : www.myrameswaram.com
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