Dhanushkodi tourism faces challenges

Thousands visit Rameswaram, an important spiritual tourism spot in South India every year. People consider their visit complete only after visiting the Island of Dhanushkodi. The Central government had chalked a detailed plan to develop tourism on the island on a full-fledged scale. After the 1964 cyclone the island was totally cut-off from the mainland of Rameswaram. People could reach Dhanushkodi only by foot or in a boat. The challenge for developing tourism in Dhanushkodi was establishing connectivity. In the first phase a 9.5 km road from Muhuntharayapuram to Arichalmunai, the tip of Dhanushkodi Island, is being laid. The road will provide the much-needed connectivity to the island and as almost 90 percent of the road works had been completed the locals expect the road to be inaugurated by January. 

Speaking to DTNext, a National Highways Department official said, frequent high tides and rough seas in the area have damaged some portions of the newly-laid road and hence there was a delay in inaugurating the road. Once the sea calms down, work will commence. As soon as the job is completed, the road will be inaugurated, claimed the official. But this is not all. The real challenge lies in raising infrastructure in the island where there has been no human habitation for decades. After the 1964 cyclone, the island was declared unfit for habitation and no permanent structure was built in the village. An official of the district administration, on request of anonymity, claimed that a mega tourism park worth Rs.40 crores would soon be set up. The project is part of developing tourism in coastal districts. 

However the nature of the park is not yet clear and they expect it to be a marine park claimed the official. When asked how permanent structures are being constructed in the island which is not fit for habitation, the official claimed that many studies were conducted. Only after careful examination the projects are being implemented. The new buildings that will come up will be able to withstand natural calamities and nature’s fury. Also, the government is taking special care for the buildings claimed the official.

Fishermen of Dhanushkodi had suffered without electricity for more than 50 years. After the cyclone of 1964 all the structures, including the railway station at Dhanushkodi were damaged. Electricity connections were snapped and people were made to stay in a camp at Mandapam for over two years. Even after people returned to the island, electricity was not restored. Thanks to a NGO, solar lamps were provided with the help of a bank for the residents. A fisherman Purushothaman, a survivor of 1964 cyclone, claimed that they had given several representations to the district administration demanding electricity but no step has been taken so far. Children of the fisher folk are forced to study under solar lamps and they depend on daylight, claimed Purushothaman. Another fisherman Namburajan said as a road to Dhanushkodi has now been laid, they expect electricity too shortly. He further hopes that their lives would improve with development of tourism in the island. 

As the road to Dhanushkodi has not yet been completed the tourists are left with no choice but to use tempo travellers to reach Dhanushkodi. However the ride is  risky and dangerous. The new road from Muhuntharayapuram to Arichalmunai is on the verge of completion and has not yet been opened for tourists. Only the local fishermen are allowed to use the road. 

When tourists use the marshy way to reach Dhanushkodi, at times, the vehicles get stuck in the sand during the 45-minute travel. Recently two tempos were caught in the marshy soil and water entered the vehicles. But the travellers were rescued with the help of local fishermen. However, the tourists did enjoy the hazardous journey. A tourist from Gujarat, Shreeram, claimed that as there was no option he and his family had to take the tempo traveller. Though the ride was a bit dangerous, initially they were afraid but slowly they felt that it was thrilling. We have never travelled so close to the sea, he said. He wanted the government to expedite the inauguration of the new road. Apart from the risk, the tourists are fleeced by the van drivers. They are charged Rs.150 per head for a to and fro travel of 10 km and a sightseeing of 30 minutes. Speaking to DTNext about the drive, Mohan Kumar, a driver, justified the amount collected from tourists. He claimed that they charge excess for the risk associated with the ride. Apart from that, the vehicles incur heavy damage in the ride. Therefore  the amount collected per person for the ride is very nominal, asserted Mohan. 

The tourism development at Dhanushkodi will be gradual and inclusive and fishermen would be part of development claimed Ramanathapuram Collector, Natarajan.

Palam, Kambipadu and Athodapadu villages together form Dhanushkodi and around 300 fishermen families reside in the Island. The major occupation of the people residing in Dhanushkodi are two, one is fishing and another one is selling shells and objects made out of shells. The recent notice of the district administration asking the fishermen to vacate the island angered them and they refused. But now the administration has taken back the notice and a peace meet was conducted on Friday night. It was decided that instead of doing away with the temporary shops, they can be put up at the right side of the newly laid road. The decision was unanimously accepted by the fishermen and they dropped their idea of staging a protest against the district administration. Regarding developing infrastructure in the island, the Collector told DTNext that tourism can be developed only in a gradual and inclusive manner. Initially, after the inauguration of the road, a large aquarium and a marine park had been planned. A lighthouse might also be set up at Dhanushkodi, informed the Collector. He further elaborated that Dhanushkodi had a good scenic beach, 27.2 km long, which is exactly twice the length of the Marina beach. If tourism is boosted, the number of visitors will increase, he explained.