The entire coastal town of Dhanushkodi, on the southeast tip of Pamban Island, was abandoned following the devastating cyclone of December 1964. While some tourism has returned to the town 60 years later, S. Sundar, C. Jaisankar, and T. Ramakrishnan examine the circumstances that might permit the revival of Dhanushkodi to its former glory as a bustling centre for trade across borders