NEW DELHI : Lighthouses primarily serve as Marine Aids to Navigation for ensuring safe and efficient maritime navigation. In addition to this core function, the Government is actively promoting Lighthouse Tourism which is in line with its vision of preserving India’s maritime heritage and promoting educational, cultural and tourism purposes under Section 23 of the Marine Aids to Navigation Act, 2021.
This information was given by the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.
As part of this initiative, Lighthouse Museums have been established at Chennai, Mahabalipuram, Alappuzha, Kannur, Muttom, Dwarka and Gopnath to showcase the evolution of lighthouse technology and India’s maritime heritage. Under this initiative, tourism facilities have been developed at 75 lighthouses across the country as part of the Government’s vision to preserve their historical and architectural significance. Tourist facilities such as cafeterias, landscaped gardens, gazebos, children’s play areas, light and sound show, internal pathways, public toilet blocks, drinking water facilities, amphitheatres and lifts have been developed at identified lighthouses. List of lighthouses with tourism facilities is attached as Annexure.
State-wise list of 75 Lighthouses developed for tourism purposes
| S. No. | State/ UT | Name of Lighthouse |
| 1 | Gujarat | Mandvi Lighthouse, Rawalpir Lighthouse, Samiyani Lighthouse, Okha Lighthouse, Kachchhigadh Lighthouse, Porbandar Lighthouse, Mangrol Lighthouse, Jaffrabad Lighthouse, Jegri Lighthouse, Alang Lighthouse, Ghogha Lighthouse, Hazira Lighthouse, Valsad Khadi Lighthouse, Gopnath Lighthouse, Veraval Lighthouse, Dwarka Lighthouse, Umargaon Lighthouse. |
| 2 | Goa | Aguada Lighthouse, |
| 3 | Karnataka | Tadri Lighthouse, Bhatkal Lighthouse, Kaup Lighthouse, Surathkal Lighthouse, Kundapur Lighthouse. |
| 4 | Kerala | Kannur Lighthouse, Ponnani Lighthouse, Chetwai Lighthouse, Vypin Lighthouse, Alappuzha Lighthouse, Valiyazhikal Lighthouse, Thangasseri Lighthouse, Anjengo Lighthouse, Vizhinjam Lighthouse, Azhikode Lighthouse, Kadalur Point Lighthouse. |
| 5 | Tamil Nadu | Kanniyakumari Lighthouse, Kuthenkuli Lighthouse, Manappad Lighthouse, Kilakkarai Lighthouse, Dhanushkodi Lighthouse, Pamban Lighthouse, Karaikal Lighthouse, Mallipattinam Lighthouse, Kodikkarai Lighthouse, Nagapattinam Lighthouse, Poompuhar Lighthouse, Pulicat Lighthouse, Muttom Point Lighthouse, Mahabalipuram Lighthouse, Chennai Lighthouse. |
| 6 | Andhra Pradesh | Ramayapatnam Lighthouse, Machilipatnam Lighthouse, Antervedi Lighthouse, Sacramento Lighthouse, Vakalapudi Lighthouse, Santapalli Lighthouse, Kalingapatnam Lighthouse, Baruva Lighthouse, Vodarevu Lighthouse, Pudimadaka Lighthouse. |
| 7 | Odisha | Gopalpur Lighthouse, Puri Lighthouse, Chandrabhaga Lighthouse, Paradip Lighthouse, False Point Lighthouse |
| 8 | WestBengal | Tajpur Lighthouse, Dariapur Lighthouse, Sagar Island Lighthouse |
| 9 | Maharashtra | Uttan Point Lighthouse, Korlai Fort Lighthouse, Jaigarh Lighthouse, Ratnagiri Lighthouse, Vengurla Point Lighthouse, Kelshi Lighthouse |
| 10 | Andaman and Nicobar Islands | North Point Lighthouse, Keating Point Lighthouse. |
