The Alappuzha Lighthouse (or Alleppey Light) is situated in the coastal town of
Alappuzha
Alappuzha or Alleppey () is the administrative headquarters of Alappuzha district in States and territories of India, state of Kerala, India. The Kerala Backwaters, Backwaters of Alappuzha are one of the most popular tourist attractions in Indi ...
,
Kerala
Kerala ( ; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile regions of Cochin, Malabar, South ...
. It was built in 1862 and is a major tourist attraction. Visitors are allowed between 1500 hours and 1630 hours on every weekday at an admission fee of 20 rupees for Indian citizens and 50 rupees for foreigners. This is the first of its kind in the Arabian sea coast of Kerala.
History
Alappuzha, the place where India's Alleppey Lighthouse stands, was one of the busiest ports and trade centres of Kerala. Alappuzha, a part of Travancore, was ruled by Rajas of Erstwhile Travancore before India's independence. After the arrival of the Portuguese, Dutch and English traders, Vizhinjam, Kollam, Travancore and Purakad were the main ports of Erstwhile Travancore through which foreign trade flourished.
The decline of the Port of Purakkad necessitated the rehabilitation of the traders for which Alappuzha was selected as a port and infrastructure was developed. The port was opened to foreign traders in 1792. There was no regular lighthouse provided in the 18th century, only a light on the pier head served the mariners.
As port activities increased, the authorities had to provide for a lighthouse. The construction of the present lighthouse began in the reign of His Highness Marthanda Varma-II Maharaja (ruler of Travancore) and was completed during the reign of His Highness Rama Varma Maharaja of Travancore. The first stone was laid by Mrs Mary Anne Crawford on 26 April 1860.
The 27 m high lighthouse has a teak spiral staircase. A piece of first-order optical equipment with coconut oil double wick lamp light-source supplied by M/s.
Chance Bros.
Chance Brothers and Company was a glassworks originally based in Spon Lane, Smethwick, West Midlands (formerly in Staffordshire), in England. It was a leading glass manufacturer and a pioneer of British glassmaking technology.
The Chance fa ...
, Birmingham, was installed and commissioned into service on 28 March 1862. The same equipment continued to serve till 1952 when it was replaced by 500 mm drum optic and DA gas flasher of AGA make.
The current 4th order optic with a 1000 watt electric lamp was installed in 1960. The mains supply was extended to the station in 1960, this enabled the installation of an electrically operated 4th order revolving optic system supplied by M/s BBT, Paris, this replaced the old equipment and was commissioned on 4 August 1960.
The direct drive system was incorporated on 8 April 1998, and a separate emergency light in the 300 mm lantern on 30 December 1998. The
incandescent lamp
An incandescent light bulb, incandescent lamp or incandescent light globe is an electric light with a wire filament heated until it glows. The filament is enclosed in a glass bulb with a vacuum or inert gas to protect the filament from oxid ...
was replaced by 230 V 150 W
Metal halide lamp
A metal (from Greek μέταλλον ''métallon'', "mine, quarry, metal") is a material that, when freshly prepared, polished, or fractured, shows a lustrous appearance, and conducts electricity and heat relatively well. Metals are typicall ...
on 28 February 1999.
The lighthouse is still a staffed station.
[ ] Originally painted plain white, it was repainted in red and white bands in 2000.
Visit
The building has been open for public visits since 2007.
See also
*
List of lighthouses in India
There are many lighthouses along the long coastline of India and in the associated islands. They are administered by the Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships, Government of India whose headoffice is located in Noida.
They are catego ...
Gallery
Alappuzha light house board.jpg, The board at the lighthouse describing the specifications of the same
Alappuzha light house west view.jpg, The view towards the west from the top of the Alappuzha Lighthouse – towards the seashore
Alappuzha Light House.JPG, Alappuzha Lighthouse
Alappuzha light house.JPG, Closeup of the lighthouse
Petroleum vepour Burner.JPG, Petroleum vapour Burner used at Alappuzha Lighthouse
References
External links
*
Alappuzha Lighthouse 2009
{{Authority control
Lighthouses completed in 1862
Buildings and structures in Alappuzha
Lighthouses in Kerala
1862 establishments in India
Transport in Alappuzha