Sunday, September 17, 2017

Muttom Light House, Kanyakumari

Muttom Light House, Kanyakumari
Muttom has a lighthouse due to which its presence is recorded in the international shipping chart. This lighthouse was constructed by British during colonial Time. The lighthouse, though near the sea, is situated 110 ft. (34 m) above sea level. The skeleton was built when India was part of the British Empire until 1947. The lighthouse at Muttom near Colachel, a tiny coastal village in the district, known for its scenic beach dotted with rocks and rock caves, has transformed into a tourist attraction after its renovation, with schoolchildren in particular eager to visit the area.


Last year, around 4,000 people visited the lighthouse, which is 15.22 metres high. A nominal entry fee of Rs.10 is charged for adults and Rs.3 for students under age 12. The entry is free for school students if they are in uniform. The visitors are allowed to climb to the top of the lighthouse. The lighthouse is steeped in history. The then British Government started its construction in 1857 and completed the work in 1882.



The lighthouse guided British vessels cruising between Colombo and ports on India’s west coast. Until 1875, a light used to be hoisted on a mast to guide fishermen at sea. Later, a column was constructed and the light hoisted on it. A masonry tower came up around the column, and a wick lamp supplied by a Birmingham company was installed atop the new tower.


The same company then supplied another, technically more advanced light which was installed on the tower towards the close of 1909. The lighthouse was formally commissioned on January 1, 1910. In 1993, the Tamilnadu Government banned the entry of tourists, as well as students, into the lighthouse in view of doubts over its stability. But after it was renovated, visitors were allowed to enter the lighthouse a few years later.


Connectivity
Muttom is located at about 17 Kms from Nagercoil, 10 Kms from Eraniel, 12 Kms from Colachel, 8 Kms from Mandaikadu, 22 Kms from Suchindrum, 15 Kms from Thuckalay, 32 Kms from Kanyakumari and 73 Kms from Thiruvananthapuram.
By Road:
Buses serving this village:
·       From Nagercoil - 5C, 14A, 14C, 14DV,14EV, 5F,
·  From Thuckalay and Monday Market (alias Thingalchanthai or Thingal Nagar) -  47, 47C, 12G
·        From Kadiapattanam - 14A, 14C, 14F, 5C, 46C, 47C,9K, 302, 302C, SSS
·        From James Nager - 14DV
·        From Kanyakumari - SSS
·        From Marthandam - 46C
·        From Ramanthurai – 9K
·        From Colachel - 5C, SSS, 9K, 5F, 14F
By Train:
Nearest Railway Stations are located at Eraniel 12 Kms) and Nagercoil (19 Kms).
By Air:
Nearest Airport is located at Thiruvananthapuram (74 Kms).