Mahabalipuram lighthouse
Mahabalipuram lighthouse is located in Tamil Nadu, India. It is open to tourists since 2011. It was closed in 2001
following perceived LTTE threat. The first light was commissioned here in 1887. The
lighthouse with a circular masonry tower made of natural stone became fully
functional in 1904. India's oldest lighthouse, built around 640 AD by Pallava king Mahendra Pallava stands next to this modern structure. The Pallava era
lighthouse is a protected monument, maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India.
Mahabalipuram was a busy port under the Pallavas as early as the 7th
century AD. Bonfires were lit on rocks even at that time to aid the mariners.
The British first used the temple atop the Mahishasuramardhini cave as a light
(left). The new lighthouse and the old lighthouse are adjacent to each other (right).
This temple was dedicated to lord Siva. By the end of eighteenth
century or in the beginning of nineteenth century, the Shivalinga was possibly
removed by some vandals. A granite roof was constructed atop the temple to keep
the light from 1887 to 1900.
In the ancient times the log fire on one of the high rocks used to
serve as beacon for the vessels approaching to Mahabalipuram port during the
night. The British established the first conventional lighthouse by placing a
wick lamp inside 4th order optic and lantern on the roof of Olakkaneeswar Temple
on 15th May 1887. This temple has been built on top of Mahishasuramardhini
cave. Lighthouse was then known as Seven Pagoda Lighthouse because the
structures-mandapa, Rathas, Cave appeared like Pagodas when observed from the
sea.
A dressed stone masonry circular tower 26m in height was built on
a nearby rock in 1900. Its exterior surfaces were left natural and unpainted so
as to blend with surroundings. The PV equipment and 2nd order three panel optic
assembly supplied by M/s Chance Bros, Birmingham was installed over this tower.
The light was commissioned into service on 31st March 1901. In 1937 and 1940
the equipment underwent changes and modifications to give single flash every
ten seconds. The PV source was replaced by incandescent electric lamp in 1994.
From the Mahabalipuram bus-stand, if one takes a left, they’ll
reach the shore temple/beach. If you go further up (straight) instead, the road
curves right and there is a 2-way junction. You need to take left from there
(taking right will lead you out of Mahabalipuram) and the light
house/surrounding monuments can be reached through a gate on the right side of
the road.
You can do two things here – You can climb on the rock or you can
climb on the light-house itself! Yes, you are allowed to climb the light-house
here. It seems they have reopened it after 20 years!
If the light-house is crowded and if you see anyone standing on
the steps when you enter, it is better to skip and not buy the ticket, as it
takes a long time for limited batch of people (10-15 are allowed at a time) to
climb the last stretch that has very narrow wooden-steps. These steps (around
15) at last are very steep and only one person can climb at a time. It may not
be a good idea to try to climb this, if you are over 50 years of age.
But once you get to the top of the light-house, the view is
stunning. It took me half an hour of standing in the queue and another 20
minutes at the top, with relatively less crowd during the time I went in
(lunch). That’s because, even if one person is struck up and is not able to
climb down, it takes some efforts to bring them down (I guess). People have to
go up and come back from the top, for the next batch to enter. I just wish the
stairs were broader, especially the last few ones made of wood.