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).