India’s lighthouses, traditionally associated with maritime navigation and coastal safety, are taking on a wider role as the country develops them into tourism destinations, heritage centres and public spaces. With a coastline stretching over 11,000 kilometres and 205 lighthouses, the initiative seeks to preserve the country’s maritime legacy while modernising navigational infrastructure and creating opportunities for local communities.
According to the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, 75 lighthouses have been developed as tourism destinations. The number of visitors to lighthouse sites has increased from around four lakh in 2014 to 18.63 lakh in 2024–25, reflecting growing public interest in these historic structures.
The transformation combines the traditional function of guiding ships with museums, cultural programmes, improved visitor facilities and modern navigation systems. An additional 25 lighthouses have been proposed for development as tourism destinations.
From Navigational Aids to Tourism Destinations
For centuries, lighthouses have helped vessels navigate coastal waters, identify hazards and approach ports safely. Their role remains central to maritime safety, but several sites are now being opened to visitors through improved infrastructure and heritage-focused development.
Lighthouses such as Mandvi and Dwarka in Gujarat, Tadri in Karnataka, Pamban in Tamil Nadu and Vizhinjam in Kerala are among the sites developed for tourism. Facilities such as pathways, landscaped areas, gardens and amphitheatres are being added to improve the visitor experience.
A digital ticketing portal launched under the Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships (DGLL) is also intended to make access more convenient.
The growth of lighthouse tourism is creating opportunities for businesses in surrounding areas, including hotels, restaurants, transport services, tour operators, local shops and artisans. The initiative also provides a platform to showcase coastal culture, local products and the historical significance of India’s maritime locations.
Modern Technology Strengthens Maritime Safety
While the appearance of a lighthouse may evoke an older era of seafaring, the technology powering these structures has evolved considerably. According to the government, all lighthouses in India are solar-powered, integrating renewable energy into the country’s navigational infrastructure.
At Samiyani Island in Gujarat, an oil lamp was replaced by a solar-powered electronic flasher, followed by an LED lantern in 2016. At Jodiya, a solar-operated flashing light was subsequently upgraded to a high-intensity LED lantern in 2021.
Modernisation also extends beyond lighting. As many as 87 Automatic Identification System (AIS) shore stations have been installed on lighthouses along the coast. AIS enables the exchange of information between ships and shore-based systems, helping improve maritime situational awareness, navigation safety and shipping traffic management.
These upgrades demonstrate how lighthouse infrastructure is adapting to contemporary maritime requirements while retaining its core function of guiding vessels safely along the coast.
Lighthouse Museums Preserve India’s Maritime Heritage
A key part of the transformation is the development of museums that document the history of lighthouses and India’s long association with maritime trade. Dedicated lighthouse museums have been established at Chennai, Mahabalipuram, Alappuzha, Kannur, Muttom, Dwarka and Gopnath.
Mahabalipuram, also known as Mamallapuram, offers an example of how maritime history and modern navigation intersect. Developed as an important port under the Pallavas during the seventh century AD, the site was associated with maritime trade with regions across Southeast Asia and the Mediterranean.
Before conventional lighthouse infrastructure emerged, a log fire reportedly served as a guide for vessels approaching the coast. A conventional lighthouse was established in 1887 on the roof of the Olakkaneeswar Temple, using a wick lamp housed within an optical system and lantern.
The present lighthouse is a 26-metre-high circular tower built of stone masonry. Its main light was upgraded to a 236-watt LED array in 2020. The adjoining museum brings the history of lighthouse development closer to visitors through exhibits and artefacts.
The larger objective is to connect such local histories with India’s wider maritime past, including the evolution of navigation, coastal trade and seafaring communities.
Lothal Project to Expand Maritime Heritage Tourism
The government’s plans also include the National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) at Lothal in Gujarat, an important archaeological site associated with ancient maritime trade.
The complex is set to include a 77-metre-high Lighthouse Museum, with an estimated project cost of ₹266.11 crore. Planned as a major attraction within the NMHC, the museum is intended to offer panoramic views of the complex and trace the evolution of India’s lighthouse network.
Its design draws inspiration from the Mahabalipuram Lighthouse, with extensive use of stone. Proposed visitor experiences include virtual reality walkthroughs and a sound-and-light show using projection mapping.
The NMHC is also planned to feature a 5D Dome Theatre, a Coastal States Pavilion, a Museotel, an Eco Resort and a Maritime Research Institute being developed with the Indian Maritime University.
On the eastern coast, a new Lighthouse Museum is planned in the Old Lighthouse area of Visakhapatnam, where 3,156 square metres of land has been earmarked for the project.
Together, these initiatives aim to make maritime heritage more accessible while linking archaeological history with the development of modern navigation systems.
Lighthouse Festivals Bring Communities into Focus
The transformation of lighthouses into public destinations has also been supported by cultural events. The first Indian Lighthouse Festival was held at Fort Aguada in Goa in 2023, followed by the second edition in Puri, Odisha, in 2024. The third edition took place in Visakhapatnam in 2026.
The festivals combine maritime history with cultural exhibitions, performances, coastal cuisine, local crafts and activities for visitors. The Puri edition highlighted Odisha’s five tourism-developed lighthouses at Gopalpur, Puri, Chandrabhaga, Paradip and False Point. It also featured sand art, boat art, yoga and folk performances.
The Visakhapatnam edition expanded the focus on coastal identity, with local crafts, food and night-time illumination forming part of the celebrations. At Fort Aguada, a light-and-sound projection mapping show has also been introduced, using the historic structure as a canvas for storytelling.
By involving artists, entrepreneurs, students, families and coastal communities, the festivals seek to make lighthouse sites centres of public engagement rather than isolated heritage structures.
New Lighthouses on the Brahmaputra
The expansion of lighthouse infrastructure is also moving beyond India’s coastline. Four lighthouses are being established along the Brahmaputra at Pandu, Bogibeel, Silghat and Biswanath Ghat, with a combined outlay of around ₹84 crore.
Each lighthouse is planned to be 20 metres high and equipped with solar power and weather-observation sensors. The projects are described as India’s first lighthouse infrastructure on an inland waterway.
In addition to their navigational role, the sites are planned to include museums, amphitheatres, cafeterias, children’s play areas, souvenir shops and landscaped public spaces.
The projects represent an effort to extend the concept of lighthouse infrastructure to inland waterways while combining navigation, tourism and community facilities.
Balancing Heritage, Tourism and Navigation
India’s lighthouse development programme reflects a broader effort to preserve historic maritime structures while adapting them to contemporary needs. Solar-powered lighting and AIS installations strengthen their navigational function, while museums, festivals and visitor amenities bring their history closer to the public.
The increase in lighthouse visitors also points to the potential for these sites to support local economic activity and encourage tourism along coastal and inland waterways.
As the government plans further tourism development and new infrastructure along the Brahmaputra, the lighthouse is evolving from a distant navigational marker into a destination that connects maritime safety, technology, heritage and community life.
-PIB
