- *** Kovilthottam
(2)
- 1962 (station established 1953). Active; focal plane 20 m (66 ft);
white flash every 5 s. 15 m (49 ft) square masonry tower, painted
with black and white horizontal bands; lantern dome painted red.
D.M. Brennan has a distant view,
and Google has a satellite
view.
Kovilthottam is a small port near Chavara, about 15 km (9 mi) north
of Kollam. Accessible by road. Site open, tower open in late afternoon
daily. ARLHS IND-096; Admiralty F0710; NGA 27512.
- *** Alleppey
(Alappuzha)
- 1862. Active; focal plane 33 m (108 ft); white flash every 15 s.
28 m (92 ft) round masonry tower with lantern and gallery, painted
with red and white horizontal bands. Rakesh Barua's photo is above,
John Alex also has a good photo,
a good 2007 photo
and another photo
are available,
and Google has a satellite
view. This historic lighthouse has a rare teak spiral stairway.
It was painted all white for many years; the red bands were added
in 2000. Located just of the beach in Alleppey (now usually called
Alappuzha). Site open, tower open in late afternoon daily. ARLHS IND-081;
Admiralty F0706; NGA 27516.
- * Manakkodam
(Manaccur)
- 1979. Active; focal plane 34 m (112 ft);
two white flashes every 10 s. 34 m (112 ft) square cylindrical concrete
tower, lower half skeletal and upper half enclosed, with lantern and
gallery. Lighthouse painted white; lantern roof painted red. John
Alex has a good photo,
and Google has a satellite
view. The lighthouse originally had red bands, but fishermen complained
it could be confused with the Cochin Light, so the color patterns
of the Alleppey Light and this tower were exchanged in 2000. The lighthouse
marks the entrance of a new harbor created by cutting an inlet through
a barrier beach to a backwater lagoon. Located inside the inlet, about
12 km (7.5 mi) northwest of Shertalai. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS
IND-099; Admiralty F0705; NGA 27520.
Central Kerala Lighthouses
- * Cochin
(Kochi, Vypin) (4)
- 1979 (station established 1839). Active; focal plane 49 m (161
ft); four white flashes every 20 s. 46 m (151 ft) 8-ribbed, double-shell
concrete tower with lantern and double gallery. Lighthouse painted
with red and white horizontal bands. John Alex's photo appears at
right, Sasheer Raj has a 2008 photo,
Prashobh Balakrishnan has a distant
view, and Google has a satellite
view. The British built the port of Cochin in the 1830s. The
original lighthouse was replaced in 1920, and then in 1936 the
light was moved to a 25 m (82 ft) steel skeletal tower. All these
lights proved inadequate as landfall lights for the port, leading
to the construction of the present lighthouse. Located on Vypin
Island north of the harbor entrance; the island is accessible
by ferry. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS IND-083; Admiralty F0698;
NGA 27528.
- * Azhikode
(Periyar River)
- 1982. Active; focal plane 34 m (112 ft); three white flashes every
20 s. 30 m (98 ft) square cylindrical concrete tower, lower half
skeletal and upper half enclosed, with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse
painted with black and white horizontal bands; lantern roof painted
red. The lighthouse replaced a small light at the mouth of the Periyar
River. Located 8 km (5 mi) west of Kodungallur and 2 km (1.2 mi)
north of the river entrance. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS IND-075;
Admiralty F0694.5; NGA 27560.
|
Cochin Light, 2009
photo copyright John Alex; used by permission |