Lighthouses of Lakshadweep (Laccadive, Amindivi, and Minicoy Islands)

Lakshadweep is a union territory of India including 12 coral atolls and a number of minor banks and reefs in the Arabian Sea, roughly 250 km (150 mi) off the southwestern coast of the country. About 60,000 people, of mixed Indian and Arab descent, live in the territory. The Amindivi Islands are in the northern part of the territory, the Laccadive Islands are in the center, and Minicoy Island is in the south. However, the entire territory is sometimes called the Laccadive Islands. Britain took control of the islands during the nineteenth century as part of the Empire of India, and the islands remained under India's control after independence. In 1956, all the islands were grouped together as the Union Territory of Lakshadweep. The only historic British lighthouse in the islands is at Minicoy, but since 1967 India has constructed lighthouses or light towers on all the major atolls. Tourism is encouraged, but due to limited accommodations tourists need a special permit to visit the islands. There is air service to Agatti island from Cochin as well as ferry service from Cochin to all the inhabited islands. Lighthouses and aids to navigation in India are administered by the Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships (DGLL), an agency of the Ministry of Shipping. ARLHS numbers are from the ARLHS World List of Lights. Admiralty numbers are from volume F of the Admiralty List of Lights & Fog Signals. U.S. NGA List numbers are from Publication 112. General Sources DGLL - Cochin District Lighthouses Lighthouse information from the DGLL district office in Cochin. This office administers the lighthouses of Lakshadweep. Lakshadweep Map This useful map is posted on Wikimedia. Indian Lighthouses Historic postcard views posted by Michel Forand.

Minicoy Light, Maliku, Christmas Day 2007 Flickr Creative Commons photo by MrsFife

Maliku (Minicoy Island) Lighthouses
Note: Minicoy, located well to the south of the other islands of the territory, has a distinct population and language and is geographically part of the Maldives archipelago. In fact it is claimed by Maldives, although it has been governed from India since the late 18th century. The name Minicoy, applied by the British, is an error; the islanders call their home Maliku. There is a resort on the island, with transportation and day tours available.

*** Minicoy (Maliku) 1885. Active; focal plane 47 m (154 ft); white flash every 15 s. 48 m (157 ft) round brick tower with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white; lantern roof is red. The lighthouse is staffed. DGLL's photo appears above. A photo appears above, Priya Sivaraman has another excellent closeup photo, another photo shows visitors on the gallery, Lighthouse Digest has a February 2001 feature on the lighthouse by I.C.R. Prasad, Michel Forand has a historic postcard view, and Google has a satellite view. The Maldives government also has a page on the lighthouse with several photos. The island has great strategic importance, because the sea route from Suez to Singapore passes through the Eight Degree Channel just south of Minicoy. To protect this lifeline of the Empire, the British shipped bricks from England to build this great lighthouse in the tropics, designed by Sir James Douglass. Following India's independence, the light station continued to be operated by Trinity House until April 1956, when it was assigned to DGLL; the title to the property was finally transferred to India in September 1963. The 50th anniversary of Indian control was celebrated in 2006. Located on the southwestern shore of the island. Site open, tower open by arrangement with the keepers. ARLHS LAK-009; Admiralty F0758; NGA 27468. Minicoy (Maliku) North 2008. Active; focal plane 22 m (72 ft); two white flashes every 10 s. 22 m (72 ft) square masonry or concrete tower, painted with black and white horizontal bands. No photo available, and the tower is too new to be seen in Bing's satellite view. This lighthouse was built in connection with construction of a new jetty and improved landing facilities on the northeast side of the island. Located close to the new jetty. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty F0758.1; NGA 27470. Laccadive Islands Lighthouses Kalpeni 1976. Active; focal plane 44 m (144 ft); three white flashes every 20 s. 40 m (131 ft) round cylindrical concrete block tower with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted with horizontal black and white bands. The DGLL photo is at right, Nithin Uliyar has a closeup (3/4 the way down the page), a photo of the lighthouse in action is available (2/3 the way down the page), Sahil Ramani has a distant view, and there is a view taken from the gallery, but Google has only a fuzzy satellite view of the island. Kalpeni is at the southeastern end of the Laccadives; it is an inhabited island with several resorts. Transportation and day tours available. Site open, tower probably open by arrangement with the keepers. ARLHS LAK-004; Admiralty F0757; NGA 27612.

Kalpeni Light, Kalpeni DGLL photo

Cheriyakara (Suhelipar)

1975. Active; focal plane 36 m (118 ft); two white flashes every 20 s. 33 m (108 ft) round cast iron tower with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted with horizontal red and white bands. No photo available (DGLL's photo is of a scale model of the lighthouse); the light is barely visible in a distant view of the atoll, and Google has an indistinct satellite view that may show the top of the tower. Cheriyakara is an islet at the southern end of the uninhabited Suhelipar atoll. This is at the southwestern corner of the Laccadives; the lighthouse marks the western entrance to the Nine Degree Channel separating Minicoy from the Laccadives. Site status unknown. ARLHS LAK-010; Admiralty F0756; NGA 27604.

Valiyakara (Suhelipar North) (2)

1995 (station established 1983). Active; focal plane 16 m (52 ft); white flash every 15 s. 15 m (49 ft) square galvanized iron skeletal tower with gallery, painted white. A Google satellite view probably shows the top of this light tower. Valiyakera, at the northern end of the Suhelipar atoll, has no permanent inhabitants. Site status unknown. Admiralty F0756.6; NGA 27608.

* Kavaratti (2) 1988 (station established 1976). Active; focal plane 40 m (131 ft); white flash every 5 s. 38 m (125 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and double gallery. Lighthouse painted white; lantern roof is red. A photo is at right, Mike Prince has a closeup photo, Manish Singh has a view from the sea, and Google has a satellite view. The original light was on a wood skeletal tower. Kavaratti, in the central part of the Laccadives, has been the capital of Lakshadweep since 1964. The island is accessible by passenger ferry from Cochin or by helicopter from the airport on Agatti Island. Located near the pier on the southeast side of the island. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS LAK-006; Admiralty F0755.5; NGA 27624. * Androth East End 1967. Active; focal plane 35 m (115 ft); two white flashes every 10 s. 33 m (108 ft) square masonry tower with lantern and gallery, painted with horizontal black and white bands. Google has only a fuzzy satellite view of the location. Androth, the easternmost island of Lakshadweep, is accessible by a weekly passenger ferry from Cochin. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS LAK-002; Admiralty F0755; NGA 27616. * Androth West End 1975. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); white flash every 15 s. 10 m (33 ft) slender round white concrete tower with two small galleries, rising from a round 1-story equipment room. Google has only a fuzzy satellite view of the location. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty F0755.2; NGA 27620. * Agatti (3) Date unknown (station established 1976). Active; focal plane 35 m (115 ft) (?); three white flashes every 30 s. Approx. 23 m (75 ft) square skeletal tower, painted white, centered on a 3-story station building with two galleries. Building painted a pale yellow with red and white vertical stripes on the galleries. A 2007 photo is available, but the tower has not been found in Google's satellite view. The DGLL page depicts the 1986 lighthouse, a 30 m (98 ft) white skeletal tower; this tower replaced a similar tower 15 m (49 ft) tall. Agatti, at the northwestern corner of the Laccadive Islands, is the only island in Lakshadweep with an airport. Located at the north end of the island. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS LAK-001; Admiralty F0754.7; NGA 27600. Thinnakara (Tinnakara) 1993. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); white flash every 5 s. 12 m (39 ft) square galvanized iron skeletal tower, painted white; there is a 1-story concrete equipment room inside the base. A photo taken from atop the lighthouse is available, and Google has an indistinct satellite view. Thinnakara is an atoll a few miles north of Agatti; boat transportation from Agatti can be arranged. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty F0754.6; NGA 27598.

Kavaratti Island Light, February 2009 Panoramio photo copyright drmathew; used by permission

Amindivi Islands Lighthouses

* Amini

1984. Active; focal plane 34 m (112 ft); white flash every 5 s. 30 m (98 ft) square galvanized iron skeletal tower, painted with black and white horizontal bands; there is a 1-story concrete equipment room inside the base. The tower has not been found in Google's satellite view. Amini is at the southern corner of the Amindivi Islands and is the administrative center for that island group. The island is accessible by a weekly passenger ferry from Cochin. Located near the southern tip of the island. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty F0754.4; NGA 27596.

* Kadmat (Cardamum Island)

1984. Active; focal plane 34 m (112 ft); four white flashes every 20 s. 30 m (98 ft) square skeletal tower with gallery, painted white; there is a 1-story concrete equipment room inside the base. A 2010 photo is available, Neil Sequeira has a distant view, and an indistinct Google satellite view may show the tower. This is a sibling of the Amini Light. Kadmat, located about 5 km (3 mi) north of Amini, is about 10 km (6 mi) long, making it one of the largest islands of Lakshadweep. The island is accessible by a weekly passenger ferry from Cochin. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS LAK-005; Admiralty F0754.2; NGA 27592.

* Kiltan South (2) 1976 (station established 1974). Active; focal plane 41 m (134 ft); white flash every 10 s. 41 m (134 ft) round cylindrical concrete block tower with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted with horizontal red and white bands. A 2008 photo is at right, and Google has a satellite view. Kiltan is the easternmost of the Amindivi Islands, located about 40 km (25 mi) northeast of Kadmat. The island is accessible by passenger ferry from Amini and, less often, from Cochin. A temporary light on a wood skeletal tower was replaced by this substantial lighthouse. Located at the southern tip of the island. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS LAK-008; Admiralty F0754; NGA 27576. * Kiltan North (2) 1976 (station established 1937). Active; focal plane 10 m (33 ft); two white flashes every 15 s. 9 m (30 ft) round two-stage cylindrical white concrete tower with two galleries; the base includes an enclosed equipment room. The lighthouse is probably the spot in the center of a Google satellite view. The original light, shown from a 6 m (20 ft) mast atop a 9 m (30 ft) masonry base, was the only navigational light in the islands, except for the Minicoy lighthouse, until the Androth East End lighthouse was built in 1967. Located on the beach at the extreme northern tip of the island. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS LAK-007; Admiralty F0752; NGA 27572. Chetlat 1984. Active; focal plane 36 m (118 ft); three white flashes every 30 s. 30 m (98 ft) square galvanized iron skeletal tower, painted with black and white horizontal bands; there is a 1-story concrete equipment room inside the base. A Google satellite view probably shows the shadow of the lighthouse. Another sibling of the Amini Light. Chetlat is a small, isolated island on the northeast side of the Amindivis. Boat transportation is available about once a week from the other islands. Located by the pier on the west side of the island. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty F0749; NGA 27588.

Kiltan South Light, Kiltan, January 2008 Flickr photo copyright praveenlava; permission requested

Bitra (2)

1984 (station established 1977). Active; focal plane 33 m (108 ft); nine quick white flashes every 10 s. 30 m (98 ft) square galvanized iron skeletal tower, painted with red and white horizontal bands; there is a 1-story concrete equipment room inside the base. The tower is not conspicuous in Google's satellite view. One more Amini class lighthouse. The original light was on a shorter wood skeletal tower. Bitra is a small island in a large atoll on the west side of the Amindivis. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS LAK-003; Admiralty F0750; NGA 27580.

Information available on lost lighthouses:

Notable faux lighthouses:

Adjoining page: East: Kerala and Karnataka

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Posted January 16, 2006. Checked and revised December 14, 2012. Lighthouses: 16. Site copyright 2012 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.