Manakkodam Lighthouse

Manakkodam Lighthouse
Manaccur
The lighthouse in 2012
Map
LocationAndhakaranazhy, Cherthala, Kerala, India
Coordinates9°44′54″N 76°17′11″E / 9.748254°N 76.286435°E / 9.748254; 76.286435
Tower
Constructed1979
Constructionreinforced concrete tower
Height30 metres (98 ft)
Shapesquare tower lower half skeletal upper half closed, with balcony and lantern
Markingswhite tower, red lantern
Light
Focal height35.67 metres (117.0 ft)
Light sourcemain power
Intensity500/550 W Metal Halide Lamp (220/250 V AC)
Range18.4 nautical miles (34.1 km; 21.2 mi)[1]
CharacteristicFl (2) W 10s.

Manakkodam Lighthouse is situated next to the Andhakaranazhy beach in the Alappuzha district of Kerala near Cherthala. The tower is a 33.8 metres (110.9 ft) high concrete structure with square cross section.[2] It was inaugurated on 1 August 1979. There were no lights in this area before 1979. The light source was changed from incandescent lamp to metal halide on 21 September 1998.[3][4][5] The light source flashes twice in ten seconds.[6]

History

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The Manakkodam Lighthouse was first planned in 1972 with a 30 m cylindrical tower design, but due to weak substrata the plan was revised to a four‑column reinforced‑concrete structure supporting a service room.[7] Construction was completed in 1979,[8] and the lighthouse was commissioned on 1 August 1979, marking the first navigational light in the region. The original incandescent lamp was replaced by a 230 V, 400 W metal‑halide lamp on 21 September 1998, and later upgraded to a cluster of three 150 W lamps on 22 November 2006 to improve reliability and luminous intensity.[7] In 2022, ₹1 (equivalent to ₹1.06 in 2023) was offered by Central Government to develop various facilities at the lighthouse under Alappuzha marina-cum-cargo project, part of Sagar Mala project.[9]

Structure and Specifications

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The lighthouse is a 33.8 m‑high square reinforced‑concrete tower with a skeletal lower half and a closed upper half, painted white with a red lantern. Its focal plane is at 35.67 m above mean sea level, and the light characteristic is Fl(2) W 10s (two white flashes every 10 seconds). The optical system is a 300 mm fourth‑order revolving drum optic within a 2.4 m‑diameter lantern house, originally supplied by J. Stone & Co. Ltd., India. Power is drawn from the coastal mains supply (440 V, 50 Hz) with a standby generator provided on site.[10] Continuous maintenance is performed by the Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships, ensuring the structure and equipment remain operational for coastal shipping and local fishing communities.[11]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Manakkodam lighthouse Archived 17 March 2015 at the Wayback Machine Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships
  2. ^ Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of India: Kerala and Karnataka". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  3. ^ "Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships". Archived from the original on 12 March 2013. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
  4. ^ "Lighthouses in Kerala". Archived from the original on 19 March 2015. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
  5. ^ "Manakkodam Lighthouse". DGLL. Archived from the original on 17 March 2015. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
  6. ^ "Manakkodam Light". Lighthouse diges magazine. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
  7. ^ a b "Manakkodam Lighthouse | Directorate General of Lighthouses And Lightships". www.dgll.nic.in. Archived from the original on 24 January 2025. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
  8. ^ problogic (6 January 2020). "Tallest lighthouses of the Indian Subcontinent". Panethos. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
  9. ^ "Centre to develop Alappuzha marina-cum-cargo project under Sagarmala scheme". The Hindu. 10 December 2022. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
  10. ^ "Master Ledger of Manakkodam Lighthouse" (PDF). www.dgll.nic.in. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
  11. ^ "Coast Guard rescues stranded fishermen off Alappuzha coast". The Hindu. 27 June 2023. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
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