Lighthouses of India: West Bengal, Orissa, and Andhra Pradesh

Lighthouses of West Bengal

Hooghly Estuary (Kolkata Approach) Lighthouses

* Sagar Island (Middleton Point) (3)

1909 (station established 1821). Active; focal plane 26 m (85 ft); white flash every 3 s. 23 m (79 ft) round cast iron tower, painted with horizontal red and white bands. The base of the lighthouse is surrounded by a square pyramidal observation platform of recent construction. We have a DGLL photo (also seen above), Huelse has a historic postcard view, and Google has a satellite view. This lighthouse has a very attractive setting in the center of a square reservation, surrounded by a moat and buildings now used for offices. Located at Middleton Point on Sagar Island, marking the east side of the entrance to the Hooghly estuary and Kolkata (Calcutta). The island is accessible by ferry; it is a pilgrimage site, being the place where the Ganges meets the sea. Site open, tower closed but visitors can climb the observation platform. ARLHS IND-060; Admiralty F1028; NGA 26860.

Nayacharya Outer Column

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); white flash every 10 s. Approx. 13 m (43 ft) round masonry obelisk. No photo available, but Google has an indistinct satellite view. Located near the northeastern end of Nayacharya Island, opposite Haldia. Site status unknown. Admiralty F1034; NGA 26868.

Nayacharya Inner Column Date unknown. Active; focal plane 18 m (59 ft); white flash every 1.5 s. Approx. 13 m (43 ft) round masonry obelisk. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located near the northeastern end of Nayacharya Island, about 800 m (1/2 mi) west southwest of the outer column. Site status unknown. Admiralty F1034.5; NGA 26869. Haldia Channel South Date unknown. Active; focal plane unknown; white flash every 10 s. Approx. 20 m (66 ft) square skeletal tower, probably with gallery. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. This light marks a bend in the Hooghly channel. Located on the west side of the Hooghly estuary about 7 km (4 mi) south of Haldia. Site status unknown. Admiralty F1032.7; NGA 26865. Sandia Outer Column Date unknown. Active; focal plane 17 m (56 ft); white flash every 10 s. Approx. 15 m (49 ft) round masonry obelisk. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located on the west side of the Hooghly estuary about 8 km (5 mi) north of Gangra. Site status unknown. Admiralty F1031.45; NGA 26862. Sandia Inner Column Date unknown. Active; focal plane 18 m (59 ft); white flash every 1.5 s. Approx. 15 m (49 ft) round masonry obelisk. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located on the west side of the Hooghly estuary about 5 km (3 mi) north of Gangra. Site status unknown. Admiralty F1031.46; NGA 26863. *** Dariapur (2) 1968 (station established 1943). Active; focal plane 30 m (98 ft); two long (1.4 s) white flashes every 20 s. 26 m (85 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted with horizontal black and white bands. A DGLL photo is at right, and Google has a satellite view. The original light was on a 20 m (66 ft) steel mast. Listed as a tourist attraction, this lighthouse is apparently open for climbing. About 8 km (5 mi) northeast of this station is the location of the Cowcolly Light, built in 1810 and active until the 1920s; Cowcolly was India's first British-built lighthouse. Located on the west side of the entrance to the Hooghly estuary and Kolkata (Calcutta), about 8 km (5 mi) northeast of Janput. Site open, tower apparently open but we do not know the schedule. ARLHS IND-030; Admiralty F1029; NGA 26861.

Dariapur Li

Lighthouses of Orissa

Paradip Area Lighthouses

* False Point (Batighar)

1837. Active; focal plane 38 m (125 ft); two white flashes every 20 s. 38 m (125 ft) round granite tower, painted with horizontal red and white bands. The lighthouse traditionally carried a 10-point star-shaped daymark, placed in recent years on one of the white bands; it's uncertain whether recent repaintings have included the star. We have a DGLL photo, a local web site has a small photo and some information about the lighthouse (near the bottom of the page) and Google has a satellite view. The lighthouse was built to mark the entrance to the Mahanadi River; it also marks the nearby cape, which is called False Point because mariners bound for Calcutta sometimes mistook it for Palmyras Point farther north. Located about 2.5 km (1.5 mi) from the coastline and south of the point near Paradip (Paradeep). Site open, tower status unknown. ARLHS IND-033; Admiralty F1006; NGA 26900.

Paradip Inner Harbor Range Front Date unknown. Active; focal plane 28 m (92 ft); quick-flashing white light. Approx. 25 m (82 ft) round concrete tower, painted with horizontal bands. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. This is one of at least seven range lighthouses that guide vessels in the new harbor of Paradip; data is not available for many of them. Located on the west side of the harbor. Site status unknown. Admiralty F1005.8; NGA 26924. Paradip Inner Harbor Range Rear Date unknown. Active; focal plane 33 m (108 ft); white flash every 4 s. Approx. 30 m (98 ft) round concrete tower, painted with horizontal bands. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. This appears to be the tallest of the range lighthouses at the new harbor of Paradip. Located on the west side of the harbor, 300 m (980 ft) northwest of the front light. Site status unknown. Admiralty F1005.81; NGA 26928. * Paradip 1988. Active; focal plane 40 m (131 ft); three white flashes every 30 s. 40 m (131 ft) round concrete tower with lantern, gallery, and a circular observation and control room about 1/3 the way up the tower. Lighthouse painted with black and white horizontal bands; lantern dome painted red. A photo is at right, and Google has a satellite view. Paradip is Orissa's only deepwater port; it is an artificial harbor constructed in 1962-66. Located behind the beach about 10 km (6 mi) southwest of downtown Paradip. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS IND-049; Admiralty F1004.4; NGA 26936.

Paradip Light; Paradip Port Trust photo

Puri Area Lighthouses

* Chandrabhaga 1968. Active; focal plane 37 m (122 ft); white flash every 10 s. 30 m (98 ft) round masonry tower, painted with horizontal red and white bands. Two 1-story keeper's houses. We have a DGLL photo, and Google has a fine satellite view. Located just off the beach near Konarak. Site open, tower status unknown. ARLHS IND-025; Admiralty F1003; NGA 26940. * Puri (4) 2002 (station established 1887). Active; focal plane 29 m (95 ft); three white flashes every 20 s. 25 m (82 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and double gallery, painted with horizontal black and white bands. Several 1-story keeper's cottages nearby. A photo is at right, we also have a DGLL photo, and Google has a satellite view. Early lights were mounted on the wall of the Circuit House; in 1956 a skeletal tower was mounted atop a new Circuit House. The Puri area is a very popular seaside resort. Located just off the beach to the southwest of Puri. Site open, tower status unknown. ARLHS IND-056; Admiralty F1002; NGA 26944. * Gopalpur (4) 1967 (station established 1871). Active; focal plane 48 m (148 ft); white flash every 5 s. 32 m (105 ft) round masonry tower with lantern and gallery, attached to several 1-story keeper's houses. Lighthouse painted with horizontal red and white bands. We have a DGLL photo, a good closeup photo is also available, Purnima Roy has a more distant view, and Google has a good satellite view. The original mast light was replaced by a skeletal tower in 1925; a second skeletal tower was built in 1948. Gopalpur-on-Sea is also a very popular seaside resort. Located just off the beach at Gopalpur-on-Sea, about 15 km (9 mi) southeast of Brahmapur in southern Orissa. Site open, tower status unknown. ARLHS IND-035; Admiralty F0988; NGA 26948.

Puri Light, January 2007