Tangasseri Lighthouse

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Tangasseri Lighthouse
Thangassseri Lighthouse.jpg
The lighthouse in 2017
Tangasseri Lighthouse
Location Tangasseri, Kollam, India
Coordinates 8°52′50″N76°33′57″E / 8.880691°N 76.565955°E / 8.880691; 76.565955
Tower
Constructed1902
Foundationreinforced concrete
Constructionmasonry tower
Height41 metres (135 ft) [1]
Shapecylindrical tower with double balcony and lantern
Markingsred and white diagonal stripe
Light
Focal height42 metres (138 ft) above mean sea level
Lens700 mm 2nd order 3 panel revolving optic inside 3.65 m diameter Lantern House (Chance Bros)
Intensity1,27,950 CDS (220/250 volt) AC 400W X 3 nos. (Metal Halide Lamps)
Range26 nautical miles (48 km; 30 mi)
Characteristic Fl (3) W 15s.

Tangasseri Lighthouse or Thangassery Lighthouse is situated at Tangasseri in Kollam city of the Indian state of Kerala. [2] [3] It is one of the two lighthouses in the Kollam Metropolitan Area and is maintained by the Cochin Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships. [4] [5] In operation since 1902, [6] the cylindrical lighthouse tower painted with white and red oblique bands has a height of 41 metres (135 ft), making it the second tallest lighthouse in Kerala coast. [7] Tangasseri Lighthouse is one of the most visited lighthouses in Kerala. [8]

Contents

History

Prior to construction of the lighthouse, the British East India company had installed a tower with an oil lamp. In 1902 the present Tangasseri Lighthouse was completed, which by 1930 had suffered cracks in the tower that required jacketing masonry to be installed. [9] The light source was modified in 1932, 1940, 1962, 1967, 1990 and 1994. [10]

In 2016, the Tangasseri Lighthouse got an elevator facility for its visitors. [11]

Location

The lighthouse is located on the coast at Tangasseri in Kollam city and is one of the locations in India that still maintains Anglo-Indian culture. Tangasseri is home to remnants of an ancient Portuguese built coastal defence, the St Thomas Fort, a Portuguese Cemetery, a canal, the ancient Port of Quilon and the Infant Jesus Cathedral. [12] [13] [14]

Visitors are allowed access to the lighthouse between 11 am and 5 pm on all days except on Mondays. [15]

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "Tourist Places in Kerala". Bizhat.com. Archived from the original on 19 March 2015. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
  2. ↑ Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of India: Kerala and Karnataka". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill . Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  3. ↑ "Tangassery Point Light, Quilon/Kollam". World List of Lights (WLOL). Amateur Radio Lighthouse Society. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
  4. ↑ "Chennai Directorate – Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships". Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships. Archived from the original on 15 March 2015. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
  5. ↑ "Rs. 1.11-cr. project to beautify road to Tangasseri lighthouse". The Hindu. 3 November 2014. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
  6. ↑ "Tangasseri lighthouse to stay open for longer hours". The Hindu. January 2014. Archived from the original on 29 April 2014. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
  7. ↑ "New look for Tangasseri lighthouse". The Hindu. 22 May 2016. Archived from the original on 23 May 2016. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
  8. ↑ "Lighthouse sees rise in footfall". The Hindu. 27 December 2016. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  9. ↑ "Indian Lighthouses: An Overview" (PDF). DGLL. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 December 2014. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  10. ↑ "Indian Lighthouses – An overview" (PDF). DGLL India. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 December 2014. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
  11. ↑ "Tangi's grand old lady to get a lift". The Hindu. 27 August 2016. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  12. ↑ "A brief history of Tangasseri". Rotary Club of Tangasseri. Archived from the original on 22 November 2013. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  13. ↑ "Superb India Tours – Kollam". Superb India Tours. Archived from the original on 29 January 2014. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  14. ↑ "Tangasseri – OOCITIES". OOCITIES. Archived from the original on 9 January 2015. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  15. ↑ "Increase in Tangasseri Lighthouse Visiting Hours". Kerala News. 2 January 2014. Archived from the original on 31 March 2015. Retrieved 27 March 2015.


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