Gujarat: 17 lighthouses get modern facilities to boost maritime tourism
Gandhinagar, Aug 14
Seventeen lighthouses along Gujarat's coastline have been equipped with modern tourism facilities, turning structures traditionally used to guide ships into destinations showcasing the state's maritime history and heritage.
The development is part of the Centre's initiative to promote historically and architecturally significant lighthouses as places of educational, cultural and tourism interest.
Gujarat, which has the country's longest coastline at 2,340.62 km, has developed tourism facilities at lighthouses at Mandvi, Rawalpir, Samiyani, Okha, Kachchhigadh, Porbandar, Mangrol, Jaffrabad, Jegri, Alang, Ghogha, Hazira, Valsad Khadi, Gopnath, Veraval, Dwarka and Umargaon.
The facilities include cafeterias, landscaped gardens, gazebos, children's recreational areas, amphitheatres, light and sound shows, lifts and other public amenities.
The objective is to offer visitors an experience that combines recreation with an understanding of maritime history, navigation and lighthouse technology.
The initiative is being pursued under Section 23 of the Marine Aids to Navigation Act, 2021, which provides for the designation and development of heritage lighthouses, in addition to their navigational function, for educational, cultural and tourism purposes.
The Central Government has identified 75 lighthouses across the country for development with tourism facilities.
In Gujarat, lighthouse museums have also been established at Dwarka and Gopnath, where visitors can learn about the evolution of lighthouse technology and India's maritime heritage.
The development aims to introduce younger generations to the history of maritime navigation and the technological evolution of lighthouses, while adding new destinations to Gujarat's coastal tourism circuit.
The state's lighthouse tourism initiative also forms part of a wider effort to highlight Gujarat's maritime heritage. The National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) is under development in Lothal, Ahmedabad district.
The Union Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways describes the project as a major maritime heritage complex that will use museums, interactive exhibits and other facilities to present India's maritime history.
The Marine Aids to Navigation Act, 2021 specifically requires heritage lighthouses to be developed without disrupting their operational status as navigational aids or compromising their structure and architecture.
The accompanying rules provide for preserving their historical, cultural, and heritage value and promoting tourism at lighthouse premises.
With the addition of visitor facilities at 17 sites, Gujarat's lighthouses are thus being positioned not only as working maritime navigation infrastructure but also as places through which visitors can engage with the state's long association with the sea.
— IANS
Reader Comments
This is a great move for families! I took my kids to the Dwarka lighthouse last year and they were fascinated. Now with cafeterias and play areas, it will be a proper day trip. Just hope the ticket prices remain reasonable for middle-class families. Also excited about the Lothal maritime complex—that will be a game changer for history buffs!
Nice initiative but I hope they don't forget the core purpose—these are still critical navigational aids for our fishermen and merchant navy. The Act says they won't disrupt operations. Let's hope it stays that way. Also, please add proper waste management at these sites, else our beaches will become garbage dumps.
As someone from the US who visited Mandvi last year, this is a smart move. Lighthouses in places like Maine and California are major tourist attractions. India's coastline is underutilized for tourism. With proper safety measures and clean facilities, this could rival some coastal destinations internationally. Will definitely revisit when I'm back in India.
Lighthouses have such a poetic charm—standing alone against the vast sea, guiding ships safely. Converting them into cultural spaces is a beautiful way to preserve our heritage. But I'm skeptical about the "light and sound shows" part; many heritage projects in India overdo the modern flashiness and lose the authentic feel. Please keep it subtle. 🌊
Good to see the government finally focusing on maritime heritage beyond just ports and shipping. The Lothal NMHC is long overdue—that site is where the world's first known dockyard was! I hope they include local crafts, boat building demonstrations, and the story
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