The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways is reimagining India’s 205 lighthouses as cultural and tourism destinations while maintaining their primary role in maritime navigation. The Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships (DGLL) has developed 75 lighthouse stations across the country into public attractions, combining heritage preservation with modern infrastructure upgrades.
Key facts
- India has 205 lighthouses along an 11,000-kilometre coastline
- 75 lighthouses have been developed as tourism destinations
- Lighthouse visitor numbers increased from 4 lakh in 2014 to 18.63 lakh in 2024-25
- All lighthouses converted to solar power
- 87 Automatic Identification System (AIS) shore stations installed on lighthouses
- Digital ticketing portal launched by DGLL
- National Maritime Heritage Complex at Lothal planned with 77-metre-high Lighthouse Museum at estimated cost of Rs 266.11 crore
- Four new lighthouses being built on Brahmaputra River at Pandu, Bogibeel, Silghat and Biswanath Ghat with combined outlay of Rs 84 crore
- 25 additional lighthouses proposed for tourism development
- Seven lighthouse museums already operational at Chennai, Mahabalipuram, Alappuzha, Kannur, Muttom, Dwarka and Gopnath
From navigation aids to public destinations
Lighthouses traditionally served only maritime purposes, guiding ships through dangerous coastal waters. The new strategy maintains this navigation function while adding tourism and heritage dimensions. Lighthouse stations are being renovated with public amenities including pathways, gardens, amphitheatres, museums and cafeterias. A digital ticketing system has been introduced to streamline visitor access across all sites.
Developed lighthouse destinations include Mandvi and Dwarka lighthouses in Gujarat, Tadri in Karnataka, Pamban in Tamil Nadu, and Vizhinjam in Kerala. The transformation has generated employment across hospitality, transport, retail and local artisan sectors.
Technology upgrades maintain safety
While expanding public access, the government has modernized the navigational technology of lighthouses. All 205 lighthouses now operate on solar power instead of traditional oil lamps and fire, reducing operational costs and environmental impact. Individual stations have been upgraded incrementally: Samiyani Island lighthouse transitioned from oil lamp to solar-powered electronic flasher to LED lantern by 2016. Jodiya lighthouse similarly upgraded to high-intensity LED lantern by 2021.
A critical addition is the installation of 87 Automatic Identification System (AIS) shore stations on lighthouses along India’s coast. AIS is an international maritime safety standard under SOLAS (International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea) that broadcasts ship and shore data to improve navigational awareness and maritime traffic management.
Museums and cultural initiatives
Seven dedicated lighthouse museums have been established to preserve maritime history. The Mahabalipuram Lighthouse museum in Tamil Nadu exemplifies this approach. The site itself dates to the seventh century AD when the Pallavas developed it as a maritime trading port. The first conventional lighthouse was built on a temple roof in 1887 with a wick lamp. The current 26-metre stone tower received its first LED array upgrade in 2020. The museum displays historical artifacts and exhibits tracing lighthouse evolution.
The ambitious National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) planned at Lothal in Gujarat will feature a 77-metre-high Lighthouse Museum designed as one of the world’s largest maritime museums. It will include a 5D Dome Theatre, Coastal States Pavilion, a Museotel, an Eco Resort and a Maritime Research Institute in partnership with the Indian Maritime University. The museum will use virtual reality walkthroughs and projection mapping sound-and-light shows to tell India’s maritime heritage story across five millennia.
A new Lighthouse Museum is also planned at Visakhapatnam with 3,156 square metres of dedicated land.
Indian Lighthouse Festival and community engagement
The government has launched the Indian Lighthouse Festival to celebrate maritime heritage at lighthouse sites. The first edition was held at Fort Aguada in Goa in 2023, the second at Puri in Odisha in 2024, and the third at Visakhapatnam in 2026. Each festival combines cultural exhibitions, classical performances, maritime history sessions, coastal cuisine and local art forms including sand art, boat art and folk music. The 2026 edition emphasised community participation through local crafts, coastal cuisine and night-time illumination. Aguada lighthouse now features light-and-sound projection mapping using the structure as a canvas.
Inland waterway expansion
Four new lighthouses are being built along the Brahmaputra River at Pandu, Bogibeel, Silghat and Biswanath Ghat. These will be India’s first lighthouse infrastructure on inland waterways, each standing 20 metres tall with solar power and weather-observation sensors. Beyond navigation, each site will include a museum, amphitheatre, cafeteria, children’s play area, souvenir shop and landscaped public spaces, with a combined project cost of Rs 84 crore.
What this means for you
Visitors can now access 75 lighthouse sites across India for heritage tourism. The digital ticketing portal simplifies booking and entry. Employment opportunities exist in tourism, hospitality and cultural programming at lighthouse destinations. Students and researchers can access the new Maritime Research Institute at Lothal and study India’s five-thousand-year seafaring history. Coastal communities benefit from infrastructure development and cultural celebration programmes.
What happens next
An additional 25 lighthouses are planned for tourism development. The Lothal National Maritime Heritage Complex with its 77-metre Lighthouse Museum and associated facilities will be a major attraction once completed. The Visakhapatnam Lighthouse Museum is under development. The four Brahmaputra River lighthouses are progressing toward completion.