There are chances that you will run out of breath while climbing the 130 steps of this 32-foot tall lighthouse. But the effort put in is worth it, as from the top you get to see a breathtaking view of the Surathkal beach and of the ships waiting to enter the New Mangalore Port. What’s more, you get to see closely how the lighthouse works.
This is among the 183 lighthouses managed by the Directorate of Lighthouses and Lightships of the Ministry of Shipping. There are seven such facilities managed by the directorate in the State. People can visit them between 3.30 p.m. and 5.30 p.m. by paying Rs. 10 (Rs. 3 for a child), with Rs. 20 extra for carrying a camera.
Assistant Engineer (Electrical) V. Chinnasamy, who is in charge of the Surathkal Lighthouse, said that it serves as a landmark for mariners and fishermen. There are also equipment to keep track of movement of ships along the coastline, he said.
It is from the top of this tower that light is beamed in a particular sequence that helps mariners and fishermen identify the Surathkal tower. “The light passes through a prism and a combination of lenses to reach a distance of about 19 nautical miles,” Mr. Chinnasamy said.
He said that students, who get to see its working closely, can learn a lot here. “Students from the National Institute of Technology, Karnataka, have been making regular visits,” he said. The other equipment available at the lighthouse include the Differential Global Positioning System that is used by ships moving beyond the International Marine Borderline to locate the lighthouse. This lighthouse also has Radio Transponder Becon, an alternative identification system of the lighthouse that is used when the conventional identification system fails. The lighthouse also has a radar that is used to monitor movement of ships, Mr. Chinnasamy said.
People can visit between 3.30 p.m.
and 5.30 p.m. by paying Rs. 10 (Rs. 3 for a child), with
Rs. 20 extra for carrying a camera
