Kovilthottam Lighthouse

8°59′05″N 76°31′28″E / 8.984715°N 76.524523°E / 8.984715; 76.524523TowerConstructed1953 (first)Foundationreinforced concreteConstructionmasonry towerHeight18 metres (59 ft)^[1]Shapesquare tower with balcony and lanternMarkingsblack tower with a horizontal white band, black lanternLightFirst lit1962Focal height20 metres (66 ft) above MSLLens250 mm 4th order cut & polished drum optic inside 1.8 m diameter Lantern House (BBT)Intensity500W halogen lamp (220/250 volt) ACRange15 nautical miles (28 km; 17 mi)CharacteristicFl W 5s.

Kovilthottam Lighthouse is situated at Kovilthottam in Kollam district of Kerala. The 18-meter tall lighthouse tower is painted with black and white alternating bands.^[2] The lighthouse has been provided to serve the Port of Neendakara situated at the entrance to Ashtamudi Backwaters.

Location

Kovilthottam Lighthouse is situated at Kollam Metropolitan Area. It is about 20 km away from Kollam city centre.

• Chavara – 2.6 km
• Neendakara – 8.6 km
• Karunagappally - 10 km
• Tangasseri Lighthouse – 15.2 km
• Kollam – 20 km
• Paravur – 40.7 km

History

Before the construction of Kovilthottam, there was a flag mast at this location. Later, a wooden tower was constructed here. A blinking DA gas light was installed on 14 February 1953. This temporary arrangement was replaced later in 1960–1961 after the completion of the masonry tower. The emergency source was replaced by 12V 100W Halogen lamp in a 200 mm optic outside the lantern on 14 February 1999.^[3]

See also

• List of lighthouses in India

References

External links

• Kovilthottam Lighthouse in Lighthouse Digest's Lighthouse Explorer Database
• Media related to Kovilthottam Lighthouse at Wikimedia Commons
• Kovilthottam lighthouse on the World List of Lights