India's Lighthouse Transformation Program
India is comprehensively reimagining its network of 205 lighthouses along its 11,000 km coastline, transforming them from purely functional navigation aids into multifaceted tourism destinations while maintaining their core maritime safety functions. Lighthouse tourism has experienced dramatic growth, increasing from approximately 4 lakh visitors in 2014 to 18.63 lakh visitors in 2024-25, representing substantial expansion in public engagement with maritime heritage sites.
Tourism Infrastructure Development
Seventy-five lighthouses have been developed as tourism destinations to preserve their historical and architectural significance, including prominent sites such as Mandvi Lighthouse and Dwarka Lighthouse in Gujarat, Tadri Lighthouse in Karnataka, Pamban Lighthouse in Tamil Nadu, and Vizhinjam Lighthouse in Kerala. The program includes developing pathways, gardens, amphitheaters, and other visitor facilities around lighthouse stations. A digital ticketing portal has been launched under the Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships (DGLL) to streamline visitor management. The tourism development has generated employment opportunities for nearby hotels, restaurants, tour operators, transport services, local shops, and artisans.
Technological Modernization
All lighthouses in India are now solar-powered, representing a complete transition to renewable energy for navigation infrastructure. The technological evolution is demonstrated through specific station upgrades: at Samiyani Island in Gujarat, an oil lamp was replaced with a solar-powered electronic flasher, followed by an LED lantern in 2016; at Jodiya, a solar-operated flashing light was introduced before being upgraded to a high-intensity LED lantern in 2021. Eighty-seven Automatic Identification System (AIS) shore stations have been installed on lighthouses along the coast, enhancing situational awareness and contributing to navigation safety and shipping traffic management efficiency in accordance with the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS).
Maritime Museums and Heritage Preservation
India has established dedicated lighthouse museums at Chennai, Mahabalipuram, Alappuzha, Kannur, Muttom, Dwarka, and Gopnath. The Mahabalipuram Lighthouse, a 26-meter-high circular stone masonry tower, represents centuries of maritime history dating back to the Pallava dynasty in the seventh century AD. Its main light was upgraded to a 236-watt LED array in 2020, the first of its kind. The National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) at Lothal in Gujarat includes a 77-meter-high Lighthouse Museum with an estimated cost of ₹266.11 crore, planned as the tallest lighthouse museum and one of the largest maritime museums globally. The NMHC complex will include a 5D Dome Theatre, Coastal States Pavilion, Museotel, Eco Resort, and Maritime Research Institute developed with the Indian Maritime University. A new Lighthouse Museum at Visakhapatnam is planned at the Old Lighthouse area, with 3,156 square meters of land earmarked for the project.
Lighthouse Festivals and Community Engagement
The Indian Lighthouse Festival program has created cultural celebrations around lighthouse sites, with the first edition held at Fort Aguada in Goa in 2023, the second in Puri, Odisha in 2024, and the third in Visakhapatnam in 2026. These festivals feature cultural exhibitions, maritime history sessions, classical performances, musical evenings with celebrity singers, and coastal cuisine. The Puri edition highlighted Odisha's five tourism-developed lighthouses (Gopalpur, Puri, Chandrabhaga, Paradip, and False Point) and incorporated sand art, boat art, yoga, and folk dance & music. The government announced plans to involve coastal communities in preserving, protecting, and promoting lighthouse sites. At Aguada Lighthouse in Goa, a light-and-sound projection mapping show uses the historic structure as a canvas for storytelling.
Expansion and Future Developments
An additional 25 lighthouses are proposed for development as tourism destinations, expanding beyond the current 75 sites. Four new lighthouses are being established along the Brahmaputra River at Pandu, Bogibeel, Silghat, and Biswanath Ghat with a combined outlay of approximately ₹84 crore, representing India's first lighthouse infrastructure on an inland waterway. Each 20-meter tower will incorporate solar power and weather-observation sensors while featuring museums, amphitheaters, cafeterias, children's play areas, souvenir shops, and landscaped public spaces.