Mandvi is about 60 km from Bhuj and is connected by an all weather road.Originally Mandvi was ‘Riyan’s small port on the mouths of river Rukmavati. Riyan got transformed to Raipur and then to Mandvi-meaning a custom’s post. The present port at Mandvi was built in the year 1580 by Rao Khengarji, the then ruler of Kachchh. A century later a fort at Kachhigadh on Okha mandal coast and another at Mandvi were built to assist Kachchhi mariners. Armed contingents were stationed at Kachchhigadh to prevent sea piracy.

The business community of the Town used to observe and look for their vessels expected to arrive from Far East, Arabia, South and East African countries, Ceylone and Malabar etc from the fort bastion which was known as “Hodiyo Kotho”.

In the early part of the 18th century a flag in the daytime and an oil lamp during the night used to be hoisted from the fort Bastion whenever vessels were expected. Later on it became necessary to provide a regular light. A tower subsequently was constructed on the same bastion and an oil lamp inside an optic was placed into service in the year 1872. The same year M/s Bombay Steam navigation Co introduced a regular steamer service between Cochin, Bombay, Karachi and Mandvi. Their successors M/s Scindia Steam navigation Co operated the service till 1965.

The group flashing system-flash (3) every 30 seconds was introduced in 1889. The intensity of the light was improved in 1949 by placing a 4th order optic. The lighthouse tower was raised in height in 1963 and an Electrically operated optical equipment supplied by M/s B.B.T, Paris, was installed on the tower. It was commissioned into service on 1st January 1964. During the same period the Baffle wall and a Powerhouse were also constructed in the Mandvi Port premises for the fog signal vibrators and sound horns. The fog signal also became operational in 1964. However fog signal was discontinued in 1987.

A `Racon’ was added at the bastion on 28th December 1980. The emergency light was changed over from DA gas burner to 12V 60W Halogen lamp on 25th May 1993. The lighthouse tower was rendered unsafe due to Earth quake on 26th January 2001 and had to be pulled down. Temporarily a flashing light, 220V 1000 W lamp inside a 500 mm drum optic was re-exhibited on 2nd September 2001.

The Decca Navigator Chain (DNC) master station and a monitor station were established at Mandvi – (about 6 Km away from Lighthouse) on 25th April 1978. The DNC station ceased to operate from April 2002.