Muttam Point Lighthouse is situated in Muttamtura village on the top of steep cliff. Close to the Lighthouse there is a grove of palm trees which is quite conspicuous. The lighthouse station is about 18 km west of Nagarcoil Railway station and is connected by an all weather road. The region was part of Travancore state till the reorganization of states on 1st November 1956 when it was transferred to Tamilnadu.
Earlier to the year 1875 a light used to be hoisted from a mast for the benefit of local fishermen. Then a column was constructed and the light in a 6th order optic was shifted on to this column-it was painted in Black and White bands. The British planned the new lighthouse tower at Muttam after they had taken control of Colombo so as to assist their vessels plying between Colombo and ports on India’s west coast. A masonry tower around the column was constructed during 1874-75 and a 4th order optical equipment with wick lamp supplied by M/s Chance Bros, Birmingham was installed over the new tower.
The 2nd order optical equipment and PV light source were supplied by M/s. Chance Bros., Birmingham, and was installed over the new tower during November-December 1909. The new Lighthouse was formally commissioned into service on 1st January 1910.
The PV burner was replaced by 230 V 400 W Metal halide lamp and the emergency source by 12V 100W Halogen lamp on the 30th November 1994. The direct drive system was incorporated on 30th April 1996. |
