Museums

Light House In Chennai

Written by Sudhir Kumar

Light House which you see here in the top is located opposite the office of the Director General of Police and was opened in January 1977. It is one of the few lighthouses in the world and the only one in India with an elevator.

About Light House :

We are a group of companies that manufacture and trade various commodities, predominately seafood and seafood products. Business branches in India , Thailand and Myanmar export and import seafood and other general commodities. Exports from Myanmar are routed through Singapore and Thailand offices to our customers worldwide.

Apart from manufacturing our own oem brand, we also trade seafood, procured from Singapore, Thailand, and Myanmar and sell to the Middle-East, Japan, Europe and the United States.

The company has been setup by directors who have fourteen years of experience in the international seafood trade business and eighteen years of experience in fish and shrimp farming in India and overseas.

Attraction of Light House :

Light House arrangement of exhibiting light to assist company’s vessels arriving at Madras and to enter the port during the 17 & 18th centuries but no such record is available. The first conventional lighthouse was the oil wick lamp placed on the roof of the officer’s Mess cum Exchange building in 1796. The building is now known as Fort Museum.

Light House construction of a regular Lighthouse Tower in the compound of present High Court was taken up in 1838 and completed in 1840 on which the wick lamp was shifted as the supply of the new equipment by M/s Chance Bros, Birmingham was delayed. The new flashing light consisting of Argand lamps and reflectors was installed which started functioning from 1st January 1844. Fifty years later the Lighthouse equipment with lantern was shifted on to the dome of new High Court building and started functioning from there with effect from 1st June 1894. An improvement of equipment was introduced in 1927.

The present modern Lighthouse was built in 1976 and Electrical Lighthouse equipment manufactured by BBT, Paris was installed on it which started functioning with effect from 10th January 1977.

History of Light House :

The history of the Chennai Lighthouse dates back to 1795. In 1796, the roof of the Officers Mess in what is now known as Fort St George, was selected as the site for the first warning beacon. It was nothing more than a large lantern. To be more specific, the first Light House of Chennai functioned (1796 – 1841) at the Building in the Fort St George where the Fort Museum is located.

Detail of Light House In Chennai :

The lighthouse, with oil lamps built by the French in 1836, can be seen from a distance of 24 km. The oil lamps were replaced with electric lights in the first half of the 20th century. Soon, a new lighthouse was constructed on the outskirts of the town and the old one remained as a technical marvel, drawing tourists from far and wide. For a while, visitors were permitted to go up the tower through a wooden staircase. Entry was closed a few decades ago.

“Now we propose to establish a permanent gallery tracing the history of ancient port cities, including Puducherry, with a series of rare artefacts, photos and paintings with the assistance from the union ministry of culture. The ancient monument will be promoted as an important tourist destination in this part of the world,” Narayanasamy said

The proposal includes setting up two see-through capsule elevators enabling the tourist to reach the top of the tower for a view of the entire territory.

How To Reach Here :

Road Distance or driving distance from Chennai Central to Light House is 8 kms (5.00 miles). For customizing your travel journey you might consider adding some stop over points or adding some night stops here.

Your total travel time is approximately 0 hour(s) 12 min(s); which may vary depending upon the road and traffic conditions.

About the author

Sudhir Kumar

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