Exploring India’s Maritime Heritage: Highlights from the 2nd National Lighthouse Festival in Puri

The 2nd National Lighthouse Festival

The 2nd National Lighthouse Festival was recently hosted by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways (MoPSW) at Puri. The event aimed to explore the vast potential of lighthouse tourism and strategies for preserving these maritime structures, blending tourism development with heritage conservation.

A lighthouse is a tower or structure with a powerful light that helps guide ships and warn them of danger. Lighthouses are built on the coast, on islands, or on reefs. They can also be found at the entrance to bays and harbors. Lighthouses help mariners navigate safely, especially in dark or foggy conditions. They can warn of dangerous shallows and rocky coasts and help guide ships in and out of harbors. Lighthouses often have a rotating or flashing light at the top and may also have fog horns or sirens. Lighthouses remain an essential tool for navigation, even in the age of GPS and satellite navigation systems. They provide a reliable backup and are especially important in remote and weak signal areas.

A detailed presentation by the Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships (DGL) showcased the current status and prospects of lighthouse tourism in India, highlighting various initiatives underway. With an investment of ₹60 crore, 75 iconic lighthouses across nine coastal states and one union territory have been developed under the visionary leadership of the Hon’ble Prime Minister. Each lighthouse has become a beacon of heritage and recreation, with modern amenities such as museums, amphitheaters, children’s parks, and more. In Odisha, five lighthouses—Gopalpur, Puri, Chandrabhaga, Paradip, and False Point—have been developed as part of this initiative to promote lighthouse tourism. In the fiscal year 2023-24 alone, the 75 dedicated lighthouses attracted 16 lakh visitors. 

Through this conclave, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways aims to raise awareness about the unique blend of history and tourism that lighthouses represent and how their preservation is essential for future generations. The event sets the stage for upcoming initiatives and collaboration in the lighthouse tourism sector.

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