Tourists can soon have a view of the Bay of Bengal from the lighthouse at Gopalpur in Odisha’s Ganjam district or of the Arabian Sea from Kanhoji Angre lighthouse in Mumbai as these spots would be developed as tourist destinations.
The Gopalpur lighthouse was a major landmark for seafarers when it used to be a famous trade port. This lighthouse is among 15 heritage lighthouses chosen by the Union Tourism Ministry along with the Shipping Ministry for development as tourist sites in the country.
Other lighthouses identified for development as tourist destinations include Kanyakumari, Rameswaram, Mahabalipuram, Chennai, Vishakhapatnam, Chandrabhaga, Paradip, Aguado, Dwarka and Minicoy.
Union Tourism Minister K Chiranjeevi has held discussions with Shipping Minister GK Vasan and Minister of State for Shipping Milind Deora and agreed to provide Central financial assistance for development of the 15 lighthouses as tourist destinations.
Both Ministries are of the opinion that the development of such lighthouses would not only protect National heritage but also help develop new tourism destinations.
The aim is to create awareness and educate the public on the significance of lighthouses, their history and technology and offer tourists spectacular views of the splendid Indian beaches and seas.
It would create a unique lighthouse-based cultural, recreational tourism segment which is in demand due to their remote, tranquil and serene locations. It would also create job opportunities for locals,” official sources said.
There would be landscape enhancement, restoration and conservation of existing lighthouses, development of basic amenities, cafeteria and deployment of guides for tourists.
There are about 180 lighthouses in the country out of which 15 having historical importance would be taken up for development in the first phase, the sources added.