CHENNAI: "From the watch tower of the lighthouse in Mahabalipuram I can view the sea. The breeze comes from the sea and a bird's eye view from the tower makes me feel like I am flying in the sky," said 30-year-old Atheena Joicey, a tourist from Sri Lanka.
People who come to the lighthouse feel the same, that’s why, she came here frequently and enjoyed the moments from the lighthouse.
About 3,000 tourists from Indian and other countries visit the Mamallapuram to see the lighthouse, said sources concerned.
23-year-old Gayle Sequeira, another tourist from Mumbai, said, “I have come to Chennai for study. Before coming here, I came to know about the lighthouse and saw photographs from online. From then I was very much eager to visit this place.”
“So, on my first weekend, I came here. Here I saw the perfect artworks in the wall of the temple. The ancient plaques portrayed the story of the ancient period in the wall,” Gayle Sequeira went on.
Mahabalipuram lighthouse is located in Tamil Nadu, which is also popular in India for the sea beach. However, following perceived LTTE threat it was closed for tourists in 2001 and later opened for tourists in 2011.
The lighthouse has a circular masonry tower made of natural stone.
The lighthouse was built during the Pallava era. The Pallava dynasty existed between the 3rd and 9th centuries. They gained prominence after the eclipse of the Satavahana dynasty, whom the Pallavas served as feudatories.
As early as the 7th century AD, Mahabalipuram was a busy port under the Pallavas. Bonfires were lit on rocks to aid the mariners. The British first used the temple atop the Mahishasuramardini cave as a light. Now, the new lighthouse and the old lighthouse are adjacent to each other.
The Mahishasuramardini temple was dedicated to lord Siva. A granite roof was constructed atop the temple to keep the light from 1887 to 1900.
The Lighthouse has a focal plane of 42 m (138 ft); white flash every 10 s. 26 m (85 ft) stone tower with lantern and gallery are unpainted and the lantern dome is painted red.
BDST:1400/ 1412 HRS, OCT 18, 2015
BD/RS/SMS
