North Bay Lighthouse
North Bay Lighthouse, Andaman and Nicobar Islands 744107, India
Name and Location
North Bay Lighthouse, also known as "North Point Light," marks the entrance to Port Blair harbour on North Bay Island in South Andaman, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, India. Its official designation is simply North Bay Lighthouse.
Location
The lighthouse is situated at coordinates 11°42′16.6″ N, 92°45′17.1″ E and can be found on Unnamed Road (off Sri Vijaya Puram), North Bay Island, Port Blair Tehsil, South Andaman District, A&N Islands 744107, India.
Construction and History
The exact construction date is not officially recorded in public sources, but it is likely that the lighthouse was erected during mid-20th-century harbour improvements. The tower is a functional concrete structure without elaborate ornamentation, typical of post-war "modernist" lighthouses built by Indian Maritime authorities.
Architecture and Materials
The lighthouse has a reinforced concrete tower with a white-washed exterior. It stands at approximately 22 meters (≈ 72 feet) above ground level, with an estimated focal height of around 23 meters above mean sea level.
Light and Navigation
The lighthouse is a Major coastal light that emits Group-2 white flashes every 12 seconds (Fl (2) W 12 s). It has a nominal range of 20 nautical miles and emits Morse "K" on X-band radar returns (category racon).
Accessibility and Visiting
Visitors can reach the lighthouse by glass-bottom boat or ferry from Port Blair (New Jetty), which takes around 20-30 minutes. The tower itself is not open to visitors, but the base platform and adjacent picnic area can be walked around at low tide.
Notable Views and Landscape
From the lighthouse shoreline, one can see the harbor entrance to the west, the coral shallows to the east, and on clear days, the silhouette of Mount Harriet on South Andaman Island. Sunrises here are particularly striking over the scattered islets.
Technical and Operational Details
The lighthouse is fully automated and has been without a resident keeper since late 20th century. It continues as an official navigational aid for merchant and fishing vessels entering Port Blair, managed by the Directorate General of Lighthouses & Lightships (India).
Further Information
- * Indian Admiralty Chart: IN89 Port Blair Approaches
- * NGA List of Lights: F 1205
- * US NGA Pub. 112 (2009)
- * Directorate General of Lighthouses & Lightships, Annual Report (latest issue)
- * Andaman Islands Tourism Board brochures on North Bay Island
Details
| Name | North Bay Lighthouse |
|---|---|
| City | Port Blair |
| Country | India |
| Coordinates | 11.7047375, 92.7547359 |
| Stories | No formal heritage listing is known |
| Architectural style | functional concrete tower |
| Construction material | "reinforced concrete" |
| Focal height | 23 |
| Tower height | 22 |
| Access description | Reached by glass-bottom boat or ferry from Port Blair (New Jetty). The ride takes 20–30 minutes. |
| Accessible | true |
| Landscape type | coral-fringed islet with mangrove groves and shallow reefs |
| Facilities | basic seating, vendors selling cold drinks, snorkeling gear rentals |
| Opening hours | 08:00–16:00 local time; closed at high tide for safety. |
| Nearby attractions | ["coral reefs for snorkeling","on-site sea aquarium","traffic of ships entering Port Blair harbor; Ross Island (British-era ruins) 2 km south."] |
| AIS Radar | true |
| Light characteristic | "Fl (2) W 12 s" |
| Light range | 20 |
| Automated | true |