Built in May 1972 the lighthouse has only been open for visitors for the past few years. I don't know what the second beach at Kovalam was called before it was built – maybe 'No Lighthouse Beach.' I was very impressed to see on this visit that in 2007 a solar panel was installed that is helping to power (or perhaps completely powering? Hard to know) the lighthouse's bulb.
As you can see in this bottom up view getting to the top is a workout – especially the last six feet which are up a steep nautical-type ladder. Note to ladies – wear pants or, if wearing a skirt, make sure no one is close
behind you during your final push to the top.
The views from the lighthouse are spectacular. Looking south to Vizhinjam – which will in the future be the location of a deep water harbour – you can see the mosque and, in the second photo, peeking up from the carpet of palms, the pink towers of the Our Lady of the Voyage church. I'll be doing a blog entry on Vizhinjam in the future.
Looking north you see Lighthouse Beach and the outcropping of rock that separates the two beaches. On the backside (not visible) of the last outcropping is the Leela hotel. The last photo is not of the lighthouse at all but of a sandcastle perhaps inspired by it.
