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	== See also ==		== See also ==
	{{stack\|~~{{Portal\|India}}~~}}		{{stack\|}}
	* [[List of lighthouses in India]]		* [[List of lighthouses in India]]

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{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2019}}
{{short description|Lighthouse in India}}
{{Infobox lighthouse
| name = Minicoy Island Lighthouse
| image_name = Lighthouse worms eye.jpg
| caption = View of the Minicoy Lighthouse (Maliku), at Lakshadweep, India
| location = Minicoy island, Lakshadweep, India
| coordinates = {{coord|8.26933|N|73.02604|E|region:EE-39_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_footnotes =
| pushpin_map = India
| pushpin = lighthouse
| pushpin_map_caption = India
| yearbuilt = 1885
| yearlit =
| automated = Yes
| yeardeactivated =
| foundation =
| construction = mansory tower
| shape = cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern
| marking = white tower, red lantern roof
| height = {{convert|49.5|m|ft}}
| focalheight = {{convert|47|m|ft}}
| lens =
| currentlens =
| intensity = Main – 400 W, 230 V Metal Halide
| range = {{convert|40|nmi|km|0}}
| characteristic = Fl W 15s. (0.66 + 14.34)
| admiralty = F0758
| canada =
| NGA = 27468
| ARLHS = LAK-009<ref>{{cite rowlett|lak|accessdate=8 February 2016}}</ref>
}}

The '''Minicoy Island Lighthouse''', which was established on 2 February 1885 at the southern end of the [[Minicoy Island]] ('Minicoy' is "Maliku" in local usage) in the Indian state of [[Lakshadweep]] during the [[British Raj|British regime]], is {{convert|49.5|m|ft}} in height and has now a range of {{convert|40|nmi|km|0}}<ref name="Rippon">{{Cite web |url=http://lakshadweep.nic.in/island_web/minicoy/Lighthouse.htm |title=Light House: Minicoy |publisher=National Informatics Centre}}</ref> it is built in brick masonry and has a lantern and gallery.<ref name="Hill">{{Cite rowlett|lak}}</ref>

The lighthouse area in the southern part of the island was once exclusively occupied by the British while the local people preferred to live in the northern part. It has modern instrumentation of electrification and an automatic system of shining mirrors that flash light every 15 seconds. It is also equipped with [[Differential Global Positioning System]] (DGPS).<ref name="Hour">{{Cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/travel/around-the-island-in-24-hours/article5761062.ece |title=Around the island in 24 hours |date=7 March 2014 |newspaper=The Hindu}}</ref> The lighthouse was brought under the control of the [[Government of India]] when the [[Indian National Flag]] was unfurled over its top on 2 April 1956.

There is another smaller lighthouse on the island, at its northern end, which was established on 19 November 2008,<ref name="Rippon" /> following the construction of a new [[jetty]] with improved landing facilities. It has a focal plane of {{convert|22|m|ft}}.<ref name="Hill" />

== History ==
Following the opening of the [[Suez Canal]] in 1862, which reduced the distance by sea between [[Europe]] and [[Far East]], [[George Robinson, 1st Marquess of Ripon|Lord Ripon]], then [[Governor General of British India]], decided to build the light house in 1882 itself, which would have a 360-degree visibility, towering over the surrounding tall coconut trees.<ref name="Rippon" />

The Board of Trade then decided to establish it as their own lighthouse on the Minicoy Island, to provide guidance for safe passage of their vessels, navigating through the "Eight Degree Channel," which demarcates the northern limit of the island.{{Sfn|Rask|1821|p=6}} The site for the lighthouse was selected in 1882. The construction of the structure was begun in 1883 and completed in 1885.{{Sfn|Ellis|1992|p=34}} The lighthouse was commissioned on 2 February 1885 when Amin of Minicoy and Sir [[James Nicholas Douglass|James Douglass]], representing the British Government were present.<ref name="Rippon" /> This lighthouse, strategically situated on the sea route from [[Aden]] to [[Colombo]] and [[Suez]] to [[Singapore]] passes just south of the Minicoy Island on the Indian coast line leading to Colombo, which was then the "lifeline of the Empire".<ref name="Rippon" /><ref name="Hill" /><ref name="Hour" /> After building this lighthouse no shipwrecks have occurred on the island.<ref name="Rippon" /> This lighthouse is the lone surviving historic structure of the British period in the Lakshadweep Islands.<ref name="Hill" />

Initially, the lighthouse was directly administered by the Board of Trade, London with maintenance control under the Superintendent, Imperial Light Service, Colombo who were also in charge of the [[Great Basses Reef Lighthouse]] on the coast of [[Ceylon]]. The maintenance drill conducted every six months by the Board of Trade from Ceylon involved change of guard of the light keepers and to refill oil and other stores.{{Sfn|Ellis|1992|p=34}} After India attained independence, the Governments of India and Sri Lanka decided to transfer all functions of the lighthouse formally to India; this legal formality was completed on 19 September 1963.<ref name="Rippon" /> Before that, every British merchant vessel navigating past the Lighthouse was levied a toll on the basis of the ship's draft. The toll collected went into the [[Privy Purse]] of the [[British Monarch]].{{Sfn|Singh|1992|p=507}}

The lighthouse is now under the administrative jurisdiction of the Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships (DGLL), under the Ministry of Shipping, and the Cochin Directorate of DGLL has the responsibility to maintain it.<ref name="Hill" />

== Features ==
When established in 1885, the tower of the lighthouse designed by Sir [[James Nicholas Douglass|James Douglass]], was built with bricks brought from London, to a height of {{Convert|48|m}}. It was fitted with a first order optic and kerosene wick lamps. Optics had an active focal plane of {{Convert|47| m}}. The exterior surface of the lighthouse was given a coat of white paint while the lantern roof was painted in red colour. In 1928, petroleum vapor burners with mantle were installed.<ref name="Rippon" /><ref name="Hill" /> It gives a powerful flash every 15 seconds and is seen from {{convert|40|nmi|km|0}} away.<ref name="Hill" /> A Radar transponder (RACON) was fitted in 1985, and in 1998, it was fitted with a Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS). The optical system consists of 3 panels of {{Convert|920| mm}} with a focal distance of {{Convert|460|mm}}.<ref name="Rippon" /> The source of light is of 400 W Metal Hallide Lamp while the rotation of optic is provided by electronic pulse motors. The lighthouse was fitted in 1983 with a medium frequency Radio beacon with a range of {{Convert|400| km}} and has a call sign 'NY'. In 1985 a Racon was also fixed at the top of the lighthouse.<ref name="Rippon" /> The tower has a winding staircase access to the top consisting of 216 steps inside.<ref name="Hour" />

== See also ==
{{stack|{{Portal|India}}}}
* [[List of lighthouses in India]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== Bibliography ==
* {{cite book |last=Ellis |first=R. H. |title=A Short Account of the Laccadive Islands and Minicoy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eEaSwey4KIgC&pg=PA34 |date=1 January 1992 |publisher=Asian Educational Services |isbn=978-81-206-0736-1 }}
* {{cite book |last=Rask |first=Rasmus Kristian |title=Singalesisk skriftlære |url=https://archive.org/details/singalesiskskri00raskgoog |page=[https://archive.org/details/singalesiskskri00raskgoog/page/n64 6] |year=1821 }}
* {{cite book |last=Singh |first=Satyindra |title=Blueprint to Bluewater, the Indian Navy, 1951–65 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8PLeQ8sM06kC&pg=PA507 |date=1 January 1992 |publisher=Lancer Publishers |isbn=978-81-7062-148-5 }}
* Das, Nrupal: Minicoy Island: Beaches, Culture and People of Minicoy, Lakshadweep Islands. 2018, Kindle, 37 Pages ([https://www.amazon.in/Minicoy-Island-Beaches-Culture-Lakshadweep-ebook/dp/B07KGCVD7T/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8 Available Online])

== External links ==
* {{Lighthouse Digest|2798}}
* [http://www.dgll.nic.in/LightHouses/74_1_LightHouses.aspx Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships]

[[Category:Lighthouses completed in 1885]]
[[Category:Lighthouses in India]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Lakshadweep]]
[[Category:1885 establishments in India]]
[[Category:Transport in Lakshadweep]]
[[Category:Tourism in Lakshadweep]]

Minicoy Island Lighthouse - Revision history

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