As a New Year gift to the people of Kollam, the Directorate of Lighthouses and Lightships has decided to keep the 111-year-old Tangasseri point lighthouse in the city open to visitors from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Wednesday.
Earlier, the lighthouse was open to visitors only for two hours from 3 p.m.
Unaware of the timings, many who arrived in the morning had to return disappointed unable to go up the towering colonial structure.
Opening the structure for visitors in the morning had been a long-pending demand.
This demand was put forth to Director-General of Lighthouses and Lightships A.M. Sooraj during his visit to the Tangasseri lighthouse on December 23. Mr. Sooraj had agreed to consider the demand.
The decision taken on Monday was formally conveyed to Salim Jose, Head Lightkeeper at the lighthouse, on Tuesday.
The entry fee will be Rs.10 for an adult and Rs.3 for a child. Visitors can go up the lighthouse to the lantern room via a spiral staircase having 193 steps.
From the gallery on top, one can get a majestic aerial view of Kollam city and beyond. The lighthouse, constructed by the British, was commissioned in 1902. It is the tallest lighthouse on the Kerala coast.
