The dedication of the light house at Manora near Mallipattinam in Thanjavur district to the nation has widened the prospect of putting this iconic place on the map as a tourist hub. With greenery and lawns, the light house itself can attract a large number of visitors, as pointed out by G. K. Vasan, Union Minister of Shipping, at the light house inauguration function recently.
The octagonal, 45-metre high light house with a luminous range of 21 nautical miles has ushered in a new look to the place. According to Manmohan Singh Suman, Director General of Light Houses and Light Ships, for the first time in an Indian light house, vertical colour bands were used as day mark at Manora.
The lantern has a diameter of 2.4 meters. The equipment used is MBR-300 Rotating Beacon. Illuminant is 12V/100-watt halogen lamp, which will flash white every five seconds.
Light house guides the ships in the open sea against the danger of rocks, shallow water and wrecks in a region with the help of powerful light beams during night and by its shape and colour during day time.
Light house officials said in the ancient times, mariners used to depend upon birds, individual skills and knowledge of local condition for a safe voyage. Over a period of time, important landmarks came into practice. During night, the method was to burn firewood or coal on high pinnacles of rocks or mountains flanking the coastline. On the similar lines, first known light house Pharos was built during third century B.C at the Port of Alexandriya on the coastal line of Mediterranean Sea in Egypt. In the eighth century A.D. the Cholas had built a beautiful light house at Kaveripoompattinam (Poompuhar), descriptions of which are found in Silapathikaram.
Besides , Manora has another attraction: the fort built by Maratta King Serfoji II (1814-1815). The hexagonal, eight-storied fort was constructed by the Maratta King, a supporter of British, to commemmorate the victory of British over Napolean Bonapare in the battle of Waterloo . The fort with a moat around it is overlooking Bay of Bengal.
Other factors favouring Manora is the calm sea which can be used for water sports like surfing and boating, and coconut groves.
"Steps taken by the tourism department in the past to make Manora an attractive tourist spot, are yet to bear any fruit . Now, it is the time to exploit its potential," people of Manora and Pattukottai said.
