India lighthouse tourism hits 18.63 lakh visitors in 2024-25, 25 more sites proposed
Synopsis
India's lighthouse tourism has grown more than fourfold in a decade — from 4 lakh visitors in 2014 to 18.63 lakh in 2024-25. With 75 sites open, 25 more proposed, and the country's first inland lighthouse infrastructure under way on the Brahmaputra, what began as a heritage conservation exercise is fast becoming a distinct pillar of India's coastal tourism economy.
Key Takeaways
Lighthouse tourism in India grew from 4 lakh visitors in 2014 to 18.63 lakh in 2024–25 .
75 lighthouses are currently open as tourism destinations; an additional 25 are proposed.
A digital ticketing portal has been launched by the DGLL for unified visitor access.
87 AIS shore stations have been installed on lighthouses to support maritime safety.
The Lighthouse Festival has been held in Goa (2023), Puri (2024), and Visakhapatnam (2026).
Four lighthouses are being built along the Brahmaputra — India's first inland waterway lighthouse infrastructure — at a cost of ₹84 crore .
Lighthouse tourism in India has recorded a dramatic surge, climbing from roughly 4 lakh visitors in 2014 to 18.63 lakh in 2024–25, according to a government factsheet released on Saturday, 10 October 2026. A total of 75 lighthouses have been developed as tourism destinations, and an additional 25 are proposed for development, as the country repositions its coastal heritage infrastructure for public engagement.
Scale of India's Lighthouse Network
India's coastline stretches over 11,000 km and is served by 205 lighthouses — among the largest such networks in the world. The Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships (DGLL) has launched a digital ticketing portal to bring the visitor experience onto a unified online platform, streamlining access to sites that were historically closed to the public.
The official statement noted: 'Today, the lighthouse is becoming much more than a distant landmark. Its first purpose remains unchanged: helping vessels navigate safely along India's coastline. Around that enduring role, however, a new chapter is taking shape. Lighthouse stations are being upgraded and opened to the public.'
Key Sites and Regional Spread
The sites already opened to visitors span several coastal states. Notable among them are the Mandvi Lighthouse and Dwarka Lighthouse in Gujarat, the Tadri Lighthouse in Karnataka, the Pamban Lighthouse in Tamil Nadu, and the Vizhinjam Lighthouse in Kerala. Dedicated lighthouse museums have also been established at Chennai, Mahabalipuram, Alappuzha, Kannur, Muttom, Dwarka, and Gopnath in Gujarat.
Maritime Safety Technology Integrated Into Sites
Beyond tourism, lighthouses have been woven into India's broader maritime information network. Around 87 Automatic Identification System (AIS) shore stations have been installed on lighthouses along the coast. The statement described AIS as 'a ship and shore-based data broadcast system in accordance with SOLAS (International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea)' — a tool for enhancing situational awareness and shipping traffic management.
Lighthouse Festival and Cultural Programming
The transformation has also spawned a dedicated cultural event. The first Lighthouse Festival was held at Fort Aguada in Goa in 2023. The second edition moved to Puri in Odisha in 2024, and the third was held in Visakhapatnam in 2026, underscoring the initiative's growing geographic reach.
Inland Waterway Expansion and What Comes Next
In a first for India, four lighthouses are being established along the Brahmaputra river at Pandu, Bogibeel, Silghat, and Biswanath Ghat — the country's first lighthouse infrastructure on an inland waterway, with a combined outlay of approximately ₹84 crore. The proposed addition of 25 more coastal lighthouse tourism sites would expand the network well beyond the current 75, with the programme now firmly embedded in India's broader maritime heritage and niche tourism strategy.
Point of View
Not merely a headline. But the more consequential signal here is the Brahmaputra move: taking lighthouse infrastructure inland, onto a major river waterway, suggests the DGLL is thinking about maritime safety and tourism as a bundled proposition rather than a purely coastal one. The 25 additional sites proposed will test whether the model scales — execution on heritage sites has historically been uneven across states, and visitor growth at the top-performing lighthouses may be masking stagnation at lesser-known ones. The digital ticketing portal is a necessary step, but monetisation and maintenance funding remain the long-term stress test for this programme.
NationPress
10 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How much has lighthouse tourism grown in India?
Lighthouse tourism in India has grown from approximately 4 lakh visitors in 2014 to 18.63 lakh in 2024-25 — a more than fourfold increase over a decade, according to a government factsheet released in October 2026.
How many lighthouses in India are open for tourism?
As of 2025-26, 75 lighthouses across India have been developed and opened as tourism destinations by the Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships (DGLL). An additional 25 sites are proposed for development.
What is the Lighthouse Festival and where has it been held?
The Lighthouse Festival is a cultural event launched as part of India's lighthouse tourism initiative. The first edition was held at Fort Aguada in Goa in 2023, the second at Puri in Odisha in 2024, and the third in Visakhapatnam in 2026.
What are India's first inland waterway lighthouses?
Four lighthouses are being constructed along the Brahmaputra river at Pandu, Bogibeel, Silghat, and Biswanath Ghat in Assam — marking India's first lighthouse infrastructure on an inland waterway, with a combined outlay of approximately ₹84 crore.
What is the AIS network installed on Indian lighthouses?
Around 87 Automatic Identification System (AIS) shore stations have been installed on lighthouses along India's coast. AIS is a ship and shore-based broadcast system compliant with SOLAS standards, used to improve situational awareness and shipping traffic management.
