Karaikal Lighthouse

Karaikal Lighthouse is a coastal lighthouse located on Karaikal Beach in Karaikal, Puducherry, on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal. Standing about 38 metres tall, it was commissioned in the early 1980s to guide vessels and fishing boats navigating this stretch of coastline near the Arasalar River mouth. The white and red tower offers panoramic views of the beach, town and sea, and serves as a prominent landmark and tourist attraction in Karaikal.

Visitors can expect a tall white and red striped lighthouse tower situated directly on Karaikal Beach near the Arasalar River mouth. The site includes a fenced compound with a ticket counter and a spiral staircase leading to an enclosed viewing gallery at the top. From the gallery, visitors get 360-degree panoramic views of the Bay of Bengal, Karaikal Beach, the town and the river estuary. The surrounding area is a flat sandy beachfront with promenade, fishing boats and open sea views.

The present Karaikal Lighthouse was constructed and commissioned in 1983 by the Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships (DGLL) to replace earlier navigational aids on this part of the Coromandel Coast. The reinforced concrete tower is about 38.4 metres high with a light range of approximately 16 nautical miles, guiding commercial vessels and local fishing boats navigating the Bay of Bengal near the Arasalar River estuary.

The lighthouse is a prominent coastal landmark and symbol of Karaikal's maritime identity. It serves the local fishing community as a navigational reference and has become a key tourist attraction on Karaikal Beach, representing the town's connection to the sea and its development as a beach tourism destination in the Puducherry Union Territory.