Parangipettai Lighthouse

Parangipettai Lighthouse is a coastal lighthouse located at Parangipettai (historically Porto Novo) in Cuddalore District, Tamil Nadu, near the mouth of the Vellar River on the Coromandel Coast. It serves as a navigational aid for vessels along the Bay of Bengal. The lighthouse is situated close to Porto Novo Beach and the Annamalai University Marine Biological Station and offers panoramic views of the coastline, estuary and fishing harbour.

Visitors can expect a functional coastal lighthouse structure near the beach and Vellar estuary with a tower and lantern gallery. The surroundings include sandy shoreline, fishing boats, and estuarine waters. Visitors can view the exterior, climb to the gallery where permitted for panoramic coastal views, and explore the beachfront area. The setting is open and windy with views of the Bay of Bengal and nearby mangrove and estuary landscape.

Parangipettai, historically known as Porto Novo, was a significant port town on the Coromandel Coast. The lighthouse was established to aid navigation for vessels approaching the Vellar River mouth and the coastline between Cuddalore and Chidambaram. It continues to function under the Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships as a navigational aid for coastal shipping and fishing vessels.

The lighthouse is associated with the maritime and fishing heritage of Parangipettai and the historic Porto Novo port, reflecting the coastal community's long-standing connection with the sea and estuarine trade.