Dariapur is 175 km from Howrah by road. The site is close to the spot where legendary Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay got inspiration to write famous Kapalkundla in 1860. The original Lighthouse site is one km East of the present station. A 20 m mild steel mast was erected in 1943 at that site on which a wick lamp used to be hoisted under the supervision of local port official. Subsequently DA Gas equipment with sun valve replaced the wick lamp. This light remained in operation till the present Lighthouse came into existence. The work of construction of the present RCC Lighthouse Tower was completed in 1968. The optical equipment earlier installed at old Dwarka Lighthouse in 1881 and dismantled in 1964 has been installed here after certain modifications. It was a P.V.light and was commissioned here on 1st June1968. The P.V. equipment has since been replaced by 230V 70W metal halide lamp and low maintenance batteries charged by photo voltaic modules. The system was commissioned in March 1999. A Racon of `Tide land’ USA make was installed on the Lighthouse on 23rd August 1995.
Location:
Dariapur Lighthouse, Dariapur via Basantia Kolkatta-721442
State: West Bengal
Related Information
Position - 21o 47.4’ N 87o 51.9’ E
Characteristic - flash (2) White every 20Sec
Tower Colour - Black & White bands
Tower - 23m high Concrete tower
Height above MSL - 30 metres
Range - 19 Nautical Miles
Optical Equip - 250mm 4th order revolving optic inside 2.0m dia lantern house
Illuminant - 230V 70W MH lamp
Source of Energy - 12V Batteries charged by SPV modules DC converted to 230V AC through Invertor
Commensed year - 1943
Subsequent Innovations - 1968, 1995, 1997