Mandvi Breakwater Head Lighthouse

The Lighthouse has been provided on the head of Mandvi Breakwater and is approachable through the port premises. Mandvi Port is a very old port built more than four centuries ago. But the breakwater was built in 1875 after the introduction of direct steamer service between Mandvi and Bombay. The Breakwater protected the port from Westerly winds. It was severely damaged during one of the cyclones of 1887-88. It was reconstructed and a red light was placed on a column at the head of the Breakwater in 1890. It was an oil lamp and was being exhibited only whenever any steamer visited the port.The breakwater was improved and was extended up to 560m length under the supervision of the British Engineer Albert Edward and an improved flashing light with Red filter inside a 6th order optic was placed over a masonry column of 6m height provided at the head of the Breakwater. It was damaged again during 1950’s. The Breakwater and the lighthouse column were rebuilt and a DA gas flashing light was commissioned into service in 1957. A sun valve was introduced in 1973 for automatic operation of the light.Under the modernization scheme, the DA gas equipment was replaced by the solar power operated light and was commissioned on 12th May 1993.The Lighthouse suffered damages due to Earth quake on the 26th January 2001. It was repaired and the light became operational on 30th June 2001.