Pirotan Lighthouse
LocationPirotan, Jamnagar district, Gujarat, India
Coordinates22°36′16″N 69°57′08″E / 22.60431°N 69.95222°E / 22.60431; 69.95222
Tower
Constructed1898 (first), 1958 (current)
Constructionstone Edit this on Wikidata
Height18 m (59 ft) Edit this on Wikidata
Shapecylindrical tower with balcony and lantern[1][2]
Markingsblack (tower), white (stripe), red (dome) Edit this on Wikidata
RaconK Edit this on Wikidata
Light
First lit1958 Edit this on Wikidata
Focal height26 m (85 ft) Edit this on Wikidata
Range24 nmi (44 km; 28 mi) Edit this on Wikidata
CharacteristicFl W 20s Edit this on Wikidata

Pirotan Island (also known as Pirotan) is an island in the Marine National Park, Arabian Sea. It is located 12 nautical miles (22 km) off the coast (Bedi Port), Jamnagar District of Gujarat state, India. It consists of mangroves and low-tide beaches,[3] and has an area of 3 square kilometres. Rozi island is located about 10 kilometres to the southeast.

Of the 42 islands in the park, Pirotan Island is the most popular. It is one of the two islands where visitors are normally permitted. Visitation is strictly limited; permission is required from the Forest Department, Customs Department and the Ports.[3] The mangroves consist mainly of species of Rhizophora, Avicennia and Ceriops.[4]

History

The island derived its name from Pirotan Patan, the ancient city probably at the place of Bedi Bandar.[5]

In 1867 a flagpole was placed at the Island's northern tip to aid in navigation. In 1898 it was replaced with a 21-metre masonry lighthouse, which in turn was replaced in 1955–57 with a 24-metre-high (79 ft) lighthouse tower.[6] In 1996, the lighthouse power was converted from diesel generator to solar power. The diesel generators exist for backup generation. [7]

The island along surrounding coral reefs covering an area of 3 square kilometres was notified as part of Marine National Park in 1982.[8]

Population

The only people there on the island are the forest guard, the lighthouse people and the Mujhavar (Server) at the Holy Saint Khwaja Khizer R.A. shrine (Durgah). The sacred shrine of Khwaja Khijer Rahmatullahialaih is located on the island.[9]

Most visitors come in the morning with the high tide and leave by evening. Weekends in winters may bring more than 200–300 visitors.

Visiting Pirotan

The island being protected marine park, several permissions are required for visiting. For Indian Nationals, permission from local Forest Department, Customs Department & Ports Department. Foreign nationals additionally require permission from the police office.

There is no routine ferry service to the island. One has to hire boats from the port. These boats take about 1.5 hours to reach the island. Since the beach is very shallow, the boats can only reach the island during high tide and leave the island during high tide.

Fauna

Marine

Marine life-forms found include:

  • Various types of Crabs
    • Neptune
    • Wolf
    • King crab
    • Hermit crabs
    • Ghost crabs
  • Sea Scorpions
  • Wiper- Isosceles
  • Sea snakes
  • Sea slugs
  • Sea Horse
  • Squid
  • Sea Anemone
  • Octopus
  • Sea Worms
  • sabella
  • Mud Skipper
  • Sea Bonellia
  • Coaster Cather
  • Sea Urchin

Plus there are Saw-scaled Vipers & Scorpions too

Sea-birds

  • Pelicans
  • Sea Gull
  • Harring Gull
  • Blackheaded Gull
  • Crab Plover
  • Different types of waders

Notes

  1. ↑ Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of India: Western Gujarat". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved February 8, 2016.
  2. ↑ Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships
  3. 1 2 "Beaches of Jamnagar: Pirotan" Jamnagar the beautiful - Tourist information
  4. ↑ ""Gujarat Tourism: Wild Life: Marine National Park & Wildlife Sanctuary" Vibrant Gujarat". Archived from the original on 2005-05-28. Retrieved 2007-04-12.
  5. ↑ Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency: Káthiáwar. Vol. 8. Government Central Press. 1884. p. 579.
  6. ↑ "Pirotan Lighthouse- Technical" Directorate General of Lighthouses & Lightships, India
  7. ↑ ""Pirotan Lighthouse-History" Directorate General of Lighthouses & Lightships, India". Archived from the original on 2007-09-29. Retrieved 2007-04-12.
  8. ↑ "Gujarat Gulf of Kutch Marine National Park Notification" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-19. Retrieved 2008-01-20.
  9. ↑ Majid Husain (2011). Understanding: Geographical: Map Entries: for Civil Services Examinations: Second Edition. Tata McGraw-Hill Education. pp. II.P.9. ISBN 978-0-07-070288-2.
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