Mahabalipuram

Mahabalipuram Lighthouse is located in Tamil Nadu, India. Construction work of lighthouse tower progressed in full swing and was targeted to complete by middle of year 1900. The manufacturers were supposed to supply the equipments for Kaup lighthouse for shipment by 15th May 1900 and for Seven Pagodas lighthouse by 15th August 1900. At Kaup, near Udupi in the present Karnataka state, where the lighthouse tower was erected on a rock in the sea, it was not possible to install the equipments in the monsoon rain season and was to wait till 1st October for fair season. Aware of this, Madras State Government, on 24th April 1900 made a representation to Government of India for permission to utilise the equipments meant for Kaup lighthouse at Seven Pagodas to speed up the exhibition of Light. Government order No. 2722 W dated 4th October 1900 shows that this proposal was allowed and equipments originally meant for Kaup lighthouse was installed at Mahabalipur lighthouse.

It has been open to tourists since 2011. It was closed in 2001 following a perceived threat from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. The first light was commissioned here in 1887 on the roof of the Olakkannesvara Temple. The lighthouse, with a circular masonry tower made of natural stone, became fully functional in 1904. India's oldest lighthouse, built around 640 CE by Pallava king Mahendravarman I stands next to this modern structure. The Pallava era lighthouse is a protected monument, maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India.

In January 2014 a lighthouse museum was added to the station. Built atop a large rock at Mahabalipuram, about 65 km (40 mi) south of Chennai. Site open, museum open daily, tower open daily 2-4 pm.