The two-day Indian Lighthouse Festival 3.0 concluded in Visakhapatnam, denoting India’s lighthouse-led tourism, maritime heritage and coastal culture. The event also marked fresh announcements on museum development, port infrastructure and inland waterway safety, with Visakhapatnam projected as a key maritime and tourism hub on the eastern coast.
Festival Highlights
The festival showcased cultural performances, local crafts, cuisine, fashion presentations and night-time illumination. It drew strong public participation from families, students, artists, entrepreneurs and visitors. The event was positioned as a celebration of people, culture and heritage, with lighthouses presented as symbols of India’s coastal identity.
New Lighthouse Museum in Visakhapatnam
An MoU was exchanged between Visakhapatnam Port Authority and the Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships for a Lighthouse Museum in Visakhapatnam. The port will provide 3,156 square metres of land at the Old Lighthouse area. The museum will focus on the history, evolution and cultural significance of lighthouses, and their role in maritime safety and tourism.
Expansion of Lighthouse Tourism
The government plans to develop 25 more lighthouses across India, building on the earlier development of 75 lighthouses as tourist sites. Andhra Pradesh has been identified as a priority state for further lighthouse-based tourism. A 77-metre Lighthouse Museum is also under construction at the National Maritime Heritage Complex with an investment of ₹266 crore, and is set to become the world’s tallest lighthouse museum.
Port and Waterway Projects Announced
On the sidelines of the festival, ₹230-crore port projects were launched at Visakhapatnam Port Authority. These include:
- Upgradation of fire-fighting facilities at the LPG berth for larger vessels.
- Development of ORS Dry Dock infrastructure for ship repair.
- Setting up of the India Ship Technology Centre under India Maritime University.
- Construction of a new Administrative Office Building.
- Residential apartments at Harbour Park for port employees.
Four new lighthouses will also be constructed on National Waterway–2 along the Brahmaputra at Bogibeel, Silghat, Pandu and Biswanathghat to improve navigational safety.
Last Modified: April 26, 2026