The Lighthouse structure has been built on the summit of Bopung Hill at the entrance of Aerial Bay. The hill is approached from NW point where the boat from Aerial Bay jetty lands. From Port Blair passage is available in Inter- Island passenger vessels up to Aerial Bay. The Lighthouse Tender M.V. Pradeep also visits Aerial Bay regularly for Lighthouse maintenance. A Machine boat has to be engaged from Aerial Bay for covering the distance up to Bopung Hill.
The British first settled the convicts and officials on the coast of Aerial Bay in the 18thCentury (1789) as per the recommendations of Lt. Archibald Blair. The settlement was named after the then Governor General Lord Cornwallis. The settlement had to be abandoned subsequently in 1793 due to the unprecedented attack of Malaria which left majority of the settlers dead. After about 170 years a settlement of refugees from East Bengal was established at a place nearby and given the name of Diglipur. A Steamer service to Port Blair was introduced. Hence need arose for a regular Lighthouse.
There is no evidence of any Lighthouse built earlier by the British at this site during the 18th century. They had marked some of the conspicuous trees and erected a flag staff on Bopung Hill to serve as beacons to guide their ships enter the Aerial Bay.
The present structure was built in 1975-76 and a Battery operated Light inside 187.5mm Acrylic lantern was commissioned on 15th March 1976. It was replaced by LHW 300 mm lantern with halogen lamp and electronic timer in 1996. Subsequently its height was increased in 1997 for better visibility. |
