Heritage of Lighthouse

According to mythology the ‘Yakshas’ and the ‘Yadavas’ Landed at Jakhau during the prehistoric period. The name of the port Jakhau is said to have been adopted from the term ‘Jakh’ derived from ‘Yaksha’. Jakhau remained an important port till the opening of a port at Mandvi in 16th century. Jakhau Lighthouse is connected by an all weather road to Naliya the Rail head linked to Bhuj about 70 Km away.

During 1950’s large-scale salt pans were developed at Jakhau and the port of Jakhau was revived to handle the export of raw salt to Japan and Korea. Therefore providing a major LightHouse at Jakhau became essential. The first lighthouse was established in 1957. The light operating on DA gas in 500 mm Lantern and cut and polished drum optic with AGA flasher, temporarily provided on MS trestle tower. The lighthouse project was planned and completed by 1965.

The light equipment supplied by M/s Stone Chance, Brimingham, was installed on the RCC Tower and the light was commissioned in April 1965.

The emergency source, capillary tube (Alladin Lamp) was replaced first by LPG Burner in 1993 and then by a 100W 12V halogen lamp in 1996. A Racon was installed on the tower in September 1999. The incandescent lamp 1500W 100V and emergency source were replaced by a cluster of three 150W 230V Metal Halide lamps with a direct drive system by stepper motor in May 2004. Jakhau will be an important station of the planned VTS for Gulf of Kachchh with Automatic Direction Finder system.

During the reign of Emperor Ashoka, who was a contemporary of PtolemyII, royal emissaries sailed towards Ceylon (Sri Lanka) and the Far East Including China and Japan and it is very likely that similar lighthouses were also constructed on our country's coastline.

In the 7th Century A.D, Pallava King Narasimhavarman I known as Mamalla, or the great wrestler, is credited with the establishment of a lighthouse at Mamallapuram (Mahabaliburam), 56 Km south of Chennai, where log fire was burnt in a crucible for guding the ships.

In Mauryan India, (3rd century B.C. ) during the regime of Chandragupta Maurya, shipbuiling was a regular and flourshing industry, the output of which was quite large. This industry was, however, a state monopoly and ship builders were salaried public servants and were not permitted to work for private persons. This development of national shipping made necessary the



Coming to more recent times, according to Abul Fazl, there was created in the time of emperor Akbar (17th century)the office of 'Meer Behry'. The 'Aina-i-Akbari' gives details of manifod regulations, which in many respects are very similar to those mentioned in the monumental Sanslrit owrk the 'Arthasastra' of Kautilya. The broad function of the 'Meer Behry'.