Century-old lighthouse lacks basic amenities

KENDRAPARA: Even though the 180-year-old lighthouse and its nearby mangrove forest under Batighar gram panchayat in the district has been included in the State tourism map, the place lacks basic civic amenities and public conveniences.  

The lighthouse, located in the seaside village of Batighar, was built by the British during the early 19th century and it attracts visitors for its architecture and natural beauty surrounding it. While there is no hotels and restaurants for tourists, the district administration is yet to construct a bridge over Nasi river at Kharinashi which connects with the lighthouse. As a result, tourists are forced to use boats to reach the lighthouse. Around 100 tourists and locals visit the place daily.

Tapan Das, a government employee of Kendrapara who recently visited the lighthouse, said it is difficult to get even snacks at Batighar village. It is high time for the State Government to develop minimum infrastructure in the area to attract more tourists, he added.

Sarpanch of Batighar panchayat Debabrata Maiti said due to lack of bridge over Nasi river, the lighthouse is not connected with the road communication. As a result, tourists use boats to reach the lighthouse.
Sanghamitra Jena, a noted tour operator of Odisha, said several mangrove forests near the lighthouse languish despite having potential to attract tourists. Despite possessing a beautiful mangrove forest, Batighar, a coastal hamlet in the district, remains off the radar of tourist operators. With a little boost to infrastructure and awareness campaign among tourist operators, the location situated in a beautiful island could become a stop-over for tourists, she added.

Tapan Kumar Pati, Professor of History Department in Kendrapara Autonomous College, said it is one of the oldest lighthouses of the sub-continent built by the British. Ships of the East India Company approaching Calcutta port used to mistake Mahanadi entrance for Hooghly. Therefore, the point near the river mouth came to be known as False Point. Later, a lighthouse was constructed and it was renamed as False Point Lighthouse. Construction work on the 38-metre high lighthouse was completed on October 16, 1837, he informed.

District Tourist Officer Bijaya Kumar Mohanty said last year, the Tourism Department included the century-old-lighthouse in the State tourist map as a holiday hotspot. “We have  recently written to the Forest Department to hand over land to build a guest house for tourists. The Government has also planned to build a bridge to connect Batighar with mainland,” he said.