Kavaratti Island

Minicoy Island Lighthouse

The tower at Minicoy's southern tip has been working since February 1885, and at 49.5 metres it throws light 40 nautical miles out, an automatic system of mirrors flashing every 15 seconds. The British once kept this end of the island to themselves; local people preferred the north. The Indian flag went up over the top on 2 April 1956. There is a second, shorter lighthouse at the northern end, built in 2008 alongside a new jetty with improved landing. It is still a working navigational aid rather than a monument, so treat it as a landmark to walk to, not a sight to spend a morning on.