Pirotan

Pirotan Island Lighthouse

Lighthouse at Pirotan Island
Pirotan Island Lighthouse
Gujarat
Location Pirotan Island, Jamnagar
Gujarat
India
Coordinates 22°36′15″N 69°57′08″E / 22.604299°N 69.952189°E / 22.604299; 69.952189Coordinates: 22°36′15″N 69°57′08″E / 22.604299°N 69.952189°E / 22.604299; 69.952189
Year first constructed 1898 (first)
Year first lit 1958 (current)
Construction masonry tower
Tower shape cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern
Markings / pattern black tower with a white band, red lantern dome
Height 18.3 metres (60 ft)
Focal height 19 metres (62 ft)
Range 23 nautical miles (43 km; 26 mi)
Characteristic Fl W 20s.
Racon code K[1]
Admiralty number F0380
NGA number 28352
ARLHS number IND-157[2]

Pirotan Island (also known as Pirothan) is an Arabian Sea island in the Marine National Park, Jamnagar District of Gujarat state, India. It is located 12 nautical miles (22 km) off the coast (Bedi Port), consists of mangroves and low-tide beaches,[3] and has an area of 3 square kilometres. Rozi island is located about 10 kilometres to the southeast.

Of the 42 islands in the park, Pirotan Island is the most popular and is one of the two islands where visitors are normally permitted. Visitation is strictly limited, permission is required from the Forest Department, Customs Department and the Ports.[3] The mangroves consist mainly of species of Rhizophora, Avicennia and Ceriops.[4]

History

The island was originally known "Pir jo thaan" meaning the place of the holy Saint Khwaja Khizer Rahmatullahialaih. The sacred shrine of Khwaja Khijer Rahmatullahialaih is located on the island.

In 1867 a flagpole was placed at the northern tip of the island to aid in navigation. In 1898 it was replaced with a 21-metre masonry lighthouse, which in turn was replaced in 1955–57 with a 24-metre-high (79 ft) lighthouse tower.[5] In 1996, the lighthouse power was converted from diesel generator to solar power. The diesel generators exist for backup generation. [6]

The island along surrounding coral reefs covering an area of 3 square kilometres was notified as part of Marine National Park in 1982.[7]

Population

The only people there on the island are the forest guard, the lighthouse people and the Mujhavar (Server) at the Holy Saint Khwaja Khizer R.A. shrine (Durgah).

Most visitors come in the morning with the high tide and leave by evening. Weekends in winters may bring more than 200–300 visitors.

Visiting Pirotan

The island being protected marine park, several permissions are required for visiting. For Indian Nationals, permission from local Forest Department, Customs Department & Ports Department. Foreign nationals additionally require permission from the police office.

There is no routine ferry service to the island. One has to hire boats from the port. These boats take about 1.5 hours to reach the island. Since the beach is very shallow, the boats can only reach the island during high tide and leave the island during high tide.

Fauna

Marine

Marine life-forms found include:

  • Various types of Crabs
    • Neptune
    • Wolf
    • King crab
    • Hermit crabs
    • Ghost crabs
  • Sea Scorpions
  • Wiper- Isosceles
  • Sea snakes
  • Sea slugs
  • Sea Horse
  • Squid
  • Sea Anemone
  • Octopus
  • Sea Worms
  • sabella
  • Mud Skipper
  • Sea Bonellia
  • Coaster Cather
  • Sea Urchin

Plus there are Saw-scaled Vipers & Scorpions too

Sea-birds

Notes

  1. ↑ Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships
  2. ↑ Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of India: Western Gujarat". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved February 8, 2016.
  3. 1 2 "Beaches of Jamnagar: Pirotan" Jamnagar the beautiful - Tourist information
  4. ↑ "Gujarat Tourism: Wild Life: Marine National Park & Wildlife Sanctuary" Vibrant Gujarat
  5. ↑ "Pirotan Lighthouse- Technical" Directorate General of Lighthouses & Lightships, India
  6. ↑ "Pirotan Lighthouse-History" Directorate General of Lighthouses & Lightships, India
  7. ↑ Gujarat Gulf of Kutch Marine National Park Notification
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