False Point Lighthouse

The False Point Lighthouse is situated on a large island created by the Mahanadi River delta. The Lighthouse station can be approached by cruising through the mighty river from Paradip.

The origin of False Point Lighthouse begins in the early 19th Century. The British East India Company ships approaching Calcutta port used to mistake Mahanadi entrance for Hooghly, therefore the point near mouths of Mahanadi came to be known as False Point. It was therefore decided to provide a Lighthouse near to the mouths of Mahanadi and name it False Point Lighthouse. The plans were finalized in the early 1830s.

The island on which False Point lies belonged to Maharaja of Burdwan who donated the land required for Lighthouse to the British East India Company. The building materials such as boulders, lime, R.S. Joist etc. were transported to the site by sea route and finally the foundation work commenced on 6th December 1836. The 38m high Lighthouse Tower construction was completed on 16th October 1837. It is a Mammoth circular structure tapering towards top. The top being a dome with opening leading into the lantern room.

The outside walling at top has been carved out into a projected cornice. The conventional lighting equipment consisting of paraffin oil lamp, reflectors and optic inside the lantern house was installed and commissioned on 1st March 1838. The entire work was carried out in record time under the supervision of 2nd Lt. H Righy, Executive Engineer.

A Chance Brothers made first order optic with 55mm P.V. burner was commissioned on 1st February 1880 by the then Lt. Governor of Bengal, Sir Ashley Eden. The Lighthouse was transferred to the Calcutta port commission in 1881. An occulting light replaced the earlier light on 1st September 1884 which was commissioned by Mr. H.J. Reynolds, Chairman, Calcutta port commission. The light source and other PV equipment’s were replaced by then latest version for the first time after the lighthouse came under the Port Commission. It was inaugurated on 22nd March 1903 by Mr. C.E. Buckland, Chairman, Calcutta Port Commission. In March 1931 clockwork mechanism and 85 mm incandescent Petroleum Vapour Burner supplied by M/s. Chance Brothers replaced the earlier version.