The Kadalur Point Lighthouse is situated in Kadalur, near Koyilandy in Kozhikode district on the coast of Arabian sea in India. The circular stone masonry tower has a height of 34 meters. The tower is painted with black and white bands. The lighthouse started its operation in 1907. The light source is a metal halide lamp. In the 18th Century Kadalur Point was known as Cotta Point. It is believed that the lighthouse was built after a shipwreck on the rocky shores at the point and one can still see the remains of it.
The Kadalur Point Lighthouse was commissioned on 20â¯October 1909 by the Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships to warn mariners of the submerged "Sacrifice Rock" located about 10â¯km offshore, after repeated ship groundings in the area. Initially equipped with a Chance Brothers 700â¯mm secondâÂÂorder revolving dioptric lens and paraffin vapor (PV) burner, the original apparatus served reliably until its first major upgrade on 16â¯March 1995, when the PV unit was replaced by a 230â¯V, 400â¯W incandescent electrical lamp. Just over a year later, on 8â¯August 1996, the incandescent lamp was superseded by a 230â¯V, 400â¯W metalâÂÂhalide (HPIâÂÂT) lamp along with a directâÂÂdrive rotating mechanism. Routine conservation efforts, including structural repairs and vegetation clearance, have been proposed intermittently to preserve the lighthouse as both a heritage monument and an active aid to navigation.
The tower stands 34â¯m tall and consists of a circular stone-masonry construction that tapers slightly toward the top, enhancing its wind resistance along the coast. It was built on a rocky promontory, the tower's foundations are set directly on bedrock, ensuring stability. The interior is accessed via a spiral staircase composed of 246 plastered steps followed by 15 wooden steps, leading to the gallery with a focal plane at 57â¯m above mean sea level, high enough to clear seasonal surges. Optically, it retains the original Chance Brothers second-order 700â¯mm revolving dioptric lens, now illuminated by a 230â¯V, 400â¯W metal-halide (HPIâÂÂT) lamp, powered by mains electricity and backed by a generator maintaining a strong beam for maritime navigation. The light has an effective range of 23 nautical miles, ensuring ships are warned of the nearby shoals.