Madras Light House / Marina Lighthouse - History, Timings & Entry Fee

At a distance of 6 km from Chennai Central Railway Station, the Madras Light House, popularly known as Marina Lighthouse, is a lighthouse facing the Bay of Bengal in Chennai. It is a famous landmark on the Marina Beach and also one of the popular tourist attractions in Chennai.

Chennai Marina Lighthouse was built by the East Coast Constructions and Industries in 1976 replacing the old lighthouse in the northern direction and was opened in January 1977. The lighthouse marks the end of the promenade on the northern half of the Marina Beach. It was closed for visitors after the assassination of the former Prime Minister of India, Mr. Rajiv Gandhi in 1991 but it was opened for visitors from 14th November 2013.

The present lighthouse is a triangular cylindrical concrete one with lantern and double gallery and is 11 stories high. The tower is attached to a three-story circular harbour-control building. The height of the lighthouse tower is 45.72 m and height of the light source is 57 m. That makes it one of the tallest lighthouses in the country and is also the only lighthouse in India within city limits which has a range of 28 nautical miles.

The ninth floor of the tower has a viewing gallery where steel welded mesh panels have been erected for safety. Visitors can have the bird's eye view of Chennai city and Bay Bengal. The tenth floor has high-security radar installed and is not open to public. The elevator in the lighthouse will take the visitors directly to the viewing gallery on the ninth floor and visitors will not be given access to any other floors.

Timings: 10 AM - 1 PM & 3 PM - 5 PM, Closed on Mondays

Entry Fee: Rs. 10 for Indians, Rs. 5 for Children, Rs. 25 for Foreigners & Rs. 20 for Camera