PUTHENTHURA BEACH AND KOVILTHOTTAM LIGHTHOUSE

Date: 12th July 2009

After a good lunch from a hotel near the private bus stand, I boarded a bus bound for Chavara at around 14:00 p.m. It was nearly 14:40 p.m. when I got down near the Rare Earth Company at Puthenthura for a glimpse of a less frequented sea shore. What is so unique about the view of the beach is the fencing done by using branches and twigs just near the rocks. It offers a very unusual view of the sea shore. (As can be seen from the snaps which I would upload when they get developed) I stayed there for some 5-10 minutes only as slowly some crowd started coming.

The next destination was Kovilthottam Light house. Now instead of turning at the AMC Junction I moved ahead till Shankaramangalam, which is some 3-4 kms more than the actual distance.

I passed through Lord Matha School and finally reached the Light house at around 16:15 p.m. There are three quarters inside the compound containing the Light house. I approached one of the quarters and found a person sitting inside the quarter. I enquired whether it was possible for him to show me inside the Light house. The Assistant Light Keeper, Sivaji said that they do not allow a single person to go up to the top. He however told me to wait for a few minutes and see around the compound.

While whiling away my time I did see an Industry very near to the Light house area and in the opposite side there was a bulldozer leveling the sand. After some time Sivaji called me and introduced me to Mr. Surendran, who was the Assistant helper over there and was getting transferred to Velankanni. He was at that time busy with transporting goods to some place. Hence, Sivaji opened the door leading to the Light house and show me the details of the Light House and its working. He noted down my contact details and address for official records. He gave me the Light House contact number and his personal cell number.

What I felt worth mentioning about this post independence commissioned Light house is that this particular Light house is too close to the seas. This point was agreed upon by Sivaji and he stated that this job was pretty risky as he was the only one managing the things over there. I could not have disagreed as while we were talking inside the Light house I could see a huge wave dashing the rocks very near to the Light house. And he remarked that there is according to the norms, there should be two Assistant Light Keepers and two Assistant Helpers stationed in any Light house. I noted down whatever was worth noting down from the information board. Sivaji then showed me the power supply room which provided the necessary voltage to light the lamp on the top. While returning back I felt pleased by having visited the beach which I wanted to visit for long. However I felt dejected that I could not climb up on top of even one of the Light houses. And that wish still remains unfulfilled.

Getting There
From Chinnakada, Kollam bus fare till Puthenthura is Rs. 8 per head. Return bus fare is the same. The road to the left of AMC junction is the point to divert from the Highway which can be covered by walking. If coming from Karungapally side or from the north, Sankaramangalam is the spot to turn to the right side.

Entry fees are Rs. 10 per head.

Photography is strictly prohibited inside the light house. The light house is closed during heavy rains, thunderstorms and lightning. Visiting time is 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. The lights are put on at 6 p.m.

Those keen on visiting this place can send me a mail at n.ramaswamy@gmail.com or call me on 09747155479

THANGASSERI LIGHT HOUSE AND THE RUINS OF PORTUGUESE FORT

Date: 12th July, 2009

In our daily routine we often tend to miss out on the various minor spots which seem common place to others. My Company’s hostel in Kollam, which I have been occupying for nearly a month now, is very near to the Kollam Beach. But it was only on a Sunday that I decided to venture over there.

There is nothing worth mentioning over here except the nearly 100 feet unclothed female sculpture facing the sea. On the sea front the waves were rather violent I would say (maybe it was high tide when I went over there) with each wave trying to compete with the earlier one in fierceness. I stood watching over there and found myself humming Kishore’s number ‘Lehron Ki Taraah Yaadein’.

On the beach there were many umbrella shaped round seating arrangements on the beach. Most were unoccupied. The beach is definitely not one of the cleanest beaches as evident from the litter here and there. One can see the Thangasseri Light House clearly (which I mistook for Kovilthottam Light House) on the northern side of the beach. There is a park here where the before mentioned sculpture is also there. Sanitation is also not that bad, what with Mumbai’s ‘Sulabh’ like latrines and bath rooms available near the beach. I walked around the beach for a while and returned back to the hostel.

After a quick bath and washing the bulk loads of clothes that had accumulated over the week I had a light breakfast. I left around 9:00 a.m. for Thangasseri Light House. According to an online material on Kollam District there are some ruins of Portuguese forts and I was looking forward to see those ruins. This place must be some 3-4 kms. I reached a junction near the Quilon Port and took the road going to the left after walking 10 minutes from our hostel in Pallithottam. Noticeable land mark is St. Mary’s Convent school. Then it is a straight road that leads finally to Vaadi Junction.

On reaching this spot if one goes down the road to the left there is a pillar very much similar to the ones depicted in the TV Series of ‘Malgudi Days’ from here there is a lengthy pucca road which leads you to the Portuguese fort and further to the Light House. While I was gazing at the fort I saw a gentleman also parking the scooter just in front of me and gazing at the sea. I enquired if there were any other structures apart from the one that I was looking at of the Portuguese constructions to which he said that there were any other structures apart from the one that was in view to which he said that there were some cemeteries of them which were now mostly in some or other occupants properly. Most of them were destroyed to make way for Bath rooms and Houses. I did find archaeology surveys board mentioning the fort as a preserved site. And there is a plan to start a park in front of the fort on the opposite side. The landmark to spot the path leading to the fort is Ave Maria Play School. After observing the ruins and taking some snaps I made my way to the Light House. I reached there by 10’o clock. However it is open for public only between 3 pm to 5 pm for a nominal fee of Rs. 10/- per head. A little dejected I made my way back. Somebody had told me that if I returned back from the Light House in another route I may find some cemeteries so I enquired at a house where I could find those cemeteries. An old man rather enthusiastically (what I thought at that time) caught my hand and told me he would show me those cemeteries. Mid way he asked for some money to buy tea for himself. This is typical of many people here and it is not helping the tourism industry over here. I did gave him some amount to which he felt was less !! I reasoned to him that as I was staying far off from my home I could not afford to give him anything more. But he wasn’t pleased by that answer. Anyhow the place where he took me had nothing to offer me any help and I returned back to the hostel at around 11:00 a.m.


Best time to visit:

Any season is good except when thunder storms rains and lightning are there when the entry to the light house is restricted.

Minimum of two persons should be there only then do the light house keeper allow entry inside.

Those who intend to visit the Light house can send a mail to n.ramaswamy@gmail.com or contact me on 9747155479