The Marina lighthouse is open to visitors from 10 am to 1 pm and 3 pm to 5.30 pm, closed on Mondays, according to the Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships (DGLL). It is the fourth light Chennai has had, and the earlier three were in the Fort and on the High Court, both of which you can still see.
Here is the story of each tower, what you get at the top of the current one, how to book, and a note on Pulicat’s lighthouse up the coast.
Four lighthouses in one city
| Light | Location | In service from | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| First | Roof of the Officers’ Mess cum Exchange Building, Fort St George (now the Fort Museum) | 1796 | Oil lamp with large wicks |
| Second | Stone tower in the High Court compound | 1 January 1844 | 38 m; Argand lamps and reflectors until 1894 |
| Third | Central dome of the Madras High Court | 1 June 1894 | 175 ft above sea level; kerosene vapour lamps |
| Fourth | Marina Beach, Santhome side | 10 January 1977 | 46 m concrete tower; range 28 nautical miles |
The DGLL history page adds that the base of the 1844 tower carries a point of the Great Trigonometrical Survey of India, the 19th century survey that mapped the subcontinent. That squat stone column still stands near the High Court, and the dome above the court, the third light, is one of the most recognisable shapes on the Parry’s skyline.
The Marina lighthouse today
The current tower, painted in red and white triangular bands, is a reinforced concrete structure 46 m high. When it opened in 1977, it used a 3,000 W incandescent lamp from BBT Paris. Since April 2004 the light has come from a cluster of three 150 W metal halide lamps. It is still an active navigation light, which makes it one of the few working lighthouses inside an Indian city.
For visitors, the useful details are these:
- Lift: an electric lift takes you up, so you do not need to climb the full height.
- Museum: a small museum on site covers lighthouse history and old equipment.
- Amenities: DGLL lists public toilets and a waiting room.
- Timings: 10 am to 1 pm and 3 pm to 5.30 pm; closed Mondays.
From the gallery you get a long view of Marina Beach to the north, the fishing hamlets at Nochikuppam and Pattinapakkam below, and the Santhome Basilica spire inland.
Seeing the older lights
You can make a half-day trail of all four. Start at Fort St George, where the Fort Museum occupies the old Exchange Building that carried the 1796 light on its roof. Take a short auto ride to the High Court on NSC Bose Road to see the 1844 stone column in the compound and the central dome that held the 1894 light; the court is a working building, so view it from outside unless you have business there. Finish at the Marina tower in the afternoon slot.
How to book a ticket
- Go to the DGLL lighthouse tourism site and choose Book Your Ticket.
- Sign up for the e-ticketing account with your mobile number and email.
- Pick Chennai lighthouse, the date and the time slot; the fee for adults, children and cameras is shown at checkout.
- Keep the e-ticket or QR code on your phone for the gate.
Ticket rates are set by DGLL and have changed over the years, so check them at booking rather than relying on older blog posts. Plan around the 1 pm to 3 pm break, which catches out many weekend visitors.
Pulicat: the other lighthouse near Chennai
About 20 km by road from Ponneri railway station, the Pulicat lighthouse warns ships off a shoal about 4 nautical miles from shore. Its first tower, a 20 m brick structure with black and white bands, was built in 1859 and stayed in service until 1986, before being dismantled. The present tower was built in 1984 and 1985, with equipment commissioned on 25 August 1986. It sits across a sea channel from Pulicat town, reached by a bridge about five minutes on foot. DGLL does not list visiting hours for Pulicat on its page, so call ahead if you plan to combine it with a trip to the lake.
Quick answers
What are Chennai lighthouse timings?
10 am to 1 pm and 3 pm to 5.30 pm, closed on Mondays, according to DGLL.
How tall is the Marina lighthouse?
46 metres, with a light visible up to 28 nautical miles.
Is there a lift?
Yes, an electric lift serves the tower.
Where was Chennai’s first lighthouse?
On the roof of the Exchange Building in Fort St George, now the Fort Museum, from 1796.
Information checked against official sources on 18 October 2026. Fees, dates and rules can change; confirm on the linked official pages before acting.
Sources
- Chennai Lighthouse (Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships, lighthouse.nic.in)
- Chennai Lighthouse (Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships, dgll.nic.in)
- Lighthouse tourism and e-ticketing (Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships)
- Pulicat Lighthouse and DGPS Station (Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships)
