The Writer's Blog

CHENNAI As many as 13 light houses across the country, four of them in Tamil Nadu, are set to become heritage centres that would portray maritime history of India. The project, is the first of its kind, is the initiative of the directorate of light houses and light ships, and envisages turning light houses into major tourist with spas, cottages and hotels. Ancient light houses in Chennai, Mamallapuram, Muttam near Kanyakumari and Rameswaram are to be renovated in the first phase. "The proposed National Maritime Heritage Museum at Mamallapuram will showcase centuries-old vessels being used in the Indian sub-continent. As maritime history and the ocean always excites the common man, we are trying to portray the life of mariners and vessels in these museums, near the light house structure near Mamallapuram," said K K Braroo, deputy director general of light houses and light ships. "In Chennai, the proposed museum depicting maritime history will be showca